Spitsbergen & Franz Josef Land

Your adventure will begin in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago. You are invited to arrive at a time that is convenient to you and spend the day exploring this remote settlement. Accommodation tonight is included as part of your package.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to the port to board the luxury polar vessel M/v Sea Spirit. Make yourself comfortable in your new surroundings as your ship sails into the wilderness through Isfjorden. Spectacular scenery abounds and with virtually 24 hour daylight at this time of year, we can already be on the lookout for marine mammals.

We sail around the coast of Spitsbergen and the Svalbard Archipelago and cross the Barents Sea, east towards Franz Josef Land. Enjoy onboard presentations about the adventures that lie ahead and keep a lookout on deck for Bowhead and other whales, and even polar bears.

We clear Russian immigration at Nagurskoye and are then free to explore this wildlife and scenery rich archipelago. Our itinerary is heavily dependent on ice and weather conditions, and your experienced captain and expedition leader will decide the best route and continually adjust plans as opportunities warrant in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic. You can expect to see polar bears, rare whales, walrus and other marine mammals as well as massive nesting colonies of seabirds including guillemots, little auks and the threatened ivory gull. With close to 24 hours of daylight, there are lots of opportunities for wildlife viewing.

There are also interesting geological features, such as the stone spheres on Champ Island and basalt cliffs of Rubini Rock, as well as memorials of the many polar expeditions that passed this way. Franz Josef Land is dominated by glaciation, which covers 85% of the archipelago. Immense tidewater glaciers and glittering icebergs will provide a stunning backdrop throughout your voyage.

After an exciting week of exploring Franz Josef Land you will cross back through the bountiful waters of the Barents Sea and then along the coastal islands of the Svalbard Archipelago. Again, the focus will be heavily upon wildlife viewing and you can hope to see polar bears and other mammals and birds throughout these days. The scenery on Spitsbergen is spectacular, with sharp mountain peaks and calving glaciers, and we will sail into deep fjords and narrow channels looking out for polar bears, walrus and seals on the ice floes and reindeer and Arctic fox on the flowering tundra. In open water, there are several species of whale to be spotted and on land the remnants of human habitation in the form of long abandoned whaling, mining and trapping camps.

Upon return back into Longyearbyen, a transfer to the airport or to the town center will be provided. You may wish to spend some further time here and if so, be sure to see the excellent Svalbard Museum and take advantage of the quality cultural and dining opportunities in this fascinating Arctic settlement.