Ittoqqortoormiit (Greenland) | Longyearbyen (Norway) | Reykjavik (Iceland) | Svalbard (Norway)
The following are Arctic Highlights Southbound tour dates available from G Adventures. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.
Embark aboard the Expedition in the afternoon and depart Longyearbyen in the late afternoon. Arrival transfer included.
Please make sure you drop your checked luggage off at the meeting point between 9am - 12pm. A local representative will be in the luggage storage room. They can provide general information about the town or your embarkation process.All passengers will be transferred to the ship as a group for embarkation at 4pm. Please ensure that for embarkation you have your passport accessible (not in your luggage which is being transferred separately to the ship).
Please ensure your flight arrives by 2pm at the latest in order to be on time for today's 4pm embarkation.
In the afternoon, join your fellow passengers to take your group transfer and begin your journey on the Expedition. Please refer to your welcome letter or the joining instructions posted in the lobby of the start hotel. Make sure you have your passport handy as you are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
Locate the G representative for your included arrival transfer.
Taking advantage of local ice and weather conditions, explore the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, one of those rare places on Earth blessed with both awe-inspiring landscape and compelling history.
Over four full days, explore a small portion of the western coast of Svalbard. Entering the fall the days are getting shorter so try to take advantage of all of the sunlight possible to search for wildlife. Spend these days in search of the elusive polar bears as they hunt seals. Look out for Svalbard's unique subspecies of reindeer. Although much smaller than their southern relatives, they still carry impressive antlers. Keep a sharp lookout for Arctic foxes. By not having a set itinerary, we take on an expedition spirit and are free to take advantage of the best that Svalbard has to offer.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Jump into a Zodiac, and head out to explore. Keep an eye out for wildlife. The expert Expedition staff will teach the group about the flora and fauna along the way. This activity depends on weather and ice conditions.
Keep an eye out for majestic whales, which are known to feed here in the summer months. Spot orca, humpback and minke whales, as well as dolphins. Enjoy lectures by expedition staff.
Frigid waters drain from the Arctic Ocean in a southwest current along the coast of Northeast Greenland. Often, drifting pack ice is pushed along the coast. We will attempt to approach and follow the pack ice edge to explore the polar seascape. Keep a lookout for sea mammals like seals and whales and also sea birds such as kittiwakes and fulmars.
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on anything from local wildlife to the history and exploration of the Arctic.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Spend a few days exploring the massive fjord system of Northeast Greenland National Park, which includes portions of Scorsbysund. Visit the tiny settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit for a look at how these most northerly people live.
Sail through and land in some of the most spectacular fjord country in the world along down the coast of Greenland, while exploring rarely visited glaciers, bays and inlets. This is the largest national park in the world, nearly impossible to reach except on expedition ships. Spectacular geology combined with glacial features create steep mountains raising directly from the sea. Look out for picturesque scenery, wildlife and other interesting landing sites in this unspoiled wilderness. Depending on ice, spend these days exploring the massive fjord system of Northeast Greenland National Park, which includes portions of Scoresbysund. These intricate fjord systems are everything from wide and unimaginable to narrow and steeply spectacular with some of the best mountain scenery in the world. Walking over lush stands of colourful autumn tundra may lead to opportunities to see musk oxen grazing nearby.
Visit Ittoqqortoormiit for an up close look into life in the most remote town in Greenland. This small settlement is home to only 450 individuals and one grocery store. The people of Ittiqqortoormiit rely heavily on hunting and fishing and have honed these skillsets for many generations. They enjoy spending warmer weather on dog sleds, snowmobile trips, or camping excursions. With the closest inhabited settlement hundreds of miles away across some of the most unforgivable terrain in the world, the warmth and sense of community fostered by the people of Ittiqqortoormiit act as a beacon in the Arctic.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Enjoy the lecture series while watching the seas for whales. Head towards Iceland and the steaming hot springs of Reykjavik. The view is often complemented by soaring fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, guillemots, and razorbills.
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on anything from local wildlife to the history and exploration of the Arctic.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Shortly after breakfast, disembark at the Midbakki Pier - Port of Reykjavik, walking distance from downtown.
For guests departing on disembarkation day, G Adventures will provide a complimentary transfer at 8:00am to Keflavik International Airport from the port.For guests who are planning on staying in Reykjavik post trip, taxis will be available for hire at the pier to transfer them to their accommodations. All transfer arrangements will be confirmed while on board prior to departure, to ensure that all needs are met.Please do not book onward travel prior to `12:00pm.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
G Adventures is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Arctic Highlights Southbound tour:
Max 128 aboard the Expedition.
14 nts aboard the Expedition. Arrival transfer. Transfer from meeting point to ship (Longyearbyen). Zodiac excursions with our expert expedition team. Lectures and educational programs. Visit to a local community (Greenland). Departure transfer (Reykjavik, depending on flight). Waterproof boots supplied for USA sizes 4 - 16. Expedition parka.
