Expedition Sailing; Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland
- Vessel: Valiente
- Where: Svalbard/Iceland
- Duration: 14 days
- Embark: Longyearbyen, Svalbard - 21 August 2024, 12:00
- Disembark: Isafjordur, Iceland - 3 September 2024, 10:00
Discover Arctic waters as you sail with expedition boat 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
- Hands-on Experience
- Sustainable Travel
- Fully Crewed
- 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
Begin your adventure high in the Arctic circle on one of the world’s most northernmost town, sitting halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Svalbard is one of Europe’s last great wildernesses, often referred to as the “land of the midnight sun” when from mid-May to late September, the archipelago sits in 24hour daylight.
Leave one Arctic island for another as you sail from Svalbard to 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.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. 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, before finishing our voyage in Iceland.
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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 Ísafjörður. The crossing takes less than 2 days and at arrival we spend a fair amount of time ashore, stretch our legs and discover what Ísafjörður has to offer.
Valiente
Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff
Expedition yacht Valiente has been designed to withstand tough icy conditions so it’s little wonder she makes a great boat for Arctic sailing adventures.
From exploring the fjords on the West coast of Norway, to crossing the Arctic circle to Svalbard or Barents Sea sailing to Greenland, Valiente offers a unique, safe and comfortable way to explore sailing territories far off the beaten track.
EXPEDITION SAILING
Joining Valiente will see you become part of the crew, taking part in all aspects of sailing. From the day to day running of the boat, to cooking up meals with your fellow guests, the crew of Valiente will be on hand to guide you in this bucket list experience.
Read more about what life is like on board here
Tough on the outside, soft on the inside. With her steel hull made to withstand icy waters, below decks is a welcome contrast. Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat so you’ll be wonderfully cosy! The saloon and well-equipped galley are set mid ships with 360° windows at deck level with plenty of storage space.
Below Decks
All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. The cabins are a mix of double beds and twin bunks but cabins are not allocated until all guests are on board so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and right facilities for their needs!
The Arctic sailing grounds are a vulnerable area increasingly under pressure from climate change. The owners of Valiente are committed to taking care of the environment as much as possible and believe that small boats with less people, are considerably less harmful to the environment and local wildlife, than larger cruise ships.
Deck plan

Life on Board Valiente
You don’t need any experience to join Valiente’s expedition sailing holidays, just a love for the natural world and a real sense of adventure.
Getting Involved
Sailing with Valiente is a real hands-on, humbling experience as you work with the crew and fellow guests to navigate the Arctic wilderness together. Get stuck into all aspects of life on board, from taking the helm, setting & trimming the sails, basic sail theory and domestic duties.
The skipper and first mate, (plus a dedicated guide for Svalbard sailing voyages) will be onboard for the duration of Valiente’s sailing holidays. Along the way, preferably by sailing but sometimes under motor, we will include all guests in the sailing experience.
The physical sailing of Valiente is relatively straightforward so she’s a great boat to learn on if you haven’t sailed before. Her simple rig has three sails; the main, genoa and jib, all working off a winch system. The wheelhouse is set at deck level, with a modern navigation system. You can take the helm, working with the skipper to watch your course. The crew that sail in these waters are wildly skilled, resourceful and calm and they are always on hand to guide guests.
The boat works on a relaxed watch system, usually 4 hours on and 8 hours off. This gives guests a real chance to have some focussed sailing time but equally have the time to just be. To sit, watch the world go by, to relax, nap, read a book in your cabin, play cards in the saloon or just simply sit at the bows, watching, reflecting as the world glides by. If Valiente spends time on anchor, the watch system will run overnight, but with all guests and crew participating, you wouldn’t be on watch on consecutive nights.
There is always a thorough safety briefing and introduction once guests have settled onboard, followed by a “man overboard” procedure (don’t worry – this is a fender not a real person!) and a fire safety drill.
Below Decks
Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat, (there’s even heated towel rails in all bathroom and a heater in the wheelhouse) so she is wonderfully cosy! The spacious saloon and galley are set mid ships with 360° windows at deck level – perfect for cooking with a view. The galley is really well equipped with an induction hob, two domestic ovens, two fridge drawers and plenty of storage space.
All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. Cabins are not allocated until all guests are booked and on board so that every is matched with the right size bed and right facilities for their needs! A small bath towel is provided per person but you’ll need to bring an extra hand towel or swim towel if you wish.
There are full size domestic showers with plenty of hot water although as with all sailing experiences, guests are asked to be respectful with their water consumption. It may 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!
Naomi from the VentureSail team sailed with Valiente in Norway – you can read her blog here for an insight into her experience!
Eating Aboard
Aside from setting the sails and taking the helm, the next most important aspect of Arctic sailing on Valiente is definitely the food! Once you’ve boarded the boat, a crew member will split all guests into pairs, who are then divided over a rota for breakfast, lunch and dinner duties. With an average of 10 people on board, you’ll normally end up doing one of each service over a week’s voyage.
If you’re not much of a cook, fear not! There will be a menu plan for the whole voyage already planned out with all the provisions on board. The menu plan is entirely flexible depending on the plan for the day, maybe you catch a fish or maybe the more confident cooks will want to experiment a little! Alongside the menu plan, there is a correlating recipe book, especially made with ingredients, quantities and cooking methods to match the meal plan.
Cooking on board is an integral part of how a sailing ship operates. A hearty feed after a sailing adventure, a chance to bring everyone together, for confidence to grow and cultural culinary tips to be shared.
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?
4 for guests
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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 Valiente 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.