Four Arctic Islands: The Northbound Journey (Ocean Albatros) - 13 Days

Hallo! Welcome to Iceland. Your expedition ship, Ocean Albatros, awaits for your Arctic islands adventure. Make your way to the harbour for embarkation and an onboard safety briefing at 5 pm. Then, it's off to sea. If you arrive early, maybe check out Hallgrimskirkja Church, which towers over Reykjavik, tuck into some Nordic cuisine or visit a museum. This evening, toast your departure from civilisation as you sail into the Arctic wilderness.

Leave Iceland behind and cross the Denmark Strait toward East Greenland's wild coast. You may want your camera handy as you sail these waters, where Arctic currents meet warmer waters from the Atlantic, creating a fertile feeding ground for seabirds, whales and other marine life. As you settle into life aboard, maybe take advantage of the lecture program to learn more about the Arctic, or simply relax in the spa, sauna or panoramic hot tubs as you sail toward the world's largest fjord system – Scoresbysund.

Sail south along Greenland’s Blosseville Coast – a rugged landscape shaped by volcanic activity some 50 million years ago. First surveyed by explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen, this area has long been navigated by Inuit communities. Weather-permitting, you may have the opportunity to land in this now-uninhabited region of stark, yet breathtaking beauty.

Venture deep into Scoresbysund today, navigating a maze of fjords, islands and ice shaped by Arctic conditions. Your exact route will depend on the wind, sea and ice conditions. Maybe stop at the Bjorne Islands, a labyrinth of skerries (tiny rocky islands) that trap vast icebergs between them. You might visit the basalt mountains of Cape Brewster or the abandoned remains of European and Inuit settlements.

Today, you'll step foot in one of the most remote communities on Earth. Ittoqqortoormiit is the only settlement in this region and retains a strong sense of community and traditional culture. There's an excellent museum here, as well as a beautiful traditional church. The locals often welcome visitors wearing colourful traditional costumes, the perfect introduction to the culture and lifestyle of Greenland.

Leave Scoresbysund and Ittoqqortoormiit behind and sail on towards Jan Mayen, an isolated volcanic island in the Greenland Sea. You'll have a leisurely day at sea today, which is a great chance to pop into a lecture, have a massage or just soak in the hot tub and watch the seabirds swirling above. Cold currents drifting down from the Arctic Ocean meet warmer Gulf Stream waters here, creating nutrient-rich sea that support abundant marine life and seabirds.

Visit Jan Mayen today, a remote volcanic island rising from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the 'spine' of the Atlantic Ocean. Home to a small community of scientists and Norwegian troops, the island is dominated by Mt Beerenberg – Norway’s only active volcano and the northernmost active volcano on Earth. Explore a landscape shaped by cinder cones, old lava flows and stark black cliffs, with low tundra vegetation clinging to the ground and large colonies of seabirds nesting in the rugged cliffs. On a clear day, the snow-capped, Fuji-esque summit of Mt Beerenberg rises dramatically above it all.

Saying farewell to Jan Mayen, sail northeast across the Greenland Sea towards the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Perhaps spend some time today with the Expedition Team for lectures on Svalbard’s wildlife, polar history and fragile ecosystems, or take part in citizen science projects that contribute to ongoing research. Between sessions, keep watch from deck for seabirds and marine life, or relax in the spa and hot tubs as Svalbard’s snow-crowned peaks begin to appear on the horizon.

Spend your day exploring the greener, warmer fjords of Bellsund and Hornsund. These fertile valleys are abundant with reindeer and Arctic foxes. Watch seabirds nesting and icebergs drifting from glaciers. Have your binoculars ready for birdwatching at the towering Alkefjellet Bird Cliffs, where tens of thousands of birds nest on every ledge and crevice on the cliff faces. See (and hear) guillemots, kittiwakes and Arctic skuas. You’ll also visit the historic mining settlement of Calypsobyen and the ruins of a hunter's cabin at Bamsebu.

Explore Northwest Spitsbergen National Park today, a protected corner of Svalbard that preserves a long history of Arctic exploration and whaling. First recorded by Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596, the region later became an important base for Dutch and English whalers. Nature has reclaimed much of that history and created a haven for flora and fauna, with Arctic flowers, seabirds, walrus and polar bears reclaiming the coastal landscape.

During the Arctic 'night', sail past Prins Karls Forland and into Kongsfjord, where glaciers tumble down to the sea beneath the Three Crowns mountains. Your final stop is Ny-Alesund – a remote research settlement with a long connection to Arctic exploration, including as a base for legendary polar explorers like Amundsen and Nansen. Visit one of Earth's northernmost settlements, which still contributes to vital research in these glaciated surroundings.

Arrive in Longyearbyen, Svalbard today —the northernmost town on Earth. Despite its remote Arctic location, Longyearbyen offers warm Nordic hospitality. When you arrive, breathe that crisp polar air, take in those dramatic mountain views and heed the polar bear warning sign – a strong reminder that you're in a wild place. After a hearty breakfast, bid a fond farewell to the crew, and descend the gangway back to dry land with memories of the voyage of a lifetime. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Oslo, where your trip will finish at Oslo airport.