Spitsbergen Circumnavigation
Spitsbergen In Depth 13 days
Spitsbergen In Depth 13 days
Aboard: Ocean AdventurerA classic expedition exploring the fjords and coastline of Spitsbergen searching for polar bears, whales, walrus, birdlife and other fauna, as well as enjoying springtime floral displays on the tundra and marvelling at spectacular mountain and glacier scenery. On this extended voyage, there may also be the opportunity, depending on sea and ice conditions, to circumnavigate the island.
Highlights
- Spectacular wildlife viewing, including polar bears and whales
- Myriad birdlife
- Hiking opportunities
- Kayaking option available
- Amazing scenery
- Midnight sun
What's Included
- Group transfers to and from ship
- Full board accommodation on board ship
- Programme of expert lectures
- Guided Zodiac excursions
- Expedition parka
- Loan of rubber boots
So much to experience














Our popularitinerary Suggestions
All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable
Longyearbyen
Your expedition will begin as you board your ship in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s largest settlement, and settle in to your comfortable surroundings. As we set sail you will get fantastic views of the mountainous background and dramatic landscapes of this remote seaside town. Your experienced expedition crew will brief you on what’s ahead as you embark on your Arctic adventure.
Spitsbergen
For the next 11 days you will immerse yourself in the beauty of Spitsbergen, on a constant search for wildlife as we cruise around this spectacular remote island. Embracing the very nature of expedition cruising there will be no particular fixed itinerary for your time in Spitsbergen. We plan to circumnavigate the island, but if conditions are favourable, we will also attempt a circumnavigation of the whole Svalbard archipelago. The routes taken will be dependent on weather and ice, but some of the areas you can expect to visit include the 14th of July Glacier, Ny London, Phippsøya, Alkefjellet and the seldom-visited Kvitøya. You will enjoy Zodiac excursions throughout, bringing you up-close to the spectacular landscapes of the island.
Each day will bring something new and exciting and your experienced expedition team will choose the best course for optimum wildlife viewing and the best places from which to get an insight into the history and geology of Spitsbergen.
The 14th of July Glacier will be of particular interest to birding enthusiasts as it is home to a multitude of species including purple sandpipers, common eiders, barnacle geese and arctic terns, whilst the famous Alkefjellet cliffs are teeming with nesting Brünnich’s guillemots. This is also a great area from which to spot Polar bears as they join Arctic foxes on their hunt for free bird egg meals. Searching for polar bears, the largest land carnivores in the world, will be a constant activity throughout your expedition. Phippsøya, Isbukta & Hornsund are areas which almost guarantee a polar bear sighting, with these being their favoured places for hunting. We will also be on the lookout for reindeer, visiting sites like Ny London, Sundneset and Alkhornet where you will want to have your camera ready for shots of these beautiful animals grazing on the lands. Walrus haul-outs are also very common round Spitsbergen and you will feel an air of excitement as you come across the noisy spectacle of these lumbering giants vying for a choice spot on the coastline.
There is no shortage of natural beauty in Spitsbergen and one of the very best ways to experience this is to join an optional kayaking excursion through the more isolated pockets of the area. If weather conditions permit there may also be a chance to visit Smeerenburg where you can visit a memorial erected in 1906. This historical site honours the whalers who lost their lives in the 17th and 18th centuries while working in extreme Arctic conditions. This is an excellent opportunity to understand the culture of Spitsbergen - not just how people live today, but also how this land was first explored.
Whichever course your expedition team choose for your thrilling Spitsbergen adventure you can be assured of remarkable scenic sights, from polar flora to immense glaciers, exceptional wildlife viewing and a sense of true wilderness in these beautiful lands at the top of the world.
Longyearbyen
Our arrival back into Longyearbyen signals the end of our exciting Spitsbergen adventure. A group transfer will be provided to the airport for onward travel or to a Longyearbyen hotel if you are extending your stay.
A view from Above
All Aboard

Ocean Adventurer
Ocean Adventurer (previously known as Sea Adventurer) is a purpose built expedition ship with ice-strengthened hull and first class accommodation and facilities. All 61 cabins have outside views and private facilities, including some with exterior access and outside seating. Public areas include dining room, lounge and presentation room, library, 2 bars, gift shop, clinic and exercise room. Other facilities are satellite communication and massage therapist. There is a forward observation deck and other open deck areas.
Too much to choose from? This is where we come in
Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Arctic adventure for you.

Mike has more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry and continues to be inspired by the people, places and wildlife he discovers. His in-depth personal knowledge of a diverse range of destinations ensures your adventure itinerary will be a holiday like no other.

Amy’s abiding love of adventure travel has taken her to some of the most incredible wildlife-rich places on Earth. Her vast experience and genuine desire to share her knowledge makes her an outstanding and invaluable person to help you organise your wildlife adventure trip.

