Circumnavigation Spitsbergen

Circumnavigation Spitsbergen 10 days

Prices From £5,458pp
3 JUN, 2019 | Up to 9 nights

Circumnavigation Spitsbergen 10 days

Aboard: MS Fram

Join us for this wonderful cruise around the Svalbard archipelago, with a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, to discover the area’s fascinating wildlife and stunning scenery. Enjoying exciting landings, hikes, Zodiac excursions and optional kayaking activities throughout we aim to sail well above the 80th parallel and bring you closer than 600 nautical miles from the Geographical North Pole. Visiting the great eastern nature reserves and experiencing some of the most spectacular highlights of the Arctic, we will be on a constant look out for wildlife, with sightings of Polar Bears, reindeers, Arctic foxes, seals and thousands of seabirds very likely.

Highlights

  • Circumnavigate Spitsbergen
  • Spectacular scenery
  • Great chance of seeing polar bears
  • Whales, walrus, reindeer and other wildlife
  • Myriad birds
  • Historical associations
  • Experience the midnight sun

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation on board ship
  • Return economy flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen
  • One hotel night in Longyearbyen before the voyage including breakfast and lunch
  • Transfers in Longyearbyen including a town excursion
  • Wind and water-resistant jacket
  • Landings with small boats and activities on board and ashore
  • Professional English-speaking Expedition team that provide lectures as well as accompanying landings and activities
  • Free tea and coffee

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Oslo - Longyearbyen
1Day

Oslo - Longyearbyen

Your Arctic adventure will begin with an included flight from the Norwegian capital of Oslo to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard, where upon arrival you will be transferred to your included hotel for an overnight stay. You can enjoy an evening here in this town perched on the edge of the Arctic wilderness. Longyearbyen is surprisingly cosmopolitan, with first-class facilities, charming architecture, an internationally renowned museum and several bars and restaurants. Enjoy a great night’s sleep in preparation for the adventures that lie ahead.

Longyearbyen - Embarkation
2Day

Longyearbyen - Embarkation

This morning we can enjoy an exciting excursion in Longyearbyen allowing you to get to know this unique town and get a glimpse into life here in this most remote of areas. In the afternoon embarkation will begin and after settling in to your cabin and exploring your new surroundings you may want to spend some time on deck as we sail through the scenic Isfjord and our adventure truly begins.



NW Spitsbergen National Park
3 - 5Days

NW Spitsbergen National Park

During these days we will explore the beautiful North West corner of Spitsbergen, an exceptionally scenic area scattered with islands, fjords and beaches, and a constantly changing frozen landscape. As with all Arctic expeditions our itinerary will be flexible, with your captain constantly monitoring the weather and ice conditions to establish the best routes to take to make the most of your time here and get the very best wildlife and scenic experiences. Throughout your time here we hope to make multiple landings to bring you up close to what this remarkable area has to offer and one of the highlights will be a visit to Kongsfjorden. Kongsfjorden is considered one of the most beautiful fjord areas in Spitsbergen, with mighty glaciers calving icebergs into the sea, framed by stunning mountain formations, and we hope to go on shore here to visit the former mining settlement of Ny-Ålesund.

We also hope to see the huge Monaco Glacier in Liefdefjord where we will take a Zodiac (small boat) cruise around the area. In the Magdalenafjorden and Gravneset areas we hope to offer the chance for guests to earn their Arctic Swimming Certificate as they take a dip in the frigid Arctic waters. Exciting hiking and kayaking excursions will also be offered as we take advantage of the midnight sun and enjoy every minute here.

Eastern Svalbard and South Spitsbergen
6 - 8Days

Eastern Svalbard and South Spitsbergen

This expedition offers the rare chance to explore the whole way around the island, and as we sail east we will be venturing even further into the wilderness to discover a world like no other. The eastern and southern areas of Spitsbergen offer the highest chances of seeing the “King of The Arctic” and with Eastern Svalbard boasting the highest population of polar bears on the archipelago our chances of unforgettable encounters are very high.

