Arctic Highlights Southbound — Self-Launched (Svalbard, East Greenland & Iceland)
15 days · Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland
G Adventures charges £7,270
No-markup version: ~£2,220 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' "Arctic Highlights Southbound": 15 days island-hopping from Longyearbyen in Svalbard, across the Greenland Sea to East Greenland's Scoresbysund and Ittoqqortoormiit, then flying south to Iceland's Reykjavík and Keflavík. Important honesty note: a full ships-and-Zodiacs crossing can only be done on a (smaller) expedition vessel — real, bookable budget options are a multi-day Svalbard expedition day-cruise from Longyearbyen, plus a short hop on the tiny cargo/passenger vessel connecting Ittoqqortoormiit with Iceland's M/V Norðurljós' sister services, or the twice-weekly Air Greenland/Norlandair light aircraft. The genuinely cheap self-launched route substitutes a Svalbard + Iceland land-based Arctic trip with a short East Greenland flight/boat leg where schedules allow. Prices are backpacker/budget estimates in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Fly into Longyearbyen (LYR) via Oslo or Tromsø with Norwegian or SAS (~£150-250 one-way from Oslo, more from the UK). It's a tiny frontier town of 2,000 people — walk the main strip, visit the Svalbard Museum (~£12) and the North Pole Expedition Museum, and stock up at Svalbardbutikken (the only supermarket, pricey, so bring what you can). Check into a hostel/guesthouse and do a short orientation walk along the fjord. Remember: carry bear spray-free — you can't leave town without a guide or rifle-equipped escort.
🚌Flight Oslo/Tromsø→Longyearbyen; airport shuttle bus to town (~£8)
🛏Coal Miners' Cabin or Gjestehuset 102 hostel/guesthouse, shared dorm (~£45-60/night)
- →Svalbard Museum
- →North Pole Expedition Museum
- →Town & fjord orientation walk
Svalbard expedition day-cruise — Isfjorden & glacier front
Isfjorden, Svalbard
Book a small-boat fjord safari or RIB/closed-boat day cruise direct with a Longyearbyen operator (e.g. Better Moments, Svalbard Adventures or Basecamp Explorer) — the closest budget equivalent to the ship's Zodiac landings. Sail past bird cliffs (Brünnich's guillemots, puffins), glacier fronts and try to spot seals and beluga. Cheaper alternative: a guided hike to a glacier with a local company (~£60-80).
🚌Walking; boat tour pickup from town
🛏Coal Miners' Cabin or Gjestehuset 102, shared dorm
- →Small-boat fjord safari
- →Glacier & bird cliff viewing
- →Guided tundra walk
Hiking & wildlife on the tundra
Longyearbyen & Adventdalen, Svalbard
Guided day hike into Adventdalen or Platåfjellet — the terrain and reindeer/fox spotting mirror the ship's tundra landings. Solo hikers should join a guided group for safety (polar bear risk) — expect £80-120. Or do the cheaper guided walk to Bjørndalen. Evening: check whether any last-minute expedition-cruise berths are available in town or online (spaces appear at short notice, ~£4,000-6,000 for 10-12 nights — out of budget for most, but worth checking).
🚌Walking / short local transfer
🛏Coal Miners' Cabin or Gjestehuset 102, shared dorm
- →Guided mountain/tundra hike
- →Reindeer & Arctic fox spotting
- →Last-minute cruise berth check
Pyramiden day trip (abandoned Soviet mining town)
Pyramiden, Billefjorden, Svalbard
Day boat trip to the ghost town of Pyramiden — one of Svalbard's most surreal 'historic site' experiences, matching the expedition's historic-landing theme (~£180-230 including landing and guide). Shorter/cheaper option: the coal-mining history tour at Gruve 3 (~£45) or a Northern Lights-evening walk if your dates allow (late August is possible).
🚌Boat transfer to Pyramiden
🛏Coal Miners' Cabin or Gjestehuset 102, shared dorm
- →Boat trip to Pyramiden
- →Abandoned Soviet town guided walk
- →Optional Gruve 3 mine tour
Svalbard at leisure / weather day
Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Buffer day — Arctic weather cancels boats and hikes routinely. Use it for a kayak or RIB taster (~£100), the Global Seed Vault viewpoint, or a museum day if you're saving cash. If you booked a multi-day expedition cruise instead, days 2-5 would be spent aboard in Spitsbergen's fjords.
🚌Walking
🛏Coal Miners' Cabin or Gjestehuset 102, shared dorm
- →Optional kayak/RIB session
- →Seed Vault exterior & town walk
- →Museum day
Fly Svalbard → Oslo → Iceland (or Copenhagen)
Longyearbyen → Reykjavík region
Depart Longyearbyen on the morning flight to Oslo (~£150-250), connect to Reykjavík (Keflavík) with Norwegian/Icelandair/Play (~£100-180). This replaces the ship's Greenland Sea crossing days — a full 15-day sea crossing cannot be done independently, so the honest self-launched route flies around it. Land in Keflavík and take the Flybus to Reykjavík (~£20).
🚌Flights LYR→OSL→KEF; Flybus airport shuttle (~£20)
🛏Kex Hostel or Bus Hostel Reykjavík, shared dorm (~£40-55/night)
- →Transit day
- →Reykjavík old town evening wander
Reykjavík — city day
Reykjavík, Iceland
Harbour walk with whale-watching option (Iceland's whale species mirror the ship's cetacean interests — ~£80-100, book via GetYourGuide), then Hallgrímskirkja church tower (~£8), the National Museum of Iceland (~£15) and the Saga Museum. Cheap eats: hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu (~£4), Bonus supermarket for self-catering.