Simon’s deep passion for and first-hand knowledge of a vast range of destinations all over the world gives him the ideal skills to help you create a truly unforgettable wildlife inspired adventure to the most exciting places on the planet.
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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?
Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us - 0800 195 3385
Chat Now
Request a
callback
Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book a
Consultation


Great team and support. Our trip to Antartica was a wonderful experience. Amy and the team did a great job coordinating the trip and setting expectations. You will be very happy with Wildfoot Travel if you decide to use their services.
Wonderful holiday (trip to the Arctic). Very professionally and courteously arranged through Wildfoot Travel.There boat was good with excellent food. Great zodiac boat trips twice a day to see polar bears and other wildlife and scenery. Strongly recommend Wildfoot.
My recent Expedition cruise on the Ocean Albatross exceeded my expectations. From the exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and most personable guides, to the ship’s hotel staff, everyone was focused on ensuring my cruise was all I expected and more. No request, no matter how small was always met with a smile. Bravo! When combined with the raw beauty of Greenland’s snow capped jagged mountains, to the iceberg dotted fjords, flower adorned valleys and colorful quaint towns, Greenland is a must for the out of the way travelers. See it now, before word gets out on how unique the island is.
We visited Torres del Paine on a Puma watching safari in January on a trip organised by Wildfoot Travel. This was part of a trip which included Punta Arenas and Easter Island - the holiday of a lifetime without any doubt. This review is solely about Torres del Paine. The 3 day Puma safari involved my wife and I setting out very early before daybreak in a vehicle with a driver and a guide and following the expert Puma tracker Roberto who went ahead to spot the Pumas. Roberto I recognised from Frozen Planet II episode 4 where he had spotted for the BBC camera team. We were delighted to be with a TV star, and he was delighted we recognised him. We had been concerned as to how much we would see as my wife only walks with a stick short distances. On the first day within an hour we were viewing the flamingos at Lake Armaga when we saw in a cave 5 Pumas which we watched as they settled down for a snooze after a night's hunting. Little walking was involved for superb views. After a couple of hours we went back to park HQ for a toilet break, and returned to find we had missed 4 more Pumas who had appeared from the opposite direction and then laid down in the bush and could not be seen. After spending several hours sightseeing, we returned to view the cave and watched the Pumas waking up and getting on with life, On the second day we saw no Pumas but toured the park with magnificent secenary. On day 3 Roberto took just us in his car to private land. Before we even got there we watched 4 pumas walking on the beach at Lake Armaga , and a 5th, hereafter known as Ruth's puma was spotted by Ruth not 5 metres from her, which calmly walked across the road and disappeared into the bushes. In the private land we watched a puma stalking a guanaco but not getting close enough and she eventually settled on a hill top for a sleep. Returning in the late afternoon we eventually tracked her down and from 50 metres away watched her and her cub, and another older female and 2 cubs gathered round a guanaco which she had killed and resting having eaten their fill. What an end to our safari - a 10 puma day. David Attenborough would be amazed.
Wildfoot Travel provided first class attention and support from our first contact with Amy finishing with a personal card welcoming us home from our Arctic trip. Amy spent a lot time ensuring we selected the right trip for our group of 4 adults and got it spot on. Hurtigruten was a well oiled organisation who made the trip a wonderful experience helping to broaden our knowledge of all things arctic and going the extra mile to help us spot the wildlife we all longed to see - the polar bear. All wildlife was treated with the utmost respect as was the fragile environment. Can't wait to plan our next trip and won't hesitate to use Wildfoot Travel again.
Wildfoot booked a Galapagos cruise which we had already identified. Their views and experience was important in making the choice. Overall the experience of the cruise was wonderful. Whilst we were on holiday prior to the cruise we heard that there were problems and Simon at Wildfoot was active in getting to the bottom of it to reassure it. Would recommend Wildfoot for your next adventure.

I came into contact with Wildfoot in 2022 as I was looking for a last-minute trip to the Artic. The team was super professional and gave me right advice and we booked my trip in 2023. The team was very well coordinated with the expedition company and followed me in every step before and after departure. I am very happy with them and in the future I will for sure ask for their advice when looking at expedition trips
Michael at Wildfoot is efficient courteous and flexible. He coped with several changes we requested. He knows his stuff and advised well for our Latin America trip and we will book through him again with pleasure.