Our likely route here will be to sail to Isflakbukta on Phippsøya on the far north of the Svalbard archipelago to see the tens of thousands of seabirds that mate here and walrus diving for clams in the bay. We also aim to cruise in Sorgfjorden, which borders the North East Spitsbergen Nature Reserve, and was the site of a famous 17th-century battle between whalers. If the weather is favourable here, we can enjoy a hike in beautiful Eolsneset or a Zodiac cruise in the Hinlopen Strait area before travelling onwards to Torellneset to spot walruses sunning themselves on the flat beach.

We continue on to Edgeøya, the third-largest island in the archipelago, to discover its unique and largely un-glaciated landscape before making our way round the southern cape and heading towards Hornsund. Here we will find a wonderfully varied landscape and even more chances of spotting polar bears.

Isfjord
9Day

Isfjord

Our final adventure will be in the scenic Isfjord, the most extensive fjord system in Svalbard. Here we will spend a day exploring the inner and outer parts of the fjord looking for the large populations of Svalbard Reindeer and the thousands of Brunnich's guillemots which nest in the Alkehornet peak during the summer season. This delightful area offers excellent photographic opportunities with U-shaped valleys, carved out of the mountains by the giant glaciers that covered the area some ten thousand years ago, and as we make our way back to Longyearbyen our cameras will be as full as our memory banks.

Longyearbyen-Oslo
10Day

Longyearbyen-Oslo

Arrival back in to the port of Longyearbyen signals the end of our Arctic adventure and sadly it will be time to bid a fond farewell to our expedition team and fellow passengers. After disembarkation you will join your included flight back to Oslo. Longyearbyen is the gateway to countless Arctic excursions so should you wish to stay on here for more adventures please feel free to contact us for more details.

A view from Above

All Aboard

MS Fram
Mid range vessel

MS Fram

The MS Fram has been specifically designed for those who thirst for adventure. As an expedition cruise ship, it is an ideal base camp for explorers. The ship places a high priority on your comfort, which means that after a long day of exploring, you can kick back and relax in a hot tub or enjoy a meal at one of two restaurants, including an outdoor BBQ. You can also socialize with other guests over cocktails in the Explorer Lounge & Bar, taking in the stunning views as you go.

At the heart of MS Fram lies the Science Centre, where you can learn more about the places you'll be sailing to and listen to talks by the Expedition Team. The ship is equipped with key expedition features and technology, making it the perfect vessel to take you on a journey of discovery to some of the most beautiful and unspoiled regions on the planet.

The MS Fram offers an expedition experience that will bring you closer to nature and leave a lasting impression. The recent 2022 upgrade has given the ship a fresh new look that's quintessentially Nordic, while still keeping exploration and learning at the forefront of the experience.

The Science Center has been expanded and improved, and there's now a larger fleet of small expedition boats available for off-ship exploration. Lecture areas have been upgraded, and you can stream Expedition Team talks directly to your cabin.

One of the most notable aspects of MS Fram is the way the ship has been designed to blur the line between inside and outside. The Explorer Lounge & Bar, gym, sauna, and hot tubs all offer panoramic views of the surrounding scenery. The top-deck BBQ allows you to dine al fresco and enjoy local flavours, while numerous artworks commissioned from local Arctic artists adorn the interior, adding an extra layer of inspiration to your journey.

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.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Sheena’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.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike has more than fifteen years hands-on experience in the industry, travelling to some of the most incredible wild places on the planet. His far-reaching knowledge and invaluable skills will ensure that your wildlife travel adventure is a dream come true.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

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.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us
0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43

Chat Now

Request a
callback

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

text
close

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 Consultation

Book a
Consultation

Your Details

It would be great to know...

We are always looking for ways to improve the service we offer to our customers, so we would love to know...

1) How do you rate our website?
2) Where did you hear about us:

Tell us about your ideal trip

What are your interests?