Navigate from Scotland to Svalbard on this unique and extensive 16-night voyage aboard the exclusively chartered Ortelius in the company of conservationist and broadcaster Mark Carwardine and photographer Joe Cornish.
We have exclusively chartered the 108-passenger Ortelius – a comfortable and ice-strengthened polar expedition ship – for this wonderful 16-night wildlife expedition cruise from the east coast of Scotland all the way to the icy realms of Svalbard. During the voyage we’ll visit prime sites in the North Atlantic, the Greenland Sea, and the Arctic Ocean and, along the way, will have plenty of time ashore and multiple opportunities to enjoy the fabulous variety of wildlife.
We hope to visit the world-renowned bird paradise of Fair Isle, the remote islets of North Rona and Rockall, explore Iceland’s moon-like landscapes and rugged coastline and sail through one of the best places in the world for blue whales. In addition, we will stand on the Arctic Circle, visit the home of the last breeding pair of great auks, explore the mysterious island of Jan Mayen, cruise along the pack ice and look for polar bears in the high Arctic. All of this before exploring parts of Svalbard and disembarking in Longyearbyen.
“This is a rare opportunity to go in search of some of the best wildlife of the North Atlantic and the high Arctic – minke whales, blue whales and an impressive variety of other whales and dolphins, several of the biggest seabird colonies in the world, polar bears, walruses, harp seals, and much more – all in a single trip. We may be departing from Aberdeen, yet we will visit some of the most remote and seldom visited wildlife-rich hotspots in the region.” Mark Carwardine
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Meet in Aberdeen & board M/V Ortelius
Today, we meet at the port in Aberdeen and board the Ortelius for our 16-night voyage from Scotland to Svalbard. Once on board, we are shown to our cabins before meeting the expedition team and having an orientation and safety briefing before setting sail in the early evening. We enjoy dinner and navigate through the night to Fair Isle, arriving the following morning.
Accommodation: Ortelius, 16-nights
Day2: Explore Fair Isle
We explore tiny Fair Isle, a beautifully rugged island roughly halfway between Orkney and the Shetland Mainland and home to just 60 people. This is the most geographically remote inhabited island in the UK, best known as a critically important breeding ground for seabirds and a stopping-off point for migrant birds, including frequent rarities.
Early June is an ideal time to visit, and we should have a good chance of seeing the island’s endemic subspecies of wren – the Fair Isle wren – and a wide variety of cetaceans, such as minke whale, orca, white-beaked dolphin and Atlantic white-sided dolphin that frequent the waters around Fair Isle.
Day3: Visit North Rona & Sula Sgeir
Having navigated westwards from Fair Isle, we visit the remote British island of North Rona in the morning, which is situated over 70 kilometres away from mainland Scotland. If the weather and sea conditions are favourable, we will attempt to make a landing on North Rona to enjoy the sheer wilderness of this island and also the wildlife it is home to. It is important to wear good waterproof clothing and footwear for the landing because there is no pier or jetty, so we will be disembarking the Zodiacs directly on to the shoreline.
Once on land, we enjoy the spectacular landscape as well as observe the local wildlife which could include great skua, European storm petrel, fulmar and Leach's petrel.
This afternoon, we continue westwards to another extremely remote island called Sula Sgeir. This island is particularly famous for its northern gannet colony, and we should see these fantastic birds from the Ortelius. Again, it may be possible for us to land on Sula Sgeir if the weather and sea conditions are on our side.
Day4: Sail to Rockall
We spend much of today sailing to the small and remote granite islet of Rockall which is way out in the North Atlantic. Despite its location, Rockall has a fascinating history and continues to be the subject of sovereignty claims from a number of nations. At Rockall, we also enjoy the northern gannet colony that lives on the islet, before spending the rest of today and the following day sailing north towards Iceland.
Day5: Continue sailing north to Iceland
We continue sailing north towards Iceland across the North Atlantic Ocean. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some lectures and presentations given by the expedition team and our tour leaders as we navigate. There is also time to head out on deck and keep an eye out for any cetaceans or seabirds we encounter along the way.
Day6: Explore Westman Islands
This morning we reach the southern coast of Iceland and, in particular, the Westman Islands. We visit Heimaey which is the largest and only inhabited island in the archipelago and an excellent location for observing Atlantic puffin. The Westman Islands are also a good opportunity to observe some cetaceans, including orca.
Later in the day, we circumnavigate the island of Eldey before continuing to sail westward following the Icelandic coastline. Eldey is home to the largest northern gannet colony in Iceland, and we will also pay homage to the location where the great auk officially became extinct in 1844.
