12 Night Iceland Jan Mayen and Svalbard Cruise and Land Tour from Reykjavik

Having made your way to Reykjavik, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to your group hotel. Upon arrival, you will be provided with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags for your luggage. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number. Enjoy free time, and in the evening, dine at your leisure (dinner not included). Please note the hotel will not accept early check-in, including your luggage, before 4 pm on the day of arrival. If you wish to check in earlier than 4 pm, you must book an early check-in prior to arrival. Accommodation: Fosshotel Reykjavik

This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labeled with your name and cabin number. Your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival onboard. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day. Breakfast and check-out. Join a guided Golden Circle and Geothermal Energy tour. With 85% of its electricity sourced from renewable sources, Iceland sets an outstanding example when it comes to sustainable energy. Our journey takes us to the famous seismic sights of the Golden Circle route - Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir, and history-rich Thingvellir National Park, before we experience first-hand how green, sustainable energy is produced at one of the largest single-site geothermal power plants on the planet at the Geothermal Energy Exhibition and Ljosafossvirkjun Power Station. After boarding, there's time to settle into your cabin before the important safety briefings. This evening, meet your expedition team and crew at the Welcome Dinner.

Arnarstapi is the starting point of our adventures on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, gateway to Snaefellsjokull National Park. Snaefellsnes Peninsula is an area of diverse landscapes that is characterized by lava fields and glistening fjords and home to a vast array of birdlife. The area is crowned by the magnificent, ice-capped Snaefellsjokull volcano, a 700,000-year-old dormant subglacial volcano, visible from Reykjavik on a clear day and immortalized in Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. You can choose from two shore excursion options that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Option 1 - Natural Wonders of Snaefellsnes (Duration: 8 hours including lunch; Level of difficulty: Moderate): Upon disembarkation, we will hike the coastal trail that connects the two villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. Now a National Reserve, this easy level hike encompasses geology, wildlife, amazing photo opportunities, folklore, and most of all adventure. This old trail takes us along the wild shoreline with a view of the ocean and extraordinary columnar basalt and lava cliff formations on one side and stunning mountains and Snaefellsjokull Glacier on the other. The cliffs are alive with a wide range of bird species such as the Arctic tern, the kittiwakes, gulls, and fulmars. Next, you'll step into the 8,000-year-old Vatnshellir Cave, replete with stunning geology, fascinating rock formations, and colorful volcanic rock. We will meet at our base near the cave, where your friendly guide will provide you with all the equipment that you need, including a helmet and headlamp (consider wearing comfortable and sturdy footwear, as the volcanic rock can be quite difficult to traverse). Then, your friendly guide will give you a brief safety talk before we descend the spiral staircase into this subterranean wonderland. The tour meanders through the path of the lava flow around 200 meters into a large cave that lies around 35 meters beneath the surface of the earth, where we will be greeted by some rainbow-colored volcanic rocks and incredible petrified lava formations. The cave is a fairly easy walk, although it will involve a degree of climbing. Following lunch, re-join the motorcoach and travel to the iconic Mount Kirkjufell, a favorite among photographers and known to many as a filming location for the TV show "Game of Thrones". Not far from this majestic mountain is a waterfall that completes the picturesque scene. Option 2 - Snaefellsnes Adventure (Duration: 8 hours including lunch; Level of difficulty: Moderate-Difficult): The Land of Fire and Ice is well-known for its incredible landscapes and contrasting terrains that include several natural and geological wonders rarely found anywhere else on Earth. The unique geological history of Snaefellsnes will draw you in where you can explore sites revealing Iceland's unique geological history up close. Your first stop is at the Thufubjarg bird cliff, home of nesting puffins and fulmars. From here, hike along the rugged coastline to witness the exceptionally beautiful Londrangar basalt cliffs, a geologic wonder that looks like a huge rock castle. There are many local birds here, and they are a noisy bunch. Puffins, but especially fulmars, nest in the many cavities in the two pillars. From here you hike across a pretty lava field covered in moss to Malarrif, where you can see the lighthouse and explore the beach. Following an early lunch, re-join the motorcoach and head for Eldborg crater, located on a short volcanic rift, just 200 meters in diameter, and 50 meters deep. It is the largest crater on this rift and was created in an eruption which occurred somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago. Unlike many of Iceland's volcanoes, it has a very classic shape, with smooth sloping sides and a very definite crater. A marked hiking path leads through a shrub-covered lava field to the top of the crater offering incredible views of Snaefellsnes National Park. Concluding your day, we continue to the symmetrical, hexagonal-shaped basalt columns at Gerduberg Cliffs. Stand in awe at these impressive cliffs, a natural marvel that spans 500 meters. To enjoy the best view, take a walk by the structures. Climbing up the cliff is possible but to really soak in the views of this geological structure, it's best to enjoy a walk alongside the cliffs.