Explore the edges of an ice floe by Zodiac, Walk on the tundra searching for birds, Keep an eye out for a variety of whale species, Learn about the Arctic from lectures and on-site briefings, Sail through magnificent fjords and visit a local Greenland community in Ittoqqortoormiit
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Aboard the Expedition in triple-, twin-share cabins, or suites (all with en suite bathrooms and porthole or window, 14 nts). Please note that all cabins consist of twin-size berths and are ocean-facing. Suites have one queen-size bed.
14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 14 dinners
Onboard our expedition ships you’ll find a diversity of gourmet international cuisines prepared and catered by professional chefs; all meals are included in the price of your expedition. Dining is casual, tables are unassigned and the dining room is capable of seating the entire passenger compliment at one time. There is always a selection of different meals available, and vegetarians will find plenty of options. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice, please advise us at time of confirmation. Coffee, tea and water are all provided free of charge. All other beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic are not included and can be purchased in the dining room, pub, or in the lounge.
One expedition team member per 10 guests.
A carefully chosen team will lead our voyage. Our expedition ships boast an international team of professional naturalists and lecturers. Their goal is to provide an informed and balanced interpretation of the destination, accomplished through stimulating lectures, day-to-day briefings, and informal discussions. Your lecturers and Expedition Leader will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment, as well as practical things like photography. The expedition staff work conscientiously with you on deck and in the field, improving your observational skills to allow you to experience all that the destination has to offer. Their strong sense of ethics and ecological knowledge make for stimulating and mindful conversation whether onshore or at the dinner table. The expedition staff will pilot the Zodiac landing craft used for shore landings and Zodiac cruises; they are experienced drivers who operate the Zodiacs in a responsible manner.
No, international flights are generally not included in the price of your tour. However, on some combo tours travelling between two different countries, international flights are included as part of the itinerary and price of the tour. Please speak to your GCO or booking agent for further details. In addition, check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Expedition, Zodiac, local bus, walking.
Minimum age of 10 years for this trip.
Documents:o Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)o Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)o Passport (required) (With photocopies)o Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)o Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)Expedition:o Binoculars (highly recommended)o Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)o Credit cards (Please note the Expedition is cashless and only accepts credit cards for payment.)o Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)o Drybag (To protect your camera and belongings on Zodiac landings)o Ear plugso First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)o Flashlight/torch (Recommended for Antarctic camping)o Fleece jacket or warm layero Fleece top/sweatero Footwear (good gripping) (Please note that open toed shoes are not allowed in public spaces on the Expedition.)o Hato Long pants/jeanso Moisturizer/lip balmo Moneybelto Motion sickness tabletso Outlet adapter (Electricity onboard is 220AC electrical outlets, with European 2 pin round holes, as well as 110-volt shaving sockets in the bathroom for electric razors only.)o Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)o Scarf (Or neck warmer.)o Shirts/t-shirtso Sleepwearo Sunblock (Antarctica is a desert!)o Sunglasseso Swimwearo Thermal base layero Thermal underwearo Toiletries (Shampoo and shower gel are provided aboard the Expedition.)o Walking poles (if desired)o Warm hato Warm waterproof gloveso Watch and alarm clocko Waterproof pants (Mandatory for all Zodiac landings)o Wool/Heavy socksHealth & Safety:o Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)o Hand sanitizero Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
Aboard the Expedition, laundry is available to be serviced by our shipboard team at an additional charge.
OUR COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE TRAVELAs a leader in Sustainable Tourism, we are committed to ensuring that all of our marine expeditions operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. All expeditions aboard the expedition ship meet and exceed all environmental regulations and protocols in the regions that we visit.Staff & Crew:Our crew and expedition team act as stewards of the environment and are well versed in the strict environmental protocols on board and on land. All of our travellers are thoroughly briefed in these protocols before being allowed to participate in excursions and are always supervised by our team when on shore.4-Stroke Outboard Engines:In an effort to drastically reduce environmental pollutants 4-stroke outboard engines have been installed on all of our zodiacs. Our 4-stroke outboard motors use less fuel and produce less noise pollution than 2-stroke engines. Since there is no mixing of oil and gas the exhaust is intrinsically much cleaner and friendlier to the environment.Planeterra FoundationThrough our commitment to responsible tourism we have developed the Planeterra Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports local community projects and international charities around the world.Sea Chart Auction:At the end of each departure, the Captain’s Sea Chart is auctioned and all proceeds are donated to international organizations through Planeterra.Our end goal is to minimize the potential negative impact of tourism in the areas we operate while maximizing the positive impact of instilling a widened understanding and appreciation of these regions. During our voyages, we ask all our passengers that they see their visit to these areas as a privilege and that they share their newfound knowledge and experiences with others when they return home. We also hope that by bringing people to these regions that they continue to act as ambassadors and stewards of these areas.