Arctic Saga: Exploring Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen

Arrive any time on Day 1 and make your way to your included hotel. The gateway for your Arctic adventure, the Scottish city of Aberdeen, has many monikers, but its most famous is Granite City, as it was once the granite capital of the world. Wandering the streets, you’ll soon see why, as the Victorian buildings sparkle in the sun. A bustling cultural hub, Aberdeen also offers a range of museums, galleries, theaters, shops, cafés and restaurants to explore.

Today you will have some free time before being transferred to the port to

board your ship. As you set sail this afternoon, you’ll want to be out on

deck, camera in hand—the area’s coastal waters offer excellent

possibilities for spotting Bottlenose and White-beaked dolphins, Harbor

porpoises and Minke whales.

The U.K.’s most remote inhabited island, the extraordinary Fair Isle is

located halfway between the Shetland and Orkney Islands. Boasting a rugged

beauty, Fair Isle’s landscape is diverse, with fields and moors dominated

by seaside cliffs and an astounding amount of sea stacks, natural arches and

caves.Despite its small size, the island offers activities for history,

nature and photography buffs alike. Visit the museum to immerse yourself in

local artifacts, photos, knitwear and other historic memorabilia. Don’t

forget to snap a shot of the circa 1935 classic red phone booth by the post

office!In terms of wildlife, Orcas are native to the waters around Fair Isle,

and they sometimes come close in pursuit of seals. But the island is best

known for its coastal cliffs teeming with seabirds in spring and summer. The

star attraction is the Atlantic puffin, a clown-like bird that clings to the

steep slopes. Photographers will surely want to capture pictures of their

bemused expressions, and Fair Isle’s easily accessible grassy banks make it

one of the best places in the Shetlands to observe these colourful creatures.

Northern fulmars, kittiwakes, Storm petrels, razorbills and guillemots are

also likely to be spotted, soaring over the open waters.Visitors to this

community of crofters, artisans and artists may be able to pick up a

traditional Fair Isle sweater to keep you warm during the rest of your arctic

voyage. Be sure to pick one up, along with a matching hat, scarf and mittens,

at the town hall.

Known for its beautiful, unspoiled landscape, with verdant pastures giving

way to rugged, steep cliffs, the Faroe Islands have a storied past, though

the details of the archipelago’s early history are a bit hazy. The first

settlers may have been seventh-century Irish monks seeking solitude on these

islands far removed from any continent. Their isolation ended in 800 AD, with

the arrival of Norse farmers, and Norwegian colonization continued throughout

the Viking Age. Today, many of the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands, now a

self-governing country within the Kingdom of Denmark, are descendants of

Norwegian Vikings.We will have two days to explore this unspoiled and

seldom-visited archipelago made up of 18 rugged islands located about halfway

between Scotland and Iceland. The mighty North Atlantic is omnipresent

wherever we go with no place on the Faroe Islands farther than 3 miles (5 km)

from its shores. The sea has always dominated life on the Faroes –

throughout history as much as today: rich fisheries, magnificent ocean views

and thriving sea bird colonies make up this rare Nordic jewel – often

referred to as Europe’s best kept secret.We will spend a day exploring the

outer islands of the archipelago which are separated by narrow sounds and

fjords and delight in their surreal landscapes, dramatic cliffs and rock

formations, green valleys engulfed by steep dramatic mountains, protecting

small picturesque villages with colorful turf-topped housed. Wind, weather

and sea conditions will influence and shape our activity options, but we will

of course always keep our eyes out for marine and bird life especially the

iconic Atlantic puffin.Our second day in the Faroes will be dedicated to the

capital city of Tórshavn, where the Vikings established their government in

825 AD. One of the world’s smallest capitals, the picturesque Tórshavn has

a relaxed vibe and a number of historical and cultural sites. Meander the

maze of narrow laneways of the Old Town, admiring the quaint wooden houses

with traditional sod roofs and white paned windows. If you’re looking for

more action, a hike up to the historic fort, built in 1580 to guard against

pirate raids, offers stunning views of the port below. Or perhaps you prefer

to wander the charming harbor, filled with cafés, pubs and old warehouses,

and simply gaze out at the sea while sipping a latte.

