Springtime in Svalbard

Having arrived independently to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard, you will transfer to your hotel for your included overnight stay. Time allowing you can enjoy a walk around this unique Arctic town before settling down for a good night’s sleep in preparation for the adventures that lie ahead.

On the morning of day 2 we will begin our exploration of Svalbard with a tour around Longyearbyen, with lunch included, before making our way to the port to board your small expedition vessel to begin your voyage around Spitsbergen’s enchanting west coast.

As with all polar expedition cruises, flexibility throughout our voyage will be key, and as we travel through this untamed wilderness your experienced crew and captain will determine the best course for unparalleled scenic and wildlife experiences based on ice and weather conditions and likelihoods of wildlife encounters. Your crew are there to ensure you experience the very best of what Spitsbergen has to offer. Exploring by ship, Zodiac and on foot we will discover north and south of the dramatic west Spitsbergen coastline, with each day bringing a new experience and adventure. This could mean a wakeup call in the middle of the night as we sail by a polar bear on the ice, or spending more time in one destination than others due to the high concentration of wildlife. Whatever happens, this is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime!

Our route is likely to vary but there are some particular areas that we expect to visit during our time here. Our first stop is likely to be the bird cliffs of Alkhornet at the entrance to Isfjorden where we will go ashore to discover the beautiful tundra and spot some of the abundance of birdlife that is usually found here including Brünnich’s guillemots, barnacle geese, snow buntings, glaucous gulls and tens of thousands of kittiwakes. We are also likely to see Arctic foxes here as they stalk below the cliffs searching for eggs and other treats that may have dropped from above.

Next we will sail past the narrow strip of Prins Karls Forland to see its beautiful landscape of snow-covered mountains and search for seals in the surrounding waters, before sailing north to Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden to explore around the scientific village of Ny-Ålesund and discover the beautifully sculpted front of the 14th of July glacier. Sailing further north we plan to reach Raudfjorden, an area of immense natural beauty that is dominated by beautiful glaciers and is a favourite spot for seals and abundant birdlife, before reaching Danskøya, the northernmost point of our voyage. It is here where two of the most courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started and there are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site.

Turning to sail south we will venture close to the bottom of the island to reach Bellsund to visit beautiful Vårsolbukta where little auks nest by the tens of thousands and we can enjoy an exciting walk across the tundra. Our last stop is likely to be the majestic Hornsund to see the magnificent fjords and enormous glaciers that dominate the landscape. Here we will have our best chances of seeing the Kings of the Arctic…the iconic Polar bears!

Arrival back in to the port at Longyearbyen sadly signals the end of our voyage. After breakfast you will disembark, bid a fond farewell to your expedition crew and begin your journey home filled with enchanting memories of your Arctic adventure.

Please note: Various land and flight packages are available for getting to and from Longyearbyen, and also for extensions to your tour. Please enquire for further details.