Across the Arctic Circle: Fair Isle, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen

Sunday 23rd May – Aberdeen

• Meet the group in Aberdeen, the Granite City, frequent winner of the Britain in Bloom competition but also a leading business hub and one of the cities spearheading the UK’s economy.
• After a pre-tour meeting making sure we have everything we need for the trip, we’ll grab lunch in Aberdeen and get ready to set sail
• Several cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales), are native to these seas. As we depart, you’ll see to the south the lighthouse on Girdle Ness that was designed by the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish writer who gave us such classics as Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• Those first hours at sea will be quite busy, as we settle in our cabins, learn about the safety rules on the ship, and attend the traditional welcome cocktail ceremony.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Monday 24th May – Fair Isle

• Today we plan to spend the day on Fair Isle, one of the most remote inhabited islands in the United Kingdom (and among the most northerly settlements in Great Britain). It is known for its wild bird observatory, interesting historic shipwrecks, Scottish and Shetland-style traditional music, and especially its traditional style of knitting.
• This is a fantastic location with accessible seabird breeding grounds, and you may even spot grey seals.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Tuesday 25th May – At sea to Jan Mayen

• For the next two days we will sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland.
• Our ship offers good options for wildlife watching, both outside on the deck or in the comfort of our lounge. Watch out over the seas for several species of marine mammals (minke, fin, orca, blue whale.…). Our expedition crew will help you recognize the animals and tell you everything you need to know about them.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Wednesday 26th May  – Crossing the Arctic circle

• Today we’ll cross the magic line of 66 ̊ 33ˊN defining the Arctic Circle. We will now be in the land of the midnight sun – there will be no darkness for a few months until the end of August. We’ll be sure to celebrate that crossing with drinks (hot chocolate, if it’s in the morning!)
• The naturalists on the ship will offer a programme of lectures about various topics: marine life, birds, the history of the region, famous explorers… Those lectures are not mandatory: you can pick those that interest you most!
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Thursday 27th May – Jan Mayen

• Thousands of birds passing the ship will let us know that we’re closing in on Jan Mayen. This stark volcanic island is crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg (“Bear Mountain”, in reference to the polar bears), the world’s northernmost subaerial active volcano and the only active volcano in Norway.
• From the slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, we will visit the weather station. You can also walk to the remains of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station amid the thick moss beds of this stark volcanic landscape.
• Interesting fact for geography buffs and country collectors: Jan Mayen is defined by geologists as a microcontinent!
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Friday 28th May – At sea to the North

• Basking in the midnight sun, we will sail north for the next days.
• While three days on a ship at sea can seem intimidating, it offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. After all, we are here in one of the most remote parts of the world. On top of the lecture programme and the wildlife watching, you can enjoy the vessel’s well-stocked library and bar, share and listen to the stories of your fellow passengers, or do nothing at all – which is a very rare luxury nowadays!
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Saturday 29th May – In the ice pack

• As we enter the vast expanse of white plates in front of us, keep an eye out in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, a variety of seabirds, and of course polar bears
• When we spot polar bears, we obviously don’t land on the ice or take the zodiacs – they are one of the most dangerous predators on Earth – but we stop the ship to be able to enjoy those rare encounters to the fullest, and also to not disturb them.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Sunday 30th May – En route to Svalbard

• After sailing along the ice edge, we will direction after about 79° north, cutting west to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen. Here you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and – near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords – surfacing minke whales.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Monday 31st May – Spitsbergen

• We’ll arrive in Svalbard from the North and sail through Forlandsundet, an 88 km long sound separating Prins Karls Forland and Spitsbergen. It is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses sometimes haul out here.
• Alternatively, we might sail into St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
• The cliffs and shoreline of Spitsbergen also support thriving seabird colonies and the possibility of polar bears.

Tuesday 1st June – Spitsbergen

• We’ll disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, which has regular and cheap flights from Oslo or Tromsø, and the northernmost settlement in the world. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions.
• Tour concludes. YPT can help organise accommodation and tours of Svalbard, including to the Soviet ghost towns of Barentsburg and Pyramiden, for those of you in no rush to get back home!
• If you’re still craving additional chances to spot the Arctic’s most iconic apex predator, you can even stay on board for an extra seven days of cruise around Svalbard. Get in touch with us for a quote!