The Three Pearls of the Arctic: Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland 25% Advantage

The journey begins in the Arctic north in Longyearbyen on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and continues westwards across open polar waters to the coast of Grönland, before proceeding on to Island. On board the MS Sea Spirit, the focus is on the character of an expedition voyage: the programme remains flexible and is adapted to weather, ice and sea conditions, so routes and landings are determined situationally. During the voyage, longer sea passages alternate with possible Zodiac cruises and shore landings whenever conditions allow. Expert lectures by the expedition team complement observations on deck and provide background knowledge on the nature, wildlife and history of the regions visited. Wildlife sightings are possible but cannot be guaranteed. After sailing along the coast of East Greenland, the ship crosses the Dänemarkstraße and reaches the Westfjords of Iceland before the journey concludes in Reykjavík. Overall, the route combines natural history exploration with a professionally guided expedition atmosphere and offers insight into several Arctic regions.

The first departure from 2 August 2026 holds a special position, as it coincides with a total solar eclipse. In suitable visibility conditions, this rare astronomical event may be observed from the ship and will be accompanied by expert commentary. This natural phenomenon is unique to this specific date and is not part of the other voyages on the same route.
 

Itinerary: The Three Pearls of the Arctic – Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland

 
Day 1: Arrival in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Your journey begins with your arrival in Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on the island group of Spitsbergen in the Norwegian High Arctic territory of Svalbard. You will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel included in the tour price. You will have time to explore the compact town centre and gain an impression of daily life in this northern polar region. A visit to the Svalbard Museum is recommended to learn more about the area.

Day 2: Embarkation in Longyearbyen
After breakfast, you may use the morning at leisure to further explore Longyearbyen. In the afternoon, you board the MS Sea Spirit and settle into your cabin. Following an introduction by the expedition team, the first onboard programme begins, including informative lectures and dinner, before the ship sails through the Isfjorden into Arctic waters.

Days 3–10: Sea voyage and exploration between Spitsbergen and East Greenland
The coming days are devoted to orientation on board, becoming familiar with the expedition routine and crossing western Arctic waters towards East Greenland. During this stage, regular presentations are offered by the expedition team, and there are opportunities to observe landscapes, ice formations and marine life from the open decks. Polar bears, seals, various whale species and Arctic seabirds are among the wildlife found in this region.

Day 11: Day of the total solar eclipse
On 12 August 2026, while sailing off the coast of Greenland, a special opportunity arises. Guests on board the MS Sea Spirit at this time may, weather and visibility permitting, observe a total solar eclipse. The expedition team will accompany this astronomical event with expert explanations. As the sighting depends on both timing and weather, it is not a fixed component of departures at other times.

On all other departures, this day follows the regular expedition programme with a sea passage, possible landings or Zodiac cruises, as well as lectures and nature observation on board.

Day 12: Crossing the Denmark Strait
After sailing in East Greenland waters, the MS Sea Spirit crosses the Denmark Strait and heads towards Iceland. During this passage, the expedition team offers lectures, workshops and information sessions on nature and polar topics to make good use of the time at sea.

Day 13: Vestfirðir (Westfjords), Iceland
On the second day approaching Iceland, the expedition reaches the Vestfirðir, the western fjord region of the country. This area is characterised by rugged coastlines and extensive fjords. Depending on route and conditions, views of coastal landscapes, marine wildlife and local geological features may be observed.

Day 14: Disembarkation in Reykjavik
The expedition ends in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland in the North Atlantic. After breakfast, you disembark from the MS Sea Spirit and conclude your journey.

Additional informations: On board, Poseidon Expeditions offers a dedicated photography programme in which an experienced expedition photographer provides lectures, practical advice and assistance with photography on deck, in Zodiacs and during shore landings. The programme is suitable for both beginners and more experienced photographers and is included in the tour price. In addition, selected coastal areas and sheltered waters can be explored actively as part of an optional sea kayaking programme. Due to limited places and consistently high demand, advance booking prior to departure is recommended, as availability on board cannot always be guaranteed.
Show all dates