A Three-Island Adventure to the Arctic

Helsinki is a fascinating city and an enthralling destination to begin your luxury Arctic cruise. You’ll spend two nights here enjoying some of our experts’ favourite city-centre hotels, taking in the rich mix of neo-classical and Soviet architecture or exploring the art institutions that make Helsinki such a creatively engaging place. Immerse yourself in Finland‘s culture at a local sauna, or simply soak up the energy of the Design District on a stroll between its galleries and artisanal workshops.

Wave goodbye to Helsinki as you fly up to remote and spectacular Svalbard, where your expert naturalist guides await to welcome you on board your luxury vessel in Longyearbyen.

This town is home to just 2,400 people, but as an internationally recognised gateway to the wild landscapes of the Arctic, it has a pleasingly cosmopolitan vibe – though don’t be surprised if you meet a reindeer wandering through town. The next few days are spent exploring the striking landscapes of Spitsbergen, the largest of the Svalbard archipelago.

This isle is teeming with wildlife on its tundra, perching on its cliff edges and within the waters that surround its dramatic coastline. Keep your eyes peeled for Arctic skua and terns, guillemots and ivory gulls, while on land you might see walrus lolloping across ice or polar bears roaming in their natural habitat.

You’ll spend two days cruising across the vast Greenland Sea to reach rugged east Greenland. As you sail, your onboard naturalists and experts will regale you with tales of Arctic history and exploration, as well as fascinating insights into the unique ecology of this polar region.

Once in east Greenland, your private Zodiac excursions will give you access to the shore for hiking on Arctic tundra and offer a chance to cruise into small but spectacular fjords that larger vessels cannot reach. Learn about the Thule people, an indigenous population that predates the Inuit and Yupik people, and look out for whales in the ocean as you cruise.

After days exploring the region, you will sail south, passing through the Denmark Strait to reach Iceland.

Welcome to the world’s most northerly capital. Reykjavik is a city that acts as the energetic gateway to adventures in volcanic landscapes beyond. Spend two days taking in the city’s sights, from the mirror-like Tjornin Lake to the myriad museums where you can learn about Icelandic culture, both past and present. Here you’ll stay in one of our favoured hotels in the city, with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the stylish restaurants that abound throughout town.