The archipelago of Svalbard is situated to the north of the Norwegian mainland, latitudes 74N to 81N, halfway between Norway and the North Pole, surrounded by the Greenland Sea and the Barents Sea. ”The northern end of the ocean” mentioned in the 12th century Icelandic chronicles, it is the nearest it is feasible to sail and land to the North Pole, the starting point for many of the greatest adventurers that raced to reach the northernmost point on Earth.
65% of the archipelago is covered by ice, a rugged cruising area, most spectacular and contrasting, offering expedition landings, hikes, kayaking, snow shoeing and bewildering Arctic landscape and fauna: Svalbard has more than 3’000 Polar bears (for fewer than 3’000 inhabitants).

Greenland, so named by the Norwegian explorer Erik Thorvaldsson (known as “Erik the Red”) around 985, is both the largest island and the least densely populated region on Earth. Located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, three-quarters of Greenland is covered by a permanent ice sheet.
Close to ninety percent of the population are Inuit. Hunting and fishing remain their principal activity, as their ancestors thousands of years ago. As Danish writer Jørn Riel puts it “they have the sixth sense that we have lost”, friendly and caretaking.

You will embark on a journey of exploration starting in the Lyngen Alps, on latitudes well above the Arctic Circle where at this time of the year we have good chances to experience the magic of the Northern Lights. Headed south, we will be crossing the heart of Lofoten archipelago, a balanced mix between cruising and discovery, bathed by the special sunlight of the Arctic summer. The Lofoten Islands, an archipelago in the Nordland region of Norway, are renowned for their dramatic scenery, featuring mountains falling straight into deep blue fjords, doted with local fishing villages. The Archipelago is possibly one of the most scenic cruising grounds on the planet, yet far to reach by sailboat other than for the locals, with white sandy beaches contrasting a rugged coastline and crystalline waters. It also presents the fascination of very dynamic sailing, with changing wind directions, tidal currents and the requirement of combining good passage planning with eye-ball navigation.