Island Hearts of the Arctic
13 Days - SH Vega
Experience the landscapes of Iceland and East Greenland on a voyage you’ll never forget! Circumnavigate Iceland, and discover breathtaking fjords, wild waterfalls, and volcanic scenery teeming with seabirds. Then head to Eastern Greenland and encounter interesting indigenous cultures and ways of life, as well as national parks, amazing wildlife, and the planet’s most extensive fjord system. Before ending your special journey in Iceland.
from USD $3707pp
Book by 30 April 2024
Full payment and cancellation applies.
Home » 13 Day SH Vega: Island Hearts of the Arctic
Itinerary Highlights
- Explore Iceland's rarely visited Westfjords region
- Lookout for an incredible variety of seabirds including Arctic tern, puffins and eiders
- Visit Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the world's most remote settlements
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Reykjavik
- Day 2: Isafjordur
- Day 3: Day at Sea
- Day 4: Ittoqqortoormiit
- Day 5-6: Scoresbysund
- Day 7-8: Kong Oscar Fjord
- Day 9: Day at Sea
- Day 10: Seydisfjordur
- Day 11: Djupivogur
- Day 12: Heimaey, Westman Island
- Day 13: Reykjavik
Day 1: Reykjavik
Reykjavík, despite its small size, is the capital of Iceland. At the top of the town stands the distinctive Hallgrímskirkja church, designed by renowned Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. The revitalised harbour area features the futuristic Harpa Concert Hall and the Maritime Museum, showcasing the city's cultural heritage A trip to Reykjavík would be incomplete without a visit to the Blue Lagoon, famous for its therapeutic geothermal waters.
Day 2: Isafjordur
Surrounded by fjords in the Westfjords region, Ísafjördur is a bustling fishing town in northwest Iceland with colourful wooden 18th- and 19th-century houses in its old town, Neskaupstadur. Nearby, Sudavik is home to the Arctic Fox Centre. Iceland’s only mammal, the arctic fox, lives on the lush tundra of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the northernmost peninsula in the Westfjords with two of Europe’s largest bird cliffs.
Day 3: Day at Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 4: Ittoqqortoormiit
In the southeastern part of Greenland, the city of Ittoqqortoormiut appears, on the territory of which only 500 people live. A thick layer of sea ice prevents ships from approaching the city's port for nine months of the year, so he arrived in this remote city. Ittoqqortoormiut was founded in 1925 by the Danish explorer Einar Mikkelsen and a group of about 80 Inuit, covering a vast hunting ground. There is still hunting and sea fishing. The territory of Ittoqqortoormiit is home to white foxes, bears and seal colonies.
Day 5-6: Scoresbysund
The vast Scoresbysund fjord network is framed by imposing basalt mountains. Serving as a barrier against Arctic winds, the mountains create a haven for Greenland's wildlife, including muskoxen, Arctic foxes and mountain hares. The area teems with birdlife like little auks, Atlantic puffins, fulmars, snowy owls, Greenlandic gyrfalcons and great black-backed gulls. Seals and whales are common sightings in the fjord's waters.
Day 7-8: Kong Oscar Fjord
King Oscar Fjord forms the northern border of the Scoresby Sound. This seemingly endless maze of valleys eventually gives way to the open sea. The imposing mountains, deep waters and sparkling ice create a dramatic and emotive landscape, beautiful and imposingly hostile all at once. The fascinating Berzelius Bjerg, a mountain with clear bands of coloured strata, formed millions of years ago when the mountains here were once part of the seabed.
Day 9: Day at Sea
Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.
Day 10: Seydisfjordur
Brightly painted wooden houses line Seyðisfjörður’s port, regarded as east Island’s cultural hub with a lively arts scene disproportionate to its size. Seyðisfjörður has attracted writers and artists and hosts a summer arts festival. Surrounded by incredible nature, the nearby Skálanes nature reserve is known for its diverse wildlife with over 47 bird species, as well as 150 plant species. Reindeer, seals and porpoises often populate the area.
Day 11: Djupivogur
With Viking-era origins, Djupivogur, a tranquil fishing village with fewer than 500 residents, is renowned for its unhurried pace of life and the art installation 'The Eggs at Merry Bay,' featuring 34 granite eggs representing local bird species. Nearby, Vatnajökull National Park, covering 14 percent of Iceland, offers a wild expanse with Europe's largest ice cap, Vatnajökull Glacier, thundering glacial rivers and active volcanoes.
Day 12: Heimaey, Westman Island
Ten million Atlantic puffins make Heimaey, a 13-km square island in the Westman Islands off southern Iceland, the largest puffin colony in the world. Despite a population of 4,000 people, puffins have even been spotted in the town of Vestmannaeyjar. The fascinating Eldheimar museum charts the story of the town’s devastation by lava from Eldfell volcano in 1973. Nearby, Vestmannaeyjar Bird Cliff is home to puffins, guillemots and razorbills.
Day 13: Reykjavik
Reykjavík, despite its small size, is the capital of Iceland. At the top of the town stands the distinctive Hallgrímskirkja church, designed by renowned Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. The revitalised harbour area features the futuristic Harpa Concert Hall and the Maritime Museum, showcasing the city's cultural heritage A trip to Reykjavík would be incomplete without a visit to the Blue Lagoon,
famous for its therapeutic geothermal waters.
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
18 Aug 2024 - 30 Aug 2024 | USD $3707pp | ||
Oceanview D4 | USD $3707pp | Contact us | |
Oceanview M4 | USD $3707pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D5 | USD $6187pp | Contact us | |
Balcony M5 | USD $6187pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D6 | USD $6187pp | Contact us | |
Suite | USD $14490pp | Contact us | |
Premium Suite | USD $15990pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Oceanview D4
19 m2
Located on Deck 4 at the centre of the ship. Light, bright and crafted from natural materials Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Oceanview M4
19 m2
Located on Deck 4 at the bow. Light, bright and crafted from natural materials Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony D5
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 5 at the bow and aft, staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 balcony.
Balcony M5
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 5 at the centre of the ship, staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 balcony.
Balcony D6
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 6, staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 panoramic balcony.
Suite
44 m2
Located on Deck 5 and 6 at the centre of the ship, our spacious Suites with a 12 sq.m. private balconies are a favorite with discerning guests, and those that prefer a little more space and comfort.
Premium Suite
49 m2
Located on Deck 6 at the aft, our Premium Suites with a 12 sq.m. private balconies are the most luxurious accommodation on board. A favorite for those who want nothing but the best.
SH Vega Deckplan
Specifications
CREW: 120
GUESTS: 152
DECKS: 9
LENGTH: 337 ft (115 m)
DRAFT: 18 ft (5.5 m)
BREADTH: 75 ft (23 m)
REGISTERED: Panama
CRUISING SPEED: 15.5 knots in open water
LIFEBOATS: 2 fully enclosed
PROPULSION DIESEL-ELECTRIC ENGINES: 4x Medium speed, Polar code Cat A
Whats included?
- All meals onboard
- Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day.
- Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers.
- Selected expedition activities led by our expedition team (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
- Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka, waterproof backpack & thermal bottle for pax to keep.
- Use of rubber boots
- Standard WiFi
- Onboard gratuities & port taxes
- Group transfer Airport to Hotel in KEF on 17th Aug
- Pre night Accommodation in Reykjavik on the 17th Aug
- Group transfer hotel to port on 18th Aug
- Group transfer port to Airport (KEF) on 30th Aug
What’s not included?
- Kayaking in polar regions
- Optional shore excursions in non polar regions
- Massage/treatments in spa
- Premium alcoholic drinks