Expedition Overview
Expedition Overview
SPECIAL OFFERS
- 2023 Polar: Book One Get One 20% Off
Book select departures of Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland’s East Coast and get 20% off one select departure of Journey to Antarctica or South Georgia and The Falklands for travel through February 2024. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures. Not applicable on extensions or fourth guest travels free offer. Call for details.
- Using the latest satellite imagery and the ice-strengthened hull of the National Geographic Explorer, we find navigable spots among the ice to discover some of the planet’s most pristine waters.
- This itinerary is shaped by potential wildlife sightings, increasing our opportunities for spotting walruses, whales, reindeer, and polar bears.
- Slip among massive ice floes, and view icebergs at water level while exploring by kayak and Zodiac.
- Go ashore with our naturalists to hike Svalbard’s vast tundra and explore remote Icelandic villages.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Venture to the wonders of the north on an epic expedition aboard the National Geographic Explorer that combines the polar bears of Svalbard, the geological phenomena of Iceland, and the ice-hewn coasts of Greenland. Kayak among incandescent icebergs, visit some of the most remote settlements on Earth, and watch for polar bears, walruses, and whales on a quest to discover the Arctic’s grand wilderness.
This trip is operated in collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions.
Fly overnight to Oslo and check in to our hotel. Explore this charming city upon arrival. Stroll amid the famed Vigeland sculptures—hundreds of life-size human figures set in parkland. Then visit the Fram Museum, dedicated to the wooden ship sailed by Norwegian polar explorers Nansen and Amundsen.
Catch a charter flight to Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in Svalbard, and embark the National Geographic Explorer.
Situated far above the Arctic Circle, Svalbard is an archipelago of deep fjords, snowcapped mountains, and massive ice sheets—and it’s one of the best places to see polar bears in their natural environment. During our time here, we'll venture to the feet of vast tidewater glaciers, kayak among sparkling icebergs, hike across the tundra, and explore spectacular fjords that split the coastline.
We then turn west toward the Greenland Sea. In keeping with the nature of a true Arctic expedition, our itinerary here is defined by the water. Using the latest satellite imagery—and our extensive experience exploring the region—we’ll chart where the ice is impenetrable and choose our route accordingly. Our strengthened hull and forward-searching sonar, as well as agile Zodiacs and kayaks, allow us to make forays amid the ice to search for wildlife.
Be on deck as our captain navigates among icebergs that drift from calving glaciers along Greenland’s eastern shore. If the ice yields, we’ll maneuver into the Scoresbysund fjord to visit a remote settlement as it awakens from winter’s icy grip. If the ice does not relent, we’ll continue south, exploring the edges of the ice, or set a course to Iceland to continue our explorations. Our voyage ends on Iceland’s west coast, where we’ll visit the picturesque town of Ísafjördur, spot razorbills on the immense Látrabjarg cliffs, and visit the former trading post of Flatey Island.
In Reykjavík, take a guided tour of the old town and soak in the famous Blue Lagoon before catching your flight home.