Four Arctic Islands: Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, Greenland and Iceland

Take a private charter from Helsinki to Spitsbergen and board your floating home away from home for the next 16 nights. A true adventure on the seas you’ll explore Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago and revel in the countless opportunities to spot abundant wildlife, visit spectacular glacier fronts and see tundra in full bloom. Then cruise on down to Greenland via the mist-shrouded and mysterious Jan Mayen Island that rises from the depths of the North Atlantic Sea. You’ll explore Greenland’s Scoresby Sund and the remains of its ancient Thule settlements with views of icebergs and towering mountains rising straight out of the sea before reaching our fourth and final artic island of the trip – Iceland. This trip is a nature-lover's dream as you visit what can only be described as a wonderland for wildlife and remote wilderness so vast, you’ll feel like you’re in another world. As you’d expect, temperatures in the Arctic are very cold. A warm parka will be provided along with waterproof boots and unlimited hot drinks, but you should also bring base layers and lots of warm clothing. Please see the trip notes for further important information about what to bring.Weather depending, you will be making regular excursions in a Zodiac boat to explore the local area and look for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac, so make sure you are dressed appropriately and that you keep your camera safe and dry. Sturdy sea legs are needed as you make wet and dry landings from the boat, and on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces. Some ships have a lot of stairs, so please hold on to the handrails if seas are rough.The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area.This trip takes places during the time of year that Spitsbergen enjoys 24-hour daylight. Just one of the benefits of this is that incredible wildlife can be seen at any time of the day – be prepared to be woken at any time so as to not miss out on exciting animal sightings.Polar bears are one of the most incredible and appealing animals on the planet, but they are also powerful predators with little fear of humans. Therefore it’s necessary to be aware of the guidelines surrounding any contact with Polar bears. Follow your leader’s instructions and do not stray from your group – your leader carries equipment to protect you.