Wonders of the High Arctic: Reykjavik Extension - Cruise & Land journey: 18 days Reykjavik to Reykjavik

Today you'll arrive in the beautiful city of Oslo. The Norwegian capital is the smallest in Scandinavia but packs a punch when it comes to cultural and nature-based experiences. Half of Oslo is covered in forest and parks, and its cityscape is a melange of historical buildings and cutting-edge architecture, as well as outdoor sculptures and street art. The city is home to three famous museums honouring the rich nautical heritage of the Norse race and its warrior ancestors. Enjoy an overnight stay at your hotel.

Fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen, high above the Arctic Circle. The capital of the Norwegian Svalbard Archipelago, Longyearbyen is on Svalbard’s main island and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. The untouched landscapes make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.

Today, you’ll meet the Captain and crew of your ultra-luxury Scenic Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse. Be welcomed on board with a glass of champagne as you explore your spacious suite. Meet your fellow guests for a drink in the Sky Bar as you toast the start of an unforgettable journey.

Welcome to the remote wilderness of the Svalbard Archipelago, a dramatic polar region of rugged glaciers, craggy mountains, and frozen tundra. Open the blackout curtains of your ultra-luxury suite and step onto your private verandah to take in ever-changing vistas, from volcanic islands dotted with sparse greenery to snow-capped peaks peeking through the horizon.

Over the next few days, your itinerary will remain flexible, with the Captain and Discovery Leader adjusting plans daily to make the most of weather, ice conditions, and daylight. You may have the opportunity to enjoy Zodiac cruises, kayak tours, nature walks, and discover Arctic scenery, wildlife, and marine life up close. Throughout the day, the Discovery Team will host lectures and presentations in the state-of-the-art theatre, sharing insights into the region’s history, geology, and ecology, while evenings offer world-class performances from musical theatre to interactive shows, rounding out an unforgettable polar experience.

As your journey continues through Svalbard’s rugged archipelago, keep your eyes peeled for Arctic wildlife. Walruses bask on ice floes, seals surface in the fjords, and seabirds wheel overhead, while the more elusive Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, wolverines, and rabbits may appear on the tundra. Binoculars from your suite or the Swarovski telescopes in the Observation Lounge offer a closer look at these extraordinary creatures in their natural environment.

Scenic Discovery:
Subject to weather and ice conditions, venture ashore and onto the water with Zodiacs, kayaks, and guided nature walks, exploring pristine locations while discovering the majestic landscapes, glaciers, and wildlife that define this polar wilderness.

Continue cruising around the spectacular Svalbard Archipelago. Whilst enjoying daily Discovery Excursions, seek photography tips and guidance from your expert Discovery Team on capturing wildlife encounters and dramatic landscapes. They will help you document these remarkable moments while cruising on Zodiacs, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding around impressive ice formations. Comprised of up to 20 specialists in polar sciences, natural history, and wildlife, the Discovery Team is at the heart of your Expedition Voyage.

Scenic Discovery:
Daily activities may include Zodiac cruises, kayaking, and guided nature walks, providing opportunities to explore untouched Arctic landscapes, tundra, and coastal habitats, while observing native wildlife and marine life in their natural setting.

After a restorative night of rest in your ultra-luxury suite, wake in your own time. Today, your Scenic Discovery Yacht will cross the Denmark Strait, journeying through the open waters of the North Atlantic. Witness breathtaking Arctic scenery and experience the dynamic meeting point of the cold East Greenland Current and the warmer Irminger Current.

Perhaps ask your butler to deliver a coffee to your suite and enjoy a quiet morning spent on your spacious verandah. Or join your fellow guests for a casual lunch in Azure Bar & Café as you cross this navigational passage between Iceland and Greenland.

The Discovery Team will be hosting lectures in the state-of-the-art theatre, recapping the wonders you have seen so far and providing inspiration for the ports to come.

Nestled beside the world's largest and deepest multi-branched fjord system, Ittoqqortoormiit stands as one of Greenland's most remote towns. Home to approximately 350 residents, this small community offers a fascinating insight into the traditional Inuit way of life. Here, people have embraced a sea-dependent existence, where the ever-changing sea ice opens new opportunities for exploration. Learn the stories of the community's resilience, and explore key landmarks such as the museum, church, weather station and public service buildings.

Begin your journey into Scoresby Sund, one of the world’s largest and most dramatic fjord systems. Stretching over 350 kilometres and plunging to depths of 600 metres, the fjord is dotted with colossal icebergs, calving gently from the Inland Ice.

Take in this Arctic grandeur from the Observation Deck, where the Discovery Team is on hand to explain the geology and wildlife, or savour the view in private from your suite’s verandah, as the icy landscape drifts by.

Today, sail deeper into Scoresby Sund, an awe-inspiring labyrinth of fjords and towering cliffs. Witness icebergs slowly breaking from their parent glaciers, drifting in the glassy Arctic waters beneath snow-dusted peaks.

Enjoy uninterrupted views from your private verandah or join the Discovery Team on the Observation Deck for insights into the fjord’s glacial formations, Arctic wildlife, and the remote landscapes that make this one of the planet’s most remarkable natural wonders.

