Expedition Sailing; Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland
- Vessel: Valiente
- Where: Svalbard/Iceland
- Duration: 13 days
- Embark: Longyearbyen, Svalbard - 24 August 2023, 12:00
- Disembark: Isafjordur, Iceland - 5 September 2023, 14:00
Sorry we’re full!
This voyage is fully crewed. Check out our voyage finder to see what else we have available.
Discover Arctic waters as you sail with Valiente from Svalbard, to Greenland and on to the shores of Iceland.
Join expedition yacht Valiente for an exciting adventure with an ocean crossing from Svalbard to Greenland before finishing in Iceland, and a whole week of exploration and discoveries along the coast of East-Greenland.
During the voyage guests will really get a feeling of the big ocean. In recent years the actual edge of the pack ice has been too far north for sailing along it towards the west, but we will still get close to large ice sheets, icebergs and glaciers when we arrive in Greenland.
- Offshore expedition sailing
- Arctic circle exploration
- Island hopping
- Private cabins
- Wildlife watching
- Sail area & highlights
- Gallery
- Life on board
- Sample menu
- Travel planning
- The boat
- FAQs
- What's included
- Boat schedule
YOUR SAILING AREA
Expedition sailing; Svalbard – Greenland – Iceland
Leave one Arctic island for another as you experience Greenland’s greatness, exploring the fjords, among the mountains and glaciers along the north east-coast. This is an area very few have been before us and we are vulnerable and far from civilisation. We must be careful and manoeuvre slowly but we have the southern Greenland stream with us on our way south. In these waters at this time of year we no longer have the full midnight sun, but it will be very bright 24/7 which is always a good starting point for an adventure trip.
On this part of the expedition we will sail in the fjords, among glaciers, snow-capped mountains and icebergs. This is an area very few people have been to, and not a very common place for sailing, especially not for commercial operators. The maps are poor and it is far off the beaten track, we have to be careful. On the boat we have installed a type of forward-looking sonar that shows the depths also in front of the boat, which is nice to have when navigating in waters with poor maps. On our way south we sail by places like Daneborg and Mosquito Bay, and places where Norwegians and others have been before in history for various reasons.
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After some good days sailing south along the coast we arrive at the inlet of Scoresby Sound, a huge and magnificent fjord system with glaciers, fjords and mountains. Here, the large icebergs float calmly back and forth and there is much to see and discover. At the entrance to Scoresby we also find the northernmost settlement of the east-coast. The village is called Ittoqqortormiit and has more than 400 inhabitants. Everyone lives in small wooden houses with the world’s coolest colours, and we arrive at the warmest days of the year. The inhabitants are mostly outside to enjoy the sun before the tough winter returns.
After a couple of days in Scoresby Sound we set sails again and head for Iceland and the port of Isafjordur. The crossing takes less than 2 days and at arrival we spend a fair amount of time ashore, stretch our legs and discover what Isafjordur has to offer.
Valiente
Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff
Expedition boat Valiente is a 70 foot steel boat designed to withstand tough arctic conditions, but with comfort and high standards maintained along the way.
She sails very well with a simple rig and has a lot of space on deck for guests and crew. Valiente has ample space in the saloon and wheelhouse with 360degree views. Below decks there is a well equipped galley. The boat has five guest cabins, with the 3 doubles having an ensuite and shower.
Valiente is very well equipped for trips and expeditions including; RIB light boat, two folding kayaks, big tanks for both water and diesel, water-maker, generators, safety and rescue equipment and communication equipment.
She spends her summers sailing in Norway, Svalbard and offering expedition sailing adventures to Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen and the Faroe islands.
Deck plan

LIFE ON BOARD VALIENTE
Your ticket price will include the skipper and first mate (co-skipper) Along the way, sailing or on motor, Valiente will include all participants in the sailing. Generally, she sails at all times of the day, and everyone onboard will be running watches of 4 hours on and 8 hours off. When on anchor, there will be rotation shifts with one anchor guard awake, so that the rest can sleep.
Life on board a sailboat is social and pleasant, but for some it can be perceived as quite intimate and crowded, which one should be prepared for. On our trips everyone participates in the operation of the sailboat and everyone is considered crew. We would like to get to know you well and hope that you will get to know everyone else on the boat as soon as possible. It requires some patience, generosity, and an open mind to thrive, but the new acquaintances and completely raw nature experiences will take your focus as soon as you become comfortable with life at sea.
Accommodation on the boat is part of the fun. The accommodation is generally in shared cabins, some of which have a double bed and some of which have bunk beds. Figuring out who sleeps where can be a bit of a puzzle, but we do believe we’ve gotten quite good at it. Let us know if you have any special needs or reservations.
We have plenty of heating and good food on the boat, but not always abundance of fresh water. This means it will not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day we are either in a harbour with fresh water or we sail through a place where we can borrow showers or enjoy a sauna. A morning swim in the sea is free and is available all year round!
What’s included
- All inclusive (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks. soft/hot drinks)
- All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet) and wash towel
- Full crew plus tuition
- Marina and fuel fees
- All tender trips to and fro the boat
- Lifejacket
- Fishing equipment
- Use of the on board small sailing dinghy for extra practice!
What’s not included
- Alcohol
- Wetsuits
- Waterproofs > Guests can rent oilskins from us for 500NOK per trip, per person
- Swim towel
- Any flights
- Transit hotels
- Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
- Travel insurance
- Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
- Crew tips
- Personal expenses
- Any meals ashore
Travel insurance notes
As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.
Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.
This voyage will be more than 12miles offshore.
FAQ
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Are all meals included?
Yes, all meals and soft drinks are included. Guests work on a rotation basis to cook together onboard.
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Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!
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Can you cater for dietary needs?
Yes - please specify at time of enquiry
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What language is spoken onboard?
English/Norwegian
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What are the sleeping arrangements?
3x double cabins, 1x twin bunk cabin, 1 x quad bunk cabin
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How many toilet/showers does she have?
5
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Is there WIFI?
No
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Can I charge my phone/Camera?
12v charging under sail, 220 EURO 2pin when connected to shore power/generator
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Are there life jackets provided?
Yes
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Are Waterproofs provided?
Guests can rent oilskins from us for 500NOK per trip, per person.
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Do I need sailing experience?
No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.
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Will I be sea sick?
Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.
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Is bedding included?
Yes, all bedding and a towel is provided
Gallery
imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageTravel Planning
From: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
To: Isafjordur, Iceland
To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.
BY AIR:
Fly into Oslo or Tromsø to get a connecting flight to Svalbard. There are several flights a day into Longyearbyen airport from Oslo and Tromsø in Norway. Your easiest route from the UK to Longyearbyen (LYR) Airport for Svalbard is from London Heathrow via Oslo with airline SAS.
Taxis and buses meet each incoming /outgoing flight, even the ones in the middle of the night and will stop at the marina on request, and the airport shuttle service stops at all hotels in the centre.
STAY IN SVALBARD:
There are plenty of places to stay in Svalbard. Try Gjesthuset 102, Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg or Funken Lodge.
Please note that you need a guide to travel anywhere outside the town of Longyearbyen due to the risk from polar bears.