Say goodbye to the Faroes as we cruise toward the world’s most northerly

volcanic island, Jan Mayen. There are several activities to keep you engaged

while at sea. Learn to identify seabirds gliding alongside your ship, attend

dynamic presentations by the Expedition Team, relax in our polar library or

simply spend some time on deck, admiring the sea. With your binoculars and

camera at the ready, keep your eyes peeled for the blow of a Humpback, Blue

or Fin whale. Encounters with Minke whales or Orcas are also possible, since

their curiosity can bring them near the ship. If you’re lucky, you may even

see Harp seals.

North of the Arctic Circle, about 280 miles (450 km) east of Greenland and

340 miles (550 km) north of Iceland, is the mysterious Jan Mayen, deep in the

North Atlantic Ocean. Often shrouded in thick fog, the small mountainous

island was declared a nature reserve in 2010 and is rarely visited, save for

the 18 rotating personnel of the Norwegian military and Norwegian

Meteorological Institute, who are the only inhabitants.Landing here will be

dictated by the weather and sea. If conditions allow, as we approach, keep

watch on deck as the spoon-shaped island’s highest summit emerges. At 7,470

feet (2,277 metres) high, the breathtaking Beerenberg volcano features a

symmetrical cone shape and impressive glaciers that spill into the sea.

During the summer months, the island’s lower landscape is covered with

grass, moss and a smattering of hardy flowers that add a cheery pop of color

to the otherwise barren black lava terrain.One site we hope to visit is

Olonkinbyen and the surrounding area. Named after Russian-Norwegian Polar

explorer Gennady Olonkin, it’s the island’s only settlement and the

location of the meteorological station, where you may have the chance to

learn about Polar research while seeing how weather is monitored at the top

of the world. Another option might be the black sand beach at Kvalrossbukta,

where the remnants of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station and a large fulmar

colony can be found. In 1632, two Basque ships landed at the small bay and

plundered the station. A Dutch party was sent here the following year to

protect the land stations during winter, but all seven men perished from

scurvy. Whaling in the area came to an end about 20 years later.If we’re

fortunate, we may view the volcano and the stratified cliffs of the

spectacular north coast as we Zodiac cruise around the island, searching for

wildlife. Designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the

large numbers of breeding seabirds, Jan Mayen supports colonies of Northern

fulmars, Little auks, Glaucous gulls, kittiwakes, and Black and Brünnich’s

guillemots (Thick-billed murres). And if we are fortunate, you might see

“sea parrots,” the Atlantic puffin again. The waters here are rich

feeding grounds for marine life, so keep a lookout for Minke, Fin, Blue or

Humpback whales.

As we sail farther north, spend some time with your shipmates in the lounge,

swapping stories and photos, or pause for a moment on the bridge, joining in

as the Expedition Team looks out for whales, seals and a variety of seabirds.

Rugged, wild, unspoiled and situated entirely within the Arctic Circle, the

largest island of the Svalbard archipelago is unforgettable. From immense

glaciers to Polar deserts, the landscape here is as varied as the wildlife.As

we explore the fjords of the southwestern corner of this magical island, it

won’t take long for you to see firsthand why Spitsbergen is the “wildlife

capital of the Arctic.” Some areas we hope to visit include Hornsund and

Bellsund fjords and the Lilliehöök Glacier.The possible landing sites at

Hornsund, the island’s most southerly fjord, have rich histories. En route

to Isbjornhamna, a bay at the southern end, where we hope to explore the

former science station, you may have the opportunity to discover old whale

bones. You may spot Svalbard reindeer and colonies of delightful Little

auks.A 12-mile (20 km) long sound, Bellsund lured miners a century ago to its

natural resources. Today, visitors come to Bourbanhamna and Calypsobyen to

see historic mining and trapper sites and marvel at the magnificent vistas.

It may also be possible to hike along the colourful tundra, dotted with

flowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Viewing reindeer here is likely, as

they frequent the area.

The time has come to say farewell to your newfound friends and Expedition

Team. After disembarking, spend the day exploring the frontier-style

settlement of Longyearbyen or catch your homeward flights. For the 2021

departure, you will be transferred to the airport for your included flight to

Oslo where your adventure ends.