Wildfoot made the process of booking a trip of a lifetime (to Antarctica) so easy! They helped find a cruise that met all our requirements (including finding us a great deal on the voyage), were communicative, and answered all our questions promptly. I would highly recommend Wildfoot for adventure travel reservations!
We worked with Amy to organise our Antartica expedition. She was very attentive and was able to accommodate all of our requests. I highly recommend this company. Wildfoot found us the perfect expedition at the best possible price.
I cannot thank Wildfoot Travel enough for organising such an epic trip to Botswana for me! No question was too much, everything went smoothly, the places I stayed were exactly what I wanted and although this was my 6th time in Africa, this was definitely the best trip thanks to Michael and Sylvia.
Wildfoot were really helpful in the planning of our trip to Antarctica, especially when we needed to make some changes. They were very patient and we had an amazing trip to Antarctica!!
An incredible trip to the Falklands islands, I had the most memorable time and loved every minute of it. Wildfoot travel made all the arrangements kept in touch and also organised my flights. I want to say a huge thank you, everything organised so well. I was travelling on my own and they made sure all eventualities were covered. Thank you so much!!!
requested an active holiday that would excite and also enjoy local wildlife and culture. Wildfoot found me the absolute perfect holiday that i would not have found on my own. from Surfing/Abseiling down waterfalls and climbing 40ft trees, to night wildlife walking tours, across the diverse lanscape of Costa Rica, i couldnt have been happier every second of the holiday, thank you

Communication with WILDFOOT Travel was good throughout. Replies to queries were received quickly - thanks Sylvia Captain, crew and guides were all very knowledgeable and entertaining. Cabin was clean, comfortable and warm (occasionally a little too warm). Excellent food. We didn’t see much of the wildlife, but we were super lucky with the weather- clear night skies with super sunsets and fabulous aurora shows. Great snowshoeing treks each day. We joined the “survival” group on the first day. Bit of fun in a light snowy blizzard. Thereafter we chose the “cozy” group. A bit like walking through Narnia. Stunning scenery. Also managed to sail with the sails raised a couple of times … take seasickness tablets/bands with you. A great holiday. Many thanks guys. COVID health and safety measures were in place which did have an impact on getting to know other group members. However, we were kept as safe as could be achieved. If you are considering this trip, we’re sure you will have a great experience Isobel and Nicola

Iceland proved to live up to our expectations scenically. The cruise was largely professionally run. (There were some chaotic issues associated with evacuation practice, probably due to the prior Covid lapse to their schedule.) What we had not realised was that the trip was heavily dominated by 2 USA tour groups. There was a sizeable German contingent too, but their requirements had little impact on overall customer satisfaction (unlike our American friends.) Wildfoot Travel administrative pre-trip response was good but it was difficult to elicit timely and accurate responses from Iceland Pro-Travel.
What a great trip! Wildfoot built a great trip for us and every aspect was spot on. The hotels were great, our Iguazu guide was fun, interesting and helpful, and all the transfers were timely and comfortable. But the big item - the Antarctica trip - was superb. Wildfoot had given us the best advice and helped us choose the right ship and tour for what we wanted. A truly memorable experience. Thank you Wildfoot.
We did an 11 night trip to Botswana and Victoria Falls. The quality of everything was outstanding and the organisation top class. Thank you so much.

Questions usually were promptly answered. But, overall, communications with our agent were not good. An expected package of materials was promised four weeks before departure … then three weeks … then two weeks. Certain, important pieces of information were not delivered until we asked for them. Overall, not a very personable, experience.

In May 2021, we booked an Antarctic expedition through Wildfoot for departure in January 2022. Simon, Tina, and Syliva spent many hours walking us through various options, and eventually placed us with Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship, MV Hondius, was state-of-the-art, and our all-too-brief time on the Antarctic Peninsula was as magical as you’d expect. I’ve never been anywhere so desolate and forbidding, yet overflowing with wildlife, at the same time. Unfortunately, despite best efforts, our trip was cut short due a covid outbreak on the ship. Oceanwide’s onboard staff handled the disappointing situation with great professionalism despite the difficult circumstances. However, it was after the shortened voyage ended that Wildfoot truly excelled. Simon, Tina, and especially Sylvia negotiated a resolution with Oceanwide’s corporate office for more than a month afterwards. They could have simply thrown their hands in the air, and said ‘there’s nothing we can do’, and walked away. Instead, they advocated for us for weeks afterwards with Oceanwide. This is a level of service far above and beyond the ordinary. This team is ‘the real deal’. I can’t recommend them more highly. I would book again with Wildfoot in an instant.

A great big thanks to all at Wildfoot Travel for making my Antarctic expedition an epic adventure of immense proportions. Everything went smoothly, pickups, hotels and most of all the expedition itself. Truly a mind blowing experience unlike any I have ever taken. Looking forward to booking the next trip with you.
I have recently return from Svalbard and the Realm of the Polar Bear in Depth. I highly recommend this trip. I had discussions and advise from various team members at Wildfoot and I'm extremely happy with there advise. I think this trip suited me the best. Was great for a single traveller or groups. Wild foot organised everything well. I appreciated them getting me there a couple of days prior to sailing. There is a lot more than you may think to do in and around Longyearbryn. I could go back and plan plenty to keep me busy. I have had an unbelievable experience thanks to Wildfoot and G Adventures. The Arctic is a once in a life time not to be missed. Given the chance it is definitely somewhere I would go back. The binoculars that I received for booking early were a lovely touch from Wild foot and an essential item on a trip like this.

