Name: Arctic Islands & Fjords
Brand: Swan Hellenic
SKU: V1623062313

The world's most northerly town, Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, Svalbard's largest island, also claims the most northerly high street and pub. It's home to The North Pole Expeditions Museum chronicling early pole-reaching efforts by air. Nearby, Svalbard Global Seed Vault preserves duplicate seeds from gene banks worldwide. Arctic waters around are populated by whales, including bowheads and narwhals, while walruses are regularly seen hauling out.

Svalbard is the kingdom of the polar bears, deep in the Arctic Circle, featuring varied polar landscapes and gargantuan glaciers. Beyond magnificent fjords in the north, the remaining sea ice serves as prime hunting grounds for polar bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, tundra and beaches replace snow and ice. Alongside 600 polar bears, this Arctic hotspot is home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seals and arctic fox

Kayak With Swan Hellenic Expedition Team (single outing)

Optional

02 h 00 m

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

The snow-covered stratovolcano Beerenberg dominates the ice cap and glaciers at the northeast end of Jan Mayen Island. Halfway between Svalbard and Iceland, this Norwegian island's only residents are the Norwegian Armed Forces or meteorological station staff. Purple saxifrage and endemic dandelions grow next to the black sands, while northern fulmars, Brünnich’s and black guillemots and little auks make Jan Mayen an important birding area.

Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

Grímsey is a remote island located 40 km off Iceland’s north coast. Many people travel here for the purpose of setting foot in the Arctic Circle, the only place in Iceland where you can. The island is also home to fewer than 100 people, but over one million seabirds. Birdlife thrives here thanks to the lack of egg predation and the well-stocked surrounding seas. Grímsey has one of Iceland’s largest tern nesting sites and largest puffin colonies.

Life in Arctic Circle

Included

02 h 30 m

Enjoy your stay on Iceland’s northernmost inhabited territory
Be prepared for an exhilarating physical challenge that will take you across approx. 7.5km of invigorating nature walk with some inclines towards the Arctic circle artwork
Stop at the bird cliffs where, depending on the time of the season, you’ll be able to spot several species of birds including puffins, guillemots and gulls

Surrounded by fjords in the Westfjords region, Ísafjördur is a bustling fishing town in northwest Iceland with colourful wooden 18th- and 19th-century houses in its old town, Neskaupstadur. Nearby, Sudavik is home to the Arctic Fox Centre. Iceland’s only mammal, the arctic fox, lives on the lush tundra of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the northernmost peninsula in the Westfjords with two of Europe’s largest bird cliffs.

Arctic Foxes & Avalanches

Included

03 h 00 m

Get to know the history of Súðavík and the avalanche that struck the small village in 1995
Your journey begins with breathtaking views over one of Iceland’s largest fjords, Ísafjarðardjúp, punctuated with the majestic Snæfjallaströnd mountain chain
Enjoy an exciting live performance from a local musician during your visit to Súðavík’s church

Westfjords Life and Culture

Included

03 h 00 m

Discover the time-honoured local methods of salting fishing
Go back in time as you enter the turf-and-stone fishing shacks, greeted by a local dressed in a traditional sheepskin fisherman's outfit
Visit the Maritime Museum, housed in some of Iceland's oldest buildings, to delve into the history of the fishing industry that has sustained the area for centuries

Whale Watching from Isafjordur

Optional

02 h 30 m

Sail along the beautiful Snæfjallaströnd (Snow-Mountain-Coast) while looking out for whales in the water
Besides whales we might encounter seals as well as dolphins

Holt Inn Farmers & Flavours

Optional

03 h 30 m

Get to know the history of the Stadardalur Valley , which at one point was inhabited by multiple farms and one of the first places in Iceland to be settled by the Vikings
Visit the farm and interact with the animals and enjoying Icelandic delicacies

ATV Tour (2 persons/ATV)

Optional

02 h 00 m

Feel the exhilaration of travelling through the mountainous terrain of the Westfjords on your choice of a ATV
When you first arrive, get geared up with all the essentials to venture out on this one of a kind Icelandic experience
Take in the panoramic vistas of deep blue waters and snowy mountains that surround you as you ascend to their peaks

Calm Fjord Kayaking

Optional

02 h 00 m

See for yourself why the Westfjords are a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike with its calm waters and soaring mountains
This journey provides an intimate connection with the environment, allowing you to observe the delicate ecosystems and appreciate the intricate balance of nature
Be on the lookout for curious seabirds soaring above you and active marine life swimming beneath you

A jewel of the Westfjords, Vigur is the fjord's second-largest island and a thriving seabird sanctuary. Flocks of arctic terns, puffins, guillemots and eider ducks nest atop rocky cliffs. As one of only two inhabited islands, Vigur supports a family farm continuing the centuries-old eiderdown harvest across 3,500 nests. This remote pillar also houses Iceland's sole windmill, its tiniest post office and a 200-year-old, still-seaworthy rowing boat.

Vigur Island Walking Tour

Included

01 h 30 m

Spot eider ducks nesting in great numbers, you might even see the majestic birds plucking down from their chests to make a warm shelter for their eggs
Get up close with a 200-year-old, eight-oar rowing boat and the oldest windmill in Iceland
See the charming houses that dot Vigur's landscape including Viktoria House,built in 1862 and restored by the National Museum of Iceland in 1993, as well as a house established by a young priest in 1884

Vigur Island visit by ship zodiacs

Included

01 h 30 m

Spot eider ducks nesting in great numbers, you might even see the majestic birds plucking down from their chests to make a warm shelter for their eggs
Get up close with a 200-year-old, eight-oar rowing boat and the oldest windmill in Iceland
See the charming houses that dot Vigur's landscape including Viktoria House,built in 1862 and restored by the National Museum of Iceland in 1993, as well as a house established by a young priest in 1884

Make sure there is sufficient timeto explore this diminutive but dramatic capital city. Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city’s other renowned building Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated harbour – also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of course, just 50 kilometres outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.

Arctic Islands & Fjords

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