Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland (Northbound)
Classic Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland Expedition Cruise (Northbound)
This expedition sails the Arctic’s greatest hits in one northbound crossing, linking three extraordinary lands. You begin in Iceland, the legendary land of fire and ice, then head out across the Denmark Strait towards the untouched wilds of the far north. For several days you explore the immense fjord system of Northeast Greenland National Park, including parts of Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system on earth, and call at the tiny settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit for a glimpse of how its people live at the edge of the world. Crossing the whale-rich Greenland Sea, you watch for orca, humpback and minke whales before reaching Svalbard and the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, deep in polar bear country. Along the way you cruise past towering icebergs, explore fjords by Zodiac and walk quiet tundra trails where few travellers have stepped. Comfortable, good value and genuinely wild, it is the most accessible way to join Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard in a single voyage.
Itinerary highlights
Link three Arctic lands in one northbound crossing: Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard.
Begin in Iceland, the land of fire and ice, before sailing the Denmark Strait north.
Spend several days in Northeast Greenland National Park, including Scoresby Sund.
Visit the remote Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, among the most northerly communities on earth.
Cross the whale-rich Greenland Sea, watching for orca, humpback and minke whales.
Reach Svalbard and the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, deep in polar bear country.
Cruise past towering icebergs and explore fjords by Zodiac with an expert team.
Walk quiet tundra trails and watch for birds, seals and Arctic wildlife under the late-summer light.
Classic Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland Expedition Cruise (Northbound)
This expedition sails the Arctic’s greatest hits in one northbound crossing, linking three extraordinary lands. You begin in Iceland, the legendary land of fire and ice, then head out across the Denmark Strait towards the untouched wilds of the far north. For several days you explore the immense fjord system of Northeast Greenland National Park, including parts of Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system on earth, and call at the tiny settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit for a glimpse of how its people live at the edge of the world. Crossing the whale-rich Greenland Sea, you watch for orca, humpback and minke whales before reaching Svalbard and the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, deep in polar bear country. Along the way you cruise past towering icebergs, explore fjords by Zodiac and walk quiet tundra trails where few travellers have stepped. Comfortable, good value and genuinely wild, it is the most accessible way to join Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard in a single voyage.
Itinerary highlights
Link three Arctic lands in one northbound crossing: Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard.
Begin in Iceland, the land of fire and ice, before sailing the Denmark Strait north.
Spend several days in Northeast Greenland National Park, including Scoresby Sund.
Visit the remote Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, among the most northerly communities on earth.
Cross the whale-rich Greenland Sea, watching for orca, humpback and minke whales.
Reach Svalbard and the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, deep in polar bear country.
Cruise past towering icebergs and explore fjords by Zodiac with an expert team.
Walk quiet tundra trails and watch for birds, seals and Arctic wildlife under the late-summer light.
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation for 14 nights aboard the expedition ship
- Arrival transfer and transfer from the meeting point to the ship in Keflavik
- Departure transfer in Longyearbyen (depending on flight)
- All meals on board as specified (drinks and tips not included)
- A visit to a local community in Greenland (Ittoqqortoormiit)
- Zodiac excursions, lectures and the educational programme with an expert expedition team
- Loan of waterproof boots and an expedition parka
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation for 14 nights aboard the expedition ship
- Arrival transfer and transfer from the meeting point to the ship in Keflavik
- Departure transfer in Longyearbyen (depending on flight)
- All meals on board as specified (drinks and tips not included)
- A visit to a local community in Greenland (Ittoqqortoormiit)
- Zodiac excursions, lectures and the educational programme with an expert expedition team
- Loan of waterproof boots and an expedition parka
Thank you
Curate your exclusive expedition
Let’s get started. Share your details below and your personal Expedition Expert will be in touch to design your dream adventure.
Speak to one of our team
Every journey I plan starts with a conversation. Tell me what excites you, what you've always dreamed of experiencing, and I'll craft something extraordinary. The best expeditions begin with a single question: What would make this unforgettable for you?
Ashley | Expedition Planner
FAQs
This is a one-way northbound crossing from Iceland to Svalbard, by way of Northeast Greenland. From Keflavik you cross the Denmark Strait, spend several days in the fjords of Northeast Greenland National Park (including Scoresby Sund and the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit), cross the whale-rich Greenland Sea, and finish in Longyearbyen. It is a genuine three-country Arctic voyage, not just Iceland and Svalbard.
Yes. Unlike some Iceland-to-Svalbard voyages that cross the open sea directly, this itinerary spends several days in Northeast Greenland National Park, including Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system on earth, with a visit to the remote Inuit community of Ittoqqortoormiit. Landings there are subject to ice and weather.
The Greenland Sea crossing is timed for the summer feeding season, with good chances of orca, humpback and minke whales, while Northwest Spitsbergen is prime polar bear country. All wildlife is wild and never guaranteed, but this route is rich in both whales and bears, plus seals, Arctic foxes and seabirds.
It is the most accessible and best-value way to join Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard in one voyage: a comfortable expedition ship, a wildlife-led crossing, and the essentials done well. Drinks and gratuities are not included, and there are fewer frills than the higher tiers, keeping the focus on the Arctic itself.