We travelled to the Arctic via Longyearbyen with Wildfoot. It was a memorable trip. The MS Plancius was definitely the right choice. The ship is very nice, very comfortable, very clean, the crew is fantastic, the meals were very good, the expedition staff very kind and extremely knowledgeable and professional. It holds approx 100 people which is perfect as you get to know people better and its a great atmosphere (better than the big liners). All activities were very well and timely organized in a safely manner. On our Arctic voyage we came across a massive 13 polar bears, two Arctic foxes, reindeer, walrus, seals, minkey whale and fin whale. Wildfoot’ support was outstanding. They responded to my emails time after time as I had so many questions and gave us detail every time, I strongly recommend this trip with Wildfoot.
Wildfoot Travel put together a first class programme for my recent trip to Namibia. It was exactly what I was looking for. Their local agent was very good in going over the programme when I arrived in Windhoek. They gave me a mobile phone with all the lodge numbers already installed, which gave me confidence in case of problems. As it happened everything went very smoothly.
The Falklands were fabulous. Lots of birds, few people, lots of time to wander around on my own. All the islands were wonderful. The only day that was not excellent was the trip to Dolphin point. A long drive, few birds and few sea lions. I was very lucky with the weather. Lots of wind but hardly any rain. I debated whether to do this or go to antarctica, and am delighted I did this. I would recommend staying at the Neck on Saunders rather than at the settlement. La Yegua Loca in PA was a delight. I usually could care less about hotels and restaurants on trips like this, but La Yegua Loca was wonderful. The new restaurant they have - a glass enclosed space on the terrace in front of the hotel with old tools as fixtures and views out to the straights and delicious food was great.
WILDFOOT – PANTANAL TRIP 7-16TH OCTOBER 2018 Following a previous trip organised by Wildfoot to Antarctic, Shackleton route, which was a first class organised trip, we were confident a Pantanal trip with the same company would be equally first class, and how right we were. They arranged a private guided trip, transport and accommodation on bespoke dates when other companies couldn’t at short notice, and at good value.. Was it worth it? – All internal flights were efficient and on time (Azul and Latam). All road transport (4x4) air conditioned and comfortable, river boat=transport – efficient, reliable and always on time and waiting, with all drivers professional, and just as keen as the guide to spot and show you the wildlife. Our english speaking Brazilian guide (Fino) was world class (the best we have ever experienced anywhere), based on his bird/mammal knowledge, patience/persistence, and bird/animal behaviour predictability, correct judgements on sites and his adaptability to meet our individual requirements. He demonstrated great humour , kindness and “drive” to assist with any issue at any given time of day or night. We also learnt how to mimic some bird calls from Fino, and it worked for us! We deliberately decided not to count the number of birds/mammals species spotted (in the hundreds) and Fino adapted to our” Native” theme. Highlights were behaviour from seeing swimming/hunting Jaguars, foraging Armadillo, Howler and Capuchin monkey troops quietly/calmly playing in the treetops. Following a Tapir slowly rustling his way through the forest to a water hole, great river otters mating, a wild Peccary party, Anteater parading as if it was at Crufts, Blue Hyacinth Macaws gently preening each other, the territory battle between Agami and tiger Heron, the sound of Caiman crunching its fish……. And on and on it goes. The three locations of Pouso Alegre, Panoramic Flotel, and South Wild were essential to maximise the different wildlife opportunities and their behaviour We would repeat this trip again in exactly the same way and no doubt find even more new experiences After Shackleton route, this was our best trip ever, and Wildfoot (and their agents Brazil Nature Tours) were key to the success of this trip. Hundreds pf photographs taken, but none meet the visual/sensory memories. An outstanding, uplifting and mind-blowing experience. Thank You.
Great customer service and easy to work with. I would recommend working with Wildfoot when booking an Antarctica expedition.
Excellent service. Could not have been any better We are very satisfied customers
Absolutely brilliant service in difficult times of Covid and plane strikes. The best in the business and very reasonable. Total real care. Holiday perfect
Just got back from a wonderful trip to Svalbard via the Orkneys, Fair Isle, the Faroes and Jan Mayen. Thoroughly recommended.
Excellent advice, efficient and friendly organisation with a terrific expedition to Antarctica which we'll remember as long as we remember anything. Thank you Wildfoot
Fabulous knowledge and customer service. Only back a week and already planning our next trip with them - surely that says it all?
Very knowledgeable about the Antarctica and gave us invaluable advice.
Very good customer service with good pricing!
excellent personal service as always