Over the next two days, we explore the Westfjords region featuring outstanding landscapes with jaw-dropping views of dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, sheer table mountains that plunge into the sea, and pristine North Atlantic vegetation. At Patreksfjordur, a shore excursion by motorcoach takes us to Latrabjarg cliffs. As Europe's largest bird cliff, Latrabjarg is home to millions of seabirds, such as puffin, razorbill, fulmar, and guillemot. Enjoy the impressive variety of natural wonders and unspoiled nature. Latrabjarg also happens to be the westernmost point in Europe. In the afternoon, enjoy the bountiful silence and magnificent landscapes as we make our way north, spotting whales and other wildlife along the way.

Thingeyri, a quaint village nestled on a slender strip of land, graces the shores of one of Iceland's most picturesque fjords, Dyrafjordur. Much like many other coastal settlements in Iceland, the village's culture and industry have been intricately woven with the influence of the sea over centuries. The surrounding landscape is adorned with towering mountains, lending a distinctive charm to the scenic expanse that envelops Thingeyri. This idyllic region is often hailed as the "Alps of the Westfjords", especially the highland area nestled between the majestic fjords of Dyrafjordur and Arnarfjordur. The beauty of Thingeyri lies not only in its coastal simplicity but also in the dramatic backdrop of high mountains that paints a captivating portrait of this Icelandic village. You can choose from the shore excursion options that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Option 1 - That Viking Thing Experience (Duration: 2 hours + free time; Level of difficulty: Easy): Today, you will step back in time and learn about the Viking ways and how the hardy Norse people lived off the land. Walk through a recreated Viking area, learning about what is fact and what is fiction in the many stories you've heard about the famous Vikings. A short hike brings you to the old ruins of the Viking meeting place called a thing - the closest translation in English is 'parliament'. Step inside the interactive Viking Museum for a chance to dress up in authentic hand-sewn Viking clothing, take photographs, drink Icelandic Viking beer, bake your own Viking bread, and explore the museum, all part of learning more about Viking ways. Option 2 - Sandafell Mountain Hike (Duration: 3 hours; Level of difficulty: Moderate-Difficult): For avid explorers, Iceland is littered with hidden gems, and possibly the best-kept secret of all is the Westfjords. Lying in the most north-westerly area of the island, this sprawling area of natural beauty is truly a hiker's paradise. Rocky peaks, deep crevices, and charming Icelandic towns all add to the appeal of the Westfjords, not to mention the various hiking trails snaking across the unusual countryside. Today, we will hike Sandafell, offering gorgeous views over the town, surrounding mountains and the water below.

We sail across the Denmark Strait to Jan Mayen Island accompanied by sea birds while keeping a close watch for whales. Enjoy informative and entertaining lectures and presentation from the team of experts, get to know your fellow expeditioners, or stay active at the gym.

The approach to Jan Mayen is spectacular. The huge 2,277-meter (7,470 feet) Beerenberg volcano is the northernmost active volcano in the world, and it last erupted in 1985. The northern part of the island is a great place to look for whales and dolphins and contains impressive glaciers, some of which reach the sea. If the weather is favorable, we will try to land at Kvalrossbukta, a relatively sheltered bay on the island's west coast. This is one of the landings used to supply the weather station Olonkinbyen, situated on the eastern side of the island. We hope to land on front of the Norwegian station at Olonkinbyen and stop to visit the weather station before embarking on a three-hour hike (weather permitting) to the other side of the island where our vessel will be waiting for us in Kvalrossbukta. Our trusty Zodiacs will transport us back to the ship.

The sea around Jan Mayen offers excellent whale-watching opportunities (bottlenose, fin, and perhaps bowhead whales in the pack ice). Sail towards Svalbard, searching for the ice edge as we continue north, retracing the route of Dutch explorer Willem Barents who discovered Spitsbergen and the Barents Sea, named after him. It is breeding season for the harp seals, and we hope to see them breeding on sea ice. As we approach Svalbard, our focus will be on spotting polar bears hunting on the pack ice.

Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. The members of the experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options, based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions, and the possibility of encounters with wildlife. Phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains ranges, and a polar desert rich in fossils, set the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. See walrus hauled out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, we stretch our legs on walks across tundra carpeted in brightly colored wildflowers. We visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard's largest little auk colonies. Most memorable will be encounters with the majestic polar bear on pack ice. Your expedition team is just as keen as you are to find them - they will be on constant watch to spot these inspiring creatures. If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you will have an opportunity to enjoy that activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you will hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip - a memory you will savor for years to come.

During the early morning we sail into Longyearbyen. Farewell your expedition team, before further enjoying explorations of fascinating Longyearbyen to learn the town's history, its geology, flora, fauna, and the modern community that call the place home. Visit Svalbard Museum and Galleri Svalbard, Office of the Governor, Svalbard Church, Nybyen (new town), some of the town's mines including Santa Claus Mine, and make a quick photo stop at the famous beware of polar bear street sign. Afterwards, transfer to the airport to continue your journey. Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, booking flights departing Longyearbyen prior to 12 pm on the day of disembarkation is not recommended in case there are delays.