Today your Scenic Discovery Yacht will exit the magnificent Scoresby Sund fjord. Wake up at your own time and ask your butler to bring breakfast to your suite, so you can take in the awe-inspiring views from your private verandah.

Enjoy some downtime at the expansive 550sqm Senses Spa. Book an appointment# with the wellness therapists and surrender yourself to bliss. Afterwards, hold on to that feeling of calm for a while longer in the Zen-like space of the Vitality Lounge. Here, ambient light envelops you with tranquil music as the heat from our soothing thermal loungers works to gently purify the body.

As you make your way towards Iceland, the Discovery Team will be hosting lectures in the state-of-the-art theatre, recapping the wonders you have seen so far and providing inspiration for the ports to come.

Indulge in the 550 sqm Senses Spa, reinvigorating your mind, body and soul. Pamper yourself with holistic ESPA treatments#, including massages and facials, or experience alternative therapies such as Japanese shiatsu and Tibetan bowl sound healing.

As evening falls, settle in for world-class performances in the theatre with your favourite cocktail in hand. Alternatively, choose to dine in the comfort of your suite and have your evening nightcap brought by your butler. Your Scenic Discovery Yacht will arrive in Akureyri later this evening and stay overnight.

Akureyri is the charming capital of the north, a small city nestled along the scenic shores of Eyjafjord. Regularly overshadowed by Iceland’s famous capital Reykjavik, Akureyri is a more laidback and intimate experience. The city is easily explored on foot – enjoy the day walking around its vibrant streets lined with colourful houses, boutique shops, and cosy cafes. Take a wander through the botanical gardens or embark on a whale-watching tour. Tonight, settle in at the spacious Scenic Lounge Bar to enjoy your beverage of choice, whether it be aged whiskey—there are over 130 varieties—or a glass of wine, while reflecting on the day's discoveries.

Elevate your Icelandic experience and take flight on one of two on board helicopters^, marvelling at the jaw-dropping views from above. This exclusive exploration offers a breathtaking new perspective on one of the world’s most dramatic landscapes.

Welcome to Vigur Island, a private island oasis off Iceland's coast and just below the Arctic Circle. The island has a history dating to the 11th-century and is a time capsule of Icelandic heritage, boasting charming buildings and traditional farming for eiderdown. Vigur Island is also designated as an internationally important seabird habitat, where you may seem some of the 7,000 breeding eider ducks, 100,000 puffins, nesting Arctic terns and Europe’s largest colony of black guillemot. There’s also a seal colony and passing whales, making this a remote wildlife sanctuary.

Join a guided walk on Vígur Island, home to rich birdlife, historic buildings and Europe’s smallest post office. Learn how locals live off farming, eiderdown and tourism while protecting nesting birds.

Weather permitting, today you'll visit the jewel of the Westfjords, Dynjandi Waterfall. Feel the freezing mist on your face as you admire the cascading bridal veil falls and discover why it was nicknamed ‘the thunder’. Tumbling down seven tiers over 100 metres, it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Marvel at nature's grandeur and wildlife spectacle as you cruise through this remote corner of Iceland.

Scenic Eclipse arrives in Reykjavík this morning. Iceland’s capital is known for its creative energy, contemporary culture and lively atmosphere, with colourful streets set between sea and mountains.

After one final breakfast on board, disembark your ultra-luxury Scenic Discovery Yacht and begin your four-day land extension, with time to experience more of Reykjavík and the remarkable landscapes beyond. 

Enjoy a full-day discovery of Iceland’s legendary Golden Circle. Travel over Mosfellsheiði heath to Thingvellir, where Iceland’s early nationhood was shaped amid striking rift-valley scenery. Continue to Gullfoss, the ‘Golden Waterfall’, where 100,000 litres of glacial water plunges into the Gullfossgjúfur canyon every second. Then explore the geothermal area of Haukadalur, where steaming vents and geysers animate the landscape.

Reykjavík brings together enlightening museums, gourmet restaurants, creative architecture and a vibrant nightlife, all set within the spellbinding landscape of snow-capped mountains and cerulean seas.

This afternoon, explore the city’s hidden jewels on an informative tour. Begin with the striking Harpa Concert Hall and the nearby Sólfar Sculpture, then follow your expert guide through character-filled streets as they share stories that bring the capital to life. Visit Perlan Museum offering panoramic views, interactive exhibits and a unique glacier experience. Later, indulge in a traditional Icelandic bathing ritual at Sky Lagoon.

Tonight, enjoy dinner in a popular local restaurant.

Farewell Iceland and your new friends as you transfer to Reykjavik port to join your Scenic Eclipse cruise, taking many wonderful memories with you.

#Spa treatments and services at additional cost. Daily activities may be subject to change; please consult your Daily Wonder for updates.
+All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. Specialty restaurants require a reservation, enquire on board.
^Experiences on board our two helicopters and submersible are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather, ice and tidal conditions.
~Kayak and stand-up paddleboard not available in all locations. 

Helicopter not in operation in Greenland and Svalbard. Submersible not in operation in Svalbard. 

The itinerary on this page is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the land journey or the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.