trip specifics

price

2013

Three Arctic Islands is an award-winning 14-day expedition cruise taking you to the northeast coast of Greenland, across Iceland and high above the Arctic Circle in Spitsbergen, Norway. Iconic Arctic animals such as the polar bear, musk ox, reindeer and walrus are commonly seen as you travel from Longyearben southwest down the coast of Greenland to Reykjavik, Iceland. No other Arctic adventure takes in such varied destinations ranging from active volcanoes to massive glaciers. National Geographic Traveler named this itinerary as one of its 50 Tours of a Lifetime. If you want to experience the Arctic in all of its beauty, then you must venture to these three Arctic islands.

Day 1 - Embark Longyearbyen

Your voyage will embark in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: dinner

Days 2-4 - Spitsbergen, Norway

Exploring Spitsbergen, the largest of the Norwegian-ruled Svalbard islands, rewards you with abundant wildlife and austere beauty. Here you'll visit spectacular glacier fronts and steep-walled fjords with walrus, polar bear and Spitsbergen reindeer among your possible wildlife sightings. Birders will be thrilled to see Arctic terns, skuas, long-tailed ducks, kittiwakes and glaucous and ivory gulls. As an added bonus, when conditions are right, you could sail within 10° of the North Pole!

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 5-6 - Greenland Sea

While sailing the historic Greenland Sea, you'll learn about the wildlife and history of Greenland, your next stop. On deck you'll learn to identify seabirds on the wing. Share photos, sip an icy cocktail in the bar or watch a movie - there are many things to do during your time at sea.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 7-10 - Eastern Greenland

During your tour of Greenland's remote eastern coast, you'll enjoy sea-level Zodiac cruises and shore visits to several locations. Visit the remains of ancient Thule settlements, and keep an eye out for grazing musk oxen, as 40% of the world's population of this fascinating mammal lives here. Finally, sail you will sail through spectacular Scoresbysund, the birthplace of many icebergs, and - some say - the most beautiful fjord system in the world.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 11-12 - Denmark Strait

At sea, the Denmark Strait is your pathway east, towards Iceland. Your onboard Expedition Team will keep you informed and entertained with presentations about the history of exploration in the Arctic and the seabirds that you’ll inevitably see soaring above your ship.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13 - The Westman Islands, Iceland

The local name for these islands is Vestmannaeyjar, named long ago for Irishmen (Westmen) that were enslaved by the medieval Norse-Gaels. This small archipelago is your first sighting of Iceland, the land of fire and ice, which is evident as you tour around the volcanic town of Heimaey. There's also a good chance you'll spot large numbers of puffins on one of the outlying islands or whales in the surrounding water.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 14 - Disembark Reykjavik

Your adventure ends at the port of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. From the port we'll transfer you to the city center. If you boarded the ship in Reykjavik, you will disembark in Longyearbyen.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast



Itinerary Notes: Read this itinerary as a guide only. As this is an expedition to a remote part of the world, our exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditions, wildlife, availability of anchorages, political conditions and other factors beyond our control. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Included: Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping. All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks on board throughout your voyage. All shore landings per the daily program. Leadership throughout the voyage by an experienced Expedition Leader. A daily program of lectures by noted naturalists. All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program. Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting the voyage. A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings. An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep. Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock. A selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin. Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader. All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program. All luggage handling aboard ship. Arrival transfer from Longyearbyen airport to your hotel if you arrive one day prior to embarkation. On embarkation day transfer from your hotel or Longyearbyen airport to the ship. On disembarkation day group transfer from the ship to airport or local designated drop-off location. Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $100,000 per person.

Exclusions: International airfare. Passport and any applicable visa expenses. Government arrival and departure taxes. Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel. Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and medical travel insurance. Excess baggage charges. Laundry and other personal charges. Telecommunications charges. The voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew. Fuel surcharges may apply.

Room Configurations: Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth goes unsold, you will not be penalized. For those who desire single occupancy, cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the twin rate.

Families & Children: At date of embarkation, a minimum age restriction of 8 years and minimum height and weight requirements (weight of 64lbs or 29kg and 48 in. or 1.2 m. tall) must be met. Children under 16 years of age must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times, and may not participate in adventure options.

Arrival & Departure: When considering flights for your Three Arctic Islands cruise plan to arrive Longyearbyen, Norway (LYR) at any time on day 1. Plan flights to depart Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF) no earlier than 12 noon on the final day of the outlined itinerary.

Payment & Cancellation: A deposit of $1,000 or 20% of the total per person is required to confirm a reservation on an Arctic Adventure Ship voyage. The deposit may be paid by bank wire transfer, check, money order or major credit card. Final payment due 120 days prior to departure. We do NOT accept credit cards for Final Payment. Final payment can be made by check or bank wire transfer. All prices and payments are in US dollars and no other currencies can be accepted.

A special cancellation policy applies to all Antarctica trips, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
150 days - admin fee of $500 per person.
119 to 90 days - per person deposit amount
89 to 60 days - per person all deposits and tariffs

Voyage rates are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change prior to departure. Substantial changes in tariffs, exchange rates and the price of fuel sometimes increase the cost of expedition arrangements significantly, and we reserve the right to adjust our prices or introduce surcharges accordingly, even if full payment has been previously received.

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Activities: Zodiac cruising, hiking, snowshoeing and optional sea kayaking (added cost) are available. Sea kayaking costs $595 per person for the 2013 season. If you have paddled the waters of New England or Alaska; if you have kayaked off the coast of California or Canada's Maritimes, you are ready for polar sea�kayaking. Polar kayaking takes place in one of the roughest and toughest environments on Earth. When you settle yourself in one of Sea Spirit's kayaks, you should already be comfortable getting in and out of the boat. Once you have booked your optional adventure, you receive a set of preparation notes that lists the gear supplied plus the gear you must bring with you. Call AdventureSmith for more details.

Qualifications: Three Arctic Islands will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has full mobility, and leads an active life. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join any off-vessel excursions, passengers must be able to navigate the steep, 30-stair, gang-way, un-assisted both down and up. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in Zodiacs. Trip members will take excursions to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. You are traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.


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