Day7: Faxaflói Bay & Snæfellsnes Peninsula
To start the day, we sail into Faxaflói Bay and towards Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik. In the summer months, the bay is an excellent spot for observing whales and dolphins, including white-beaked dolphins, minke and humpback whales.
We continue around the bay and head towards the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Snæfellsjökull Volcano made famous by Jules Verne in his classic Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Once again, whale watching opportunities abound whilst sailing around the peninsula.
We finish the day with a Zodiac cruise at the Latrabjarg Sea Cliffs, which are the largest sea cliffs in Iceland, rising to a height of over 400 metres. These cliffs are a haven for hundreds and thousands of birds who use the cliffs to nest. Latrabjarg is one of the finest birdwatching locations in Europe, and we should see Atlantic puffin, razorbill, Arctic tern, guillemot and possibly eider duck.
Day8: Sail around the north-west coast of Iceland
We spend our time sailing around the north-west coast of Iceland. Again, this will be another chance to enjoy some presentations and lectures from the expedition team and our tour leaders. Alternatively, you can head out on deck and scan for cetaceans or wildlife along the shoreline.
Day9: Skjalfandi Bay & Grimsey Island
During the course of today, we explore the north coast of Iceland and, in particular, Skjalfandi Bay and Grimsey Island. June is the peak time for encountering blue whales in Skjalfandi Bay, and we could also observe white-beaked dolphin, minke whale and harbour porpoise as we navigate the bay.
Afterwards, we sail a short distance north to Grimsey Island. This small island is home to fewer than 100 people and more than a million seabirds. The Arctic Circle divides it, and we get a chance to stand astride this most famous of latitudes. The chorus of kittiwakes and fulmars never stops during the long hours of daylight here, but it is the puffins that are the highlight. Grimsey has one of the largest puffin colonies in Iceland, and one of the country’s largest Arctic tern colonies, whilst it's also black guillemots, common guillemots, Brunnich’s guillemots and razorbills galore.
Day10: Sail north to the island of Jan Mayen
Leaving Iceland behind, we sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen. Lectures, presentations and scanning for wildlife from the deck will be the order of the day once again.
Day11: Explore Jan Mayen
Located more than 450 kilometres north-east of Iceland, the volcanic island of Jan Mayen is our next stop on this voyage. As we approach, we keep an eye out for orca, fin, minke and blue whale. Today, if the weather and sea conditions allow, we hope to land on the island itself as well as explore its coastline by Zodiac. The birdlife is excellent on Jan Mayen, and we hope to spot king eiders, little auks, fulmars and Brunnich’s guillemots.
The island is dominated by the still active glacier-covered Beerenburg Volcano and is only accessible by ice-strengthened ships. Here we also explore a weather station, which can be visited now with permission from the Norwegian authorities.
Day12: Sail due north to the edge of the Arctic pack ice
We sail due north towards the edge of the Arctic pack ice and continue to scan for wildlife as we make our way.
Days13-14: Explore the Arctic pack ice
Having reached the Arctic pack ice which tends to congregate off the east coast of Greenland, we spend the next couple of days exploring this unique habitat in search of some of the Arctic's most iconic species including polar bear, bowhead whale, harp seal, ivory gull and king eider. We also head out on the Zodiacs where we can, to really immerse ourselves in the breathtaking scenery.
Day15: Visit West Coast of Spitsbergen
Having followed the edge of the pack ice, we continue sailing to the west coast of Spitsbergen, and we plan to visit a few locations over the course of the day.
We start the day by visiting Konngsfjord. This glacial fjord is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, and the summer months are the peak time for wildlife. Here we hope to encounter ringed and bearded seal, long-tailed duck, red-throated diver, king eider, minke whale and even beluga whale if we are lucky.
Afterwards, we navigate a short distance further north to the 14th July Glacier (and possibly Lille Höök Glacier if we have time). Named after the French Bastille Day by Prince Albert I of Monaco, the 14th July Glacier is more than 15 kilometres in length and over 30 metres above sea level at its highest point glacier which crosses down to Krossfjorden. Surrounded by rugged mountains, the blue-white glacier stands out beautifully against the Arctic landscape. The adjacent cliffs are also breeding grounds for Brunnich's guillemot and black-legged kittiwake.
Day16: Explore Central Spitsbergen
Today's first stop is the walrus haul out at Poolepynten. These huge pinnipeds are one of the most memorable and intriguing species in the Arctic, so we enjoy an extended outing on the Zodiacs to watch these amazing creatures. Afterwards, we sail up Isfjord and towards the Ymerbutka Glacier. On the way, there should be good opportunities for viewing humpback, fin and minke whale.
