British Isles, Jan Mayen & Svalbard: Crossing the Arctic Circle

Welcome to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and starting point of our expedition. To provide you with more time to enjoy this metropolis rich in history and culture, we’ve arranged pre-cruise hotel accommodations. Relax and take a stroll through town, enjoying both medieval and classic 18th-century architecture. The famous Edinburgh Castle rises majestically above it all.

Enjoy the morning and early afternoon at leisure. Each corner of Edinburgh’s old streets opens beautiful unexpected vistas of green hills or a blue flash of the distant sea. In the afternoon, you will be transferred from the hotel to the ship in the nearby Port of Leith. Before dinner, there’s time to explore the Sea Spirit, your home-away-from home for the next days.

Our photo adventures begin with the exploration of two uninhabited islands teeming with wildlife. The Isle of May is a national nature reserve, home to puffins, guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, terns, and seals basking on the shore. You’ll also spot historic landmarks like St. Ardin’s Chapel and the island lighthouse.

Just across the water rises Bass Rock—home to the world’s largest colony of northern gannets. Over 150,000 birds fill the cliffs and skies in one of nature’s greatest spectacles.

Step ashore in Kirkwall, the charming capital of the Orkney Islands, where Viking and medieval history still shape the town. Highlights include the magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Earl’s Palace.

Our included tour takes you west across Orkney’s rolling landscape into the UNESCO World Heritage “Heart of Neolithic Orkney.” Pass the Standing Stones of Stenness and visit the Ring of Brodgar, a vast ceremonial stone circle over 5,000 years old. Explore Skara Brae, a prehistoric village revealed from the sand only 150 years ago.

Fair Isle is a true paradise for birdwatchers. A huge number of birds inhabit its lush grasslands and spectacular cliffs — over 345 species have been recorded here, more than anywhere else in Britain. During our island walk, we hope to spot northern fulmars, kittiwakes, northern gannets, Atlantic puffins, and great and Arctic skuas, observing them closely and photographing them from just a few meters away. The puffin population alone is impressive — around 12,000 birds. About fifty residents live on Fair Isle, and they’ll welcome us at the community centre with Scottish treats, sweets, and hot drinks. You’ll also have the chance to purchase Fair Isle’s famous wool jumpers, hats, and mittens, and chat with the locals about everyday life on the island.

The Faroe Islands are wild, colorful, and absolutely unique — green hills, blue seas, puffins with bright beaks, and turf-roofed houses like from a fairy tale. This hard-to-reach destination is a dream for photographers, with unforgettable scenery at every turn.

In Tórshavn, the capital, Viking heritage meets modern charm. Visit the National Museum, taste traditional wind-dried mutton, explore ancient wooden houses and cathedral ruins, then enjoy free time to capture the harbor’s beauty before we sail north.

A magical day at sea awaits! Join engaging lectures, photography workshops, or simply relax on deck as seabirds glide alongside and whales break the horizon. The highlight comes as we cross the legendary Arctic Circle at 66°30′ N! Celebrate with a lively party, and don’t be surprised if Poseidon — the God of the Sea himself — appears to welcome us into the North.

Weather permitting, we’ll land on Jan Mayen, a remote Norwegian island crowned by Beerenberg — the world’s northernmost active volcano. Sheer cliffs and rugged slopes are alive with seabirds: fulmars gliding on the wind, kittiwakes wheeling overhead, and Brünnich’s guillemots clinging to narrow ledges.

This isolated outpost is home only to a small weather station crew. For us, it’s a rare chance to capture dramatic volcanic landscapes and thriving birdlife — an absolute gem for photographers. In the afternoon, we sail on toward our next Arctic adventure.

Join hands-on workshops in the lounge — practice your photography techniques, and attend an “Expedition Readiness” briefing to prepare for our shore landings. As the low Arctic sun drapes the horizon, share stories over drinks and toast to tomorrow’s first glimpse of Svalbard’s ice-swept shores.

Welcome to true High Arctic wilderness, where every day is shaped by weather, sea ice, and the keen eye of our captain and expedition team. Here, iconic Arctic wildlife can appear at any moment — so keep your camera ready! We’ll explore dramatic fjords, towering glaciers, and jagged peaks, with endless chances to capture wildlife and landscapes bathed in 24-hour daylight. Along the way, we encounter echoes of history — old whaling camps, trappers’ cabins, and polar expeditions of the past. This is Svalbard at its most raw, breathtaking, and photogenic.

After enjoying one final breakfast buffet on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard and final destination of our expedition. After disembarkation, a captivating sightseeing tour awaits you, showcasing some of the most interesting locations in the world’s northernmost city. We provide transfers to the airport or to the town center in case you plan to stay longer in Svalbard.