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.