Quest Itinerary
Solar Eclipse Expedition: Svalbard to Greenland16 days / 15 nights
About Quest
- Capable vessel renovated for comfortable Arctic exploration
- Moderate group size, ensuring a communal atmosphere
- Comfortable social spaces and extensive views above-deck
- Choice of several cabin configurations to suit a variety of guests
Quest is a highly-capable Arctic expedition vessel, updated to deliver plenty of modern comfort during remote voyages. Complete with inviting social spaces, a fleet of convenient zodiacs, and extensive views – both from inside and on deck – this impressive ice-class ship offers everything you could want from a polar expedition cruise. Plus, the passionate crew and minimal guest numbers help to create an intimate yet welcoming atmosphere on board, ensuring every moment is one to remember.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 16 days / 15 nights
Number of dives 0
Experience No experience required
Insurance Not Required
Highlights
- Look out for Arctic wildlife, such as polar bears, walruses, foxes, and seabirds
- Explore the tundra of Clavering Island
- Visit the small village of Ittoqqortoormiit
- Witness the total solar eclipses in the Polar Regions
- Blomsterbugten and Ella Ø are paradise for hikers, surrounded by rugged cliffs, ice-choked waters, and striking icebergs
Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
We arrive at the charming settlement of Longyearbyen, where we spend a night in a hotel.
Days 2-4: Northwest Spitsbergen
We board M/S Quest in the afternoon and venture into some of western Svalbard’s most impressive fjords, where massive glaciers spill into the sea. As we navigate these serene waters, we’ll keep a lookout for Arctic wildlife, such as polar bears, walruses, foxes, and seabirds.
Days 5-6: Greenland Sea
Sailing southwest towards Greenland, we’ll scan for whales and enjoy insightful talks from our guides. Encountering the edge of the pack ice is a thrilling experience, offering dramatic views of Greenland’s icy frontier.
Days 7-13: Northeast Greenland
As we reach the wild coastline of Northeast Greenland, we enter a world entirely dependent on ice and weather. We aim to make daily Zodiac trips or landings at some of the region's many remarkable sites.
On Clavering Island is an authentic hunter’s hut, offering insight into the challenging lives of Arctic hunters. The tundra is home to the mighty musk ox, one of the few places in the world where you might encounter these impressive, woolly herbivores weighing up to 400 kilos.
In Kejser Franz Josef Fjord and Kong Oscar Fjord, the solitude is profound, framed by imposing mountains and an otherworldly silence, with only a few scientists and Danish Sirius Patrol personnel nearby in remote Daneborg.
Blomsterbugten, “the Bay of Flowers,” and Ella Ø a paradise for hikers, surrounded by rugged cliffs, ice-choked waters, and striking icebergs, the bay reveals purple- and gold-streaked rock formations unique to the Arctic.
We delve deeper into the stunning Kong Oscar Fjord, seeking the perfect vantage point to witness one of nature’s most extraordinary phenomena—the total solar eclipse. This awe-inspiring event will begin at 3:34 PM and grace the skies for 2 minutes and 17 seconds of totality. Including the partial phases, the entire eclipse experience will span around two unforgettable hours.
This particular eclipse is a rare opportunity, as total solar eclipses in the Polar Regions are uncommon. It’s a thrilling feeling to be among the few to experience the surreal combination of the Arctic’s dramatic landscapes and the fleeting magic of totality.
Scoresby Sund, the world’s largest fjord system, showcases Greenland in a spectacular way, with peaks rising 2000 meters from the sea, beautiful scenery, and historical remnants of the Thule culture. In Ittoqqortoormiit, a remote settlement with approximately 350 inhabitants, we gain a glimpse into life 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
Days 14-15: Denmark Strait and Isafjordur
After an unforgettable exploration of Northeast Greenland, we cross the Denmark Strait to Iceland.
Day 16: Isafjordur
We disembark in Isafjordur in the morning, concluding our expedition and beginning our journey home or continuing on further adventures.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Transfer details
Departure
12:00pm
Longyearbyen
Svalbard Airport: LYR
Return
10:00am
Isafjordur
Isafjordur Airport: ISJ
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/quest/itn-2501160337561-solar-eclipse-expedition-svalbard-to-greenland