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16 Nights Scotland to Spitsbergen

16 Nights Scotland to Spitsbergen

$11,215.00Price

Few itineraries feature such contrasting destinations in a single trip—but our 17-day Scotland to Spitsbergen: Puffins, Sea Ice and Wildlife voyage does just that. You’ll start in Scotland, exploring the Shetland and Orkney Islands—visiting impressive bird colonies and Scottish Neolithic historical sites—then cross the Norwegian Sea to the seldom-visited Bear Island, which sits alone and isolated between mainland Norway and Svalbard. Because you’re traveling in May, you’ll encounter plenty of ice in the many fjords we’ll visit, such as Storfjorden. These ice-covered expanses increase our chances of seeing walruses, polar bears, seals and other wildlife. In addition to our seasoned Expedition Team, you’ll also learn from our special guest ornithologist and historian, who will join us for the entire voyage. 

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Early Bird Specials:

  • Scroll down below for promotional details for each departure date
  • Exclusive onboard credit of $200 pp from Polar Dream Travel

 

Day 1 – Aberdeen, Scotland
Arrive in Aberdeen and make your way to the group hotel, included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

 

Day 2 – Embark Ultramarine
After breakfast, enjoy some free time before your transfer to the port to board Ultramarine.

 

Days 3–5 – Orkney: Neolithic History and Birdlife
Explore the Orkney Islands, home to some of Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic sites, including the UNESCO-listed Skara Brae settlement, dating back more than 5,000 years. With over 70 islands, Orkney offers dramatic coastlines, rich polar heritage, and excellent birdwatching opportunities. Depending on conditions, enjoy Zodiac cruises, kayaking, paddling excursions, and guided walks while looking for puffins, gannets, razorbills, Arctic terns, skuas, and other seabirds.

 

Day 4 – Shetland: Rugged Landscapes and Ancient Ruins
Visit Shetland, where Norse and Scottish cultures blend into a unique island identity. Explore Sumburgh Head’s towering seabird cliffs, home to puffins, guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes, while keeping watch for dolphins, minke whales, humpbacks, and orcas. Nearby Jarlshof reveals over 4,000 years of human history, featuring Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Viking, and medieval remains.

 

Days 5–7 – At Sea
Sail north toward Svalbard. Spend time on deck watching seabirds and enjoying expansive ocean views.

 

Day 8 – Bear Island
Located between mainland Norway and Svalbard, remote Bear Island is a renowned seabird sanctuary where the Greenland, Norwegian, and Barents Seas meet. Few visitors reach this isolated outpost, making it a special highlight of the voyage.

 

Days 9–10 – Storfjorden: Sea Ice Exploration
Enter southern Svalbard through Storfjorden, where spring sea ice often dominates the landscape. Routes will depend on ice conditions as the expedition team seeks the best opportunities to experience this essential Arctic environment.

 

Day 11 – Hornsund
Explore one of Svalbard’s most spectacular regions, known for dramatic mountains, tidewater glaciers, icebergs, and abundant wildlife. Zodiac excursions may bring you close to glacier fronts, while Arctic foxes and nesting seabirds are often seen among the rugged scenery.

 

Day 12 – Bellsund
Continue north into Bellsund, a vast fjord system with glaciers, bird colonies, and snow-covered mountains. Visit a little auk colony by Zodiac, watch for Svalbard reindeer, and, conditions permitting, land ashore to experience the Arctic landscape firsthand.

 

Day 13 – Krossfjorden
Explore this beautiful fjord on Svalbard’s west coast, shaped by relatively mild currents that support rich wildlife. Possible highlights include the impressive Lilliehöökbreen glacier, seals resting on ice floes, Arctic foxes, king eiders, and dramatic mountain scenery. Nearby lies Ny-Ålesund, one of the world’s northernmost permanent settlements and an important Arctic research station.

 

Day 14 – Smeerenburgfjorden
Reach the northernmost point of the voyage in northwest Svalbard. Depending on sea-ice conditions, visit a walrus haulout and search for Arctic terns and other wildlife. The area also preserves traces of 17th-century whaling activity, including historic blubber-rendering sites, providing a glimpse into the region’s human history.

 

Day 15 – Isfjorden
Spend your final expedition day exploring the fjord system surrounding Longyearbyen. Search for whales, seabirds, reindeer, and Arctic foxes while admiring Svalbard’s iconic mountains and glaciers. If conditions allow, land at Alkhornet, one of the archipelago’s best-known wildlife sites.

 

Day 16 – Longyearbyen to Helsinki
Disembark in Longyearbyen and transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Helsinki. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay, both included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

 

Day 17 – Depart Helsinki
After breakfast, transfer independently to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore Finland’s capital.

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