Northern Lights & Wild Isles: Iceland, Greenland, Scotland | Douglas Mawson Expedition Ship

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Northern Lights & Wild Isles: Iceland, Greenland, Scotland
Northern Lights & Wild Isles is a 14-day, 13-night voyage aboard Douglas Mawson that links Reykjavik and Aberdeen through Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Scotland. The expedition moves between waterfalls, remote fjords, wildlife-rich waters, geological formations, historic settlements, and archaeological sites, combining exploration by Zodiac and on foot with scenic cruising, photography, wildlife watching, and educational lectures. Four days are devoted to East Greenland, while other key experiences include Dynjandi waterfall, Vigur Island, Akureyri, Seyðisfjörður, Tórshavn’s historic Tinganes district, and the Neolithic Knap of Howar on Papa Westray. Throughout the voyage, traveling beyond the glow of city lights also creates opportunities to look for the Northern Lights when skies are clear.

Day by day

Day 1: Reykjavik Departure and a Night Under the Sky
Begin the expedition in Reykjavik, with free time available in the city before embarkation. After boarding Douglas Mawson, take part in the required safety briefing as the vessel prepares to depart on its journey toward Aberdeen. A welcome dinner is served aboard, providing the formal introduction to the expedition. Once the ship leaves the lights of Reykjavik behind, the focus turns upward. Guests can spend time on deck during the first evening looking for the Northern Lights. Seeking darker skies away from urban light pollution is a recurring focus of the voyage, with clear conditions offering opportunities to watch for the aurora as Douglas Mawson navigates through the northern waters.
Day 2: Into the Westfjords at Dynjandi
The scenery of Iceland’s remote Westfjords sets the stage for the second day of exploration. Cruise through this striking environment aboard Douglas Mawson before transferring to a Zodiac for a landing near Dynjandi. Rising approximately 100 meters, the waterfall is one of the signature natural attractions of the itinerary and a major highlight of the Icelandic portion of the voyage. After experiencing Dynjandi, return to the surrounding waters for another aspect of the expedition: wildlife observation. Whale watching is planned for the afternoon, combining the landscapes of the Westfjords with opportunities to observe marine life. Scenic cruising and Zodiac exploration round out a day centered firmly on Iceland’s natural environment.
| Faroe Islands | Antarctica
Skjoldungen | Greenland | Antarctica
+12
| Falkland | Orca

Cruise Includes

Accommodation in assigned stateroom
Complimentary gym access
Meals onboard
Morning and afternoon teas
Tea, coffee and snacks available 24/7
House wines, beers and soft drinks with dinner
Captain's Farewell drinks
Lectures and presentations by naturalists and specialists
Access to Citizen Science Center
Access to library and observation areas
Heated outdoor pool
Jacuzzis
Sauna
Educational lectures focused on the destinations and history
Marine mammal observation
Bird watching
Polar Plunge
Scenic cruising
Walking excursions
Zodiac excursions
Hiking
Photography

Cruise does not include

Airfares and transfers unless specified
travel insurance
visa and passport expenses
optional activities
personal expenses
additional beverages
laundry and spa services
gratuities
any services not specified as included in the voyage itinerary.
Sea Kayaking is identified as an optional add-on activity and carries an additional cost.
No other exclusions are explicitly listed in the source material.

Highlights

See Dynjandi, the impressive 100-meter waterfall visited during the journey through Iceland’s Westfjords.
Explore East Greenland over four days, traveling into ice-choked fjords by Zodiac, hiking tundra, searching for musk oxen, and visiting a remote Inuit community.
Walk through Tinganes in Tórshavn and discover its recognizable turf-roofed houses.
Step into Scotland’s Neolithic past with a visit to the Knap of Howar on Papa Westray.
Leave urban light pollution behind and watch for the Northern Lights when clear skies create suitable viewing opportunities.
Observe wildlife highlighted by the itinerary, including puffins, Arctic terns, minke whales, humpback whales, and musk oxen.

Activities

Sea Kayaking
Sea Kayaking
Under full instruction from your sea kayaking guide, experience true tranquillity as you paddle through clinking ice floes and realise the enormity of the surrounding scenery. Look out for breaching whales, lounging seals and penguins zipping alongside your kayak. Some experience is required.
Ice Camping
Ice Camping
Camp out on the ice and experience the silence which blankets the continent by night. This is your chance to completely connect with this ethereal ice world – wrap up warm and embrace the Antarctic elements.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing
Get a spring in your step when you slip on a pair of snowshoes in Antarctica. Enabling you to easily scale gentle slopes, this unique activity allows you to access hard to reach places and seek out the most impressive views.
Photography
Photography
Learn to capture wildlife and landscape shots in a small group photography program, including critiquing sessions and editing classes. Plus, Explorer Boat excursions with a dedicated photography expert on landings.
Explorer Boats
Explorer Boats
Achieve the best views and photographs from a forward facing Explorer Boats. They allow you to sit comfortably and securely while crackling through the ice-strewn waters. Look out for wildlife such as penguins, seals and whales as you cruise.
Yoga
Yoga
It doesn’t get more serene than complimentary yoga classes to the tune of glacial scenery. Join the most unique exercise setting in the world after a day of exploration. Classes are regular but are dependent on weather conditions and swell.

Northern Lights & Wild Isles: Iceland, Greenland, Scotland

From USD 18295,00

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