Around Svalbard Expedition

Having arrived independently to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard, you will make your way to the port to board your expedition vessel and begin your adventure of a lifetime. After settling in to your comfortable cabin, meeting your expedition crew and familiarising yourself with your new surroundings, we recommend making your way to deck to watch as your ship sails through the spectacular Isfjorden and deep into the Arctic.

By the morning of day 2 we will be in the heart of Spitsbergen’s enchanting west coast, ready to begin our Svalbard exploration. 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 hope to discover the whole way around Spitsbergen’s dramatic 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 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. We also hope to visit Liefdefjorden to discover its snow-covered mountain peaks and take a Zodiac cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco 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. 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.

Pushing east along the northern Spitsbergen coast, if ice conditions allow we will sail into the spectacular Hinlopen Strait to discover the island of Nordaustlandet which is covered by a huge icecap that has fascinated historians and naturalists alike for countless years. Scenic photo opportunities here are immense, with huge glacier fronts intersected by hundreds of waterfalls. While we are in this area we also hope to visit Alkefjellet, an impressive basaltic cliff that is home to an estimated 200,000 Brünnich’s guillemots.

Sailing further south along Svalbard’s east coast we will visit Barentsøya and Edgeøya to enjoy some walks along the impressive tundra in search of sightings of Arctic fox, reindeers and walruses, before sailing along the south coast and north towards the majestic Hornsund. This is likely to be the last stop on our voyage, but will certainly not disappoint. Here we will see magnificent fjords and enormous glaciers that dominate the landscape, and we will have our best chances of observing 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.