The Best of the Arctic by Sea

The Icelandic capital isn’t just a gateway to the Land of Fire and Ice. An engaging city break in its own right, you can delve into Viking history at its Saga Museum or take in a show at the strikingly modern Harpa Concert Hall. You will have time to venture outside of the city, too, as your guide shows you some of Iceland’s most impressive geological sights, including the Gullfoss waterfall and the cavernous tectonic divide within Thingvellir National Park. After two nights in one of our favourite hotels, it’s time to board your luxury expedition vessel and set sail for the enigmatic Arctic.

Even in the warmest summer months, the seas of east Greenland are filled with glittering icebergs, which fall from the towering shelves of its vast glaciers. During your time onboard your Arctic cruise, you will glide among them in zodiacs to see their immensity up close within the narrow, twisting fjords that cut into the coastline. On land, your naturalist guides will lead the way on the Arctic tundra, where muskoxen, Arctic hares and reindeer roam, and show you ancient historical sites belonging to the ancestors of today’s Inuit population. In this remote and wild polar region, we travel at the will of the weather and sea conditions, and so every voyage is unique as your guides and expert navigators find the best routes and experiences.

Sitting between 74 and 80° north, the Svalbard Islands have some of the most mesmerising scenery and wildlife in the Arctic. Hulking mountain ranges flank dramatic fjords, while a polar desert offers opportunities for hiking among wildflowers. The wildlife in this part of the world is rich and varied, with walruses lounging about on beaches and noisy seabirds, from little auks to puffins, nesting on enormous, imposing sea cliffs.

Take a flight from Svalbard’s biggest settlement, Longyearbyen, to reach Norway’s chic capital, Oslo. Spend two nights here in one of our favourite hotels, walking its streets, soaking up history in its museums on Norwegian maritime culture and Viking ships or exploring the forests that lay on its fringes offering access to nature. Set on a fjord, there are opportunities for boat trips and island hopping for a slice of adventure before you head home.