🚌Walking / city bus (~£3/ride)
🛏Kex Hostel or Bus Hostel Reykjavík, shared dorm
- →Whale watching from Reykjavík harbour
- →Hallgrímskirkja tower
- →National Museum of Iceland
Golden Circle — geysers, waterfall & rift valley
Þingvellir, Geysir & Gullfoss
Book a Golden Circle coach day tour (£50-65 via GetYourGuide/Klook) covering Þingvellir National Park's tectonic rift, the Strokkur geyser and Gullfoss waterfall. Bring a packed lunch — tour-stop food is expensive.
🚌Organised coach day tour (included in activity cost)
🛏Kex Hostel or Bus Hostel Reykjavík, shared dorm
- →Þingvellir National Park
- →Strokkur geyser
- →Gullfoss waterfall
South Coast — waterfalls, black sand & glacier tongue
Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss & Vík
South Coast day tour (~£70-90) with Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the falls), Skógafoss, the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue (Arctic ice without the ship) and Reynisfjara black sand beach. Budget alternative: take the public Strætó bus 51 toward Vík (~£30 return) and self-guide the stops near the road.
🚌Coach day tour or public bus 51
🛏Kex Hostel or Bus Hostel Reykjavík, shared dorm
- →Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss waterfalls
- →Sólheimajökull glacier walk
- →Reynisfjara black sand beach
East Greenland leg — fly/depart for Scoresbysund region
Reykjavík → Ittoqqortoormiit (or Constable Point)
If dates fit: Air Greenland/Norlandair flights and the seasonal passenger services to East Greenland are expensive and limited (~£500-900 return, often weekly). A cheaper realistic alternative is to use this day for a Snæfellsnes peninsula or Landmannalaugar day tour (~£70-90) and book a West Greenland add-on (Nuuk/Kangerlussuaq, ~£200-350 return from Keflavík) if you want genuine Greenland time. Treat this as your Greenland slot — check schedules months ahead at visitsvalbard.com and airgreenland.com.
🚌Domestic/Greenland flight or bus tour
🛏Kex Hostel, Reykjavík (or basic guesthouse in Ittoqqortoormiit ~£70-90/night if flights work)
- →East Greenland flight attempt or Snæfellsnes day tour
- →Greenland logistics check
Greenland fjord / community day
Ittoqqortoormiit or Snæfellsnes
In Ittoqqortoormiit (if you made it): walk the colourful Inuit village, visit the small museum and church, and arrange a local boat trip among icebergs and Scoresbysund's fjords with a village operator (~£150-250, weather-dependent). If staying in Iceland: Snæfellsnes peninsula day tour with Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi cliffs and seal beaches.
🚌Walking / local boat / coach tour
🛏Ittoqqortoormiit guesthouse or Reykjavík hostel
- →Village walk & museum
- →Local iceberg boat trip
- →Or Snæfellsnes peninsula tour
Iceberg & fjord exploring
Scoresbysund / East Greenland
The closest land-based equivalent to the ship's Zodiac cruises: a half- or full-day boat trip with a local hunter/fisherman among icebergs in the fjord system (~£150-250). There are no cheap scheduled Zodiac cruises here — budget accordingly and confirm local operators through your guesthouse. Back in Iceland option: glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón day tour (~£85).
🚌Local boat / coach
🛏Ittoqqortoormiit guesthouse or Reykjavík hostel
- →Fjord boat trip among icebergs
- →Glacier lagoon visit (Iceland alternative)
Return south to Iceland
East Greenland → Reykjavík
Fly back toward Keflavík (or take the seasonal coastal connection if running), then transfer to Reykjavík. Rest day: soak at a local geothermal pool — the public Sundlaug Laugardalur is ~£8 versus £50+ at the Blue Lagoon. Self-cater dinner.
🚌Greenland domestic flight; Flybus to Reykjavík
🛏Kex Hostel or Bus Hostel Reykjavík, shared dorm
- →Return flight
- →Public geothermal swimming pool
- →Old harbour dinner
Reykjanes peninsula & Keflavík
Reykjanes & Keflavík
Self-guided Reykjanes day: public bus to Grindavík area or a tour (~£60) to see the geothermal fields, Gunnuhver, the bridge between continents and (if open and safe) volcanic landscapes. Overnight in Keflavík near the airport to make the final morning easy.
🚌Public bus / day tour
🛏Keflavík budget guesthouse/hostel (~£50-65)
- →Reykjanes geothermal fields
- →Bridge Between Continents
- →Coastal walk
Depart Keflavík
Keflavík
Short walk or bus to Keflavík International Airport for your flight home. If you have time, the airport's excellent duty-free and a last Icelandic coffee. Book departures from late morning onwards so you're not rushing.
🚌Airport bus/walk
🛏N/A
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,220 | £7,270 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £5,050 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,220
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Arctic Highlights Southbound — Self-Launched (Svalbard, East Greenland & Iceland) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,220 per person for 15 days in Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £7,270 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,220 — a saving of roughly £5,050 (69%) per person.
How long is the Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, hiking trip through Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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