Once we reach the Ymerbutka Glacier, we head out on the Zodiacs to explore this glacier in more detail. We pass by icebergs and take in the sheer scale of this glacier. This habitat is also a haven for birdlife, especially flocks of eiders including king, common and Steller's.
In the evening, we anchor up at the harbour for Longyearbyen, where we enjoy our final dinner on board the Ortelius.
Day17: Disembark & transfer to airport
This morning we disembark the Ortelius and transfer to the airport for our flights back to the UK or continue with other travel arrangements.
Please note: The itinerary may change during the voyage due to weather, sea and ice conditions as well as recent wildlife sighting reports.
Key info
Duration and price excluding international flights: 17 daysfrom £7,995 pp
Trip type:
Voyage
Group size: 108
Group Departures:
Make a booking request.
, Fully booked
We are currently finalising future dates for this tour. Please contact us for further details.
Included in the price/package:
16 nights on board M/V Ortelius
Most meals
Guided excursions
Services of expedition team
Services and lectures from Mark Carwardine & Joe Cornish
Zoologist Mark Carwardine is a widely published wildlife photographer, an award-winning writer, a TV and radio presenter, a best-selling author of more than 50 books, a long-time BBC Wildlife magazine columnist and an outspoken environmentalist.
He presented BBC Radio 4’s weekly programme Nature for many years and is best known for his Last Chance to See books, radio series and TV series with Douglas Adams and Stephen Fry. He was Chair of the Judging Panel of the prestigious ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ competition for seven years and was selected as one of ‘The World’s 40 Most Influential Nature Photographers’ in Outdoor Photography magazine. He recently presented and produced the brand new BBC Wildlife Photography Masterclass series on YouTube.
A wildlife and landscape photographer, Joe started his career freelancing for the National Trust in 1988.
Years of close encounters with nature have left him him convinced of the need to reconnect people with the natural world, and travelling to Antarctica with Mark Carwardine in 2013 reignited Joe's passion for wilderness. He has subsequently joined Mark on trips in Svalbard and Baffin Island.
Books are the heart of Joe’s photographic output, and he has written several landscape photography publications, including Scotland's Coast, and the critically acclaimed Scotland's Mountains. His training in fine art and experience assisting commercial photographers have helped Joe bring together these two worlds, and his enthusiasm has made him a popular speaker and workshop leader.
Chris studied Geographical Sciences in Plymouth, however his first encounter with the wider world was in 1983, when he headed off to Zambia.
Under the tutelage of the late Norman Carr, the pioneer of walking safaris, he worked as a wildlife guide and managed a wilderness camp. On his return to the UK, he had a spell at a major tour operator before setting up Wildlife Worldwide in 1992.
Since then he has travelled the world in search of first-class wildlife experiences. He devised the Festival of Wildlife concept, which has spawned the Festival of Bears. An ardent conservationist, Chris has co-led each of these since their inception. He dedicates several weeks each year to communicating his irrepressible passion for nature to those who travel with him.
Rachel Ashton has worked closely with conservationist and broadcaster Mark Carwardine since 2004 when she became his Project Manager.
She has helped with book research, handling bookings and assisting Mark on tours such as whale watching in Mexico, snorkelling with sperm whales in Dominica and on polar expedition voyages. She is a wildlife enthusiast, diver and passionate about marine life.
With a background in advertising and marketing, Rachel has previously worked as a Features Editor at BBC Wildlife Magazine, and has also co-written captions for the renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
High above the Arctic Circle lies the remarkable archipelago known in Norwegian as Svalbard. Spitsbergen, the main island, means 'jagged peaks' and befits this remarkable land with its spectacular coastline, littered with glaciers flowing into the sea, and high cliffs with endless opportunities for viewing wildlife.
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The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a 90km stretch of coastline comprising a world of diversity and includes the Snaefellsnes National Park at its western most end. Friendly towns and villages, spectacular mountains, a multitude of bird species nesting on treacherous cliffs and superb whale watching opportunities.
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Where: Borgarfjörður
Ideal for viewing: orca, white-beaked dolphin, Arctic tern, kittiwake, rsven
Excellent for: Whale watching, Dolphin watching
This itinerary is available on the following
cruise vessel:
The ice-strengthened Ortelius is an excellent vessel for expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. With the highest ice-class notation, it offers possibilities to travel to remote locations such as the Ross Sea and Franz Josef Land. Flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities.
Find Out More about Ortelius
