Faroe Islands, Iceland, Spitsbergen – Island Hopping In and Around the Arctic (Itinerary 1)

Explore Bergen´s historic harbour area with its fish market and UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharf of colourful wooden warehouses that date back to the 1300s. You can also board a funicular up nearby Mount Fløyen. There, you’ll enjoy views over Bergen, and maybe even spot your ship, MS Spitsbergen, docked below.

Located in the Funningsfjordur inlet in the Faroe Islands, the village of Elduvík lies by the shore at the end of a long, lush valley surrounded by stunning green mountains and with the river Stórá running through the middle. Just 23 people inhabit the village, complete with a school, church, dock, pier, and colourful houses.

Bakkagerði is one of Iceland’s smallest hamlets, a quiet haven well off the tourist track. The place is so well-known for its fairy-tale-like natural beauty, the locals have come to call the region `The Land of the Elves´. Many puffin colonies also line the nearby fjord, making it a popular place for birdwatching.

Welcome to Iceland’s largest community outside of Reykjavík. Expect comfy cafés, restaurants, and chic art galleries. There are also various museums of interest, distinct churches, and the botanical gardens which will be in full bloom at the time of your visit. Akureyri is also close to natural treasures, such as lake Mývatn and Goðafoss waterfall.

The Norwegian island of Jan Mayen has two main areas. The north is dominated by ice-capped Beerenberg, the northernmost active volcano on earth. The south is flatter and unglaciated, and where 30 people live at a weather station. The island is a breeding site for large numbers of seabirds such as fulmars, auks, and guillemots. 

Visits to Jan Mayen are extremely rare, and Hurtigruten are one of the few to attempt landings on this Arctic island.

Summertime in the Svalbard Archipelago is when polar bears trek along the coast’s drifting ice on the hunt for seals. With a bit of luck, we hope to spot one or more of these top predators in the national park.

Depending on the movement and thickness of the sea ice, we might visit Kongsfjord´s mighty glaciers and catch sight of icebergs calving into the sea. We also plan to call on Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town now transformed into an international science centre. Here, you’ll find 16 permanent research stations from 10 countries dedicated to the study of glaciology, wildlife, and climate change.