Spitsbergen Odyssey

Having arrived independently to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago, you will be met by a tour representative and will join your fellow travellers for a sightseeing tour around the town, including a stop at the local museum. In the late afternoon you will join your transfer to the port for embarkation.

As you get your bearings and settle into your comfortable cabin, the ship will set sail out of the beautiful Isfjorden and deep into the Arctic wilderness. You may wish to spend some time on deck watching as the seabirds follow the ship, before joining the captain for your four-course welcome meal.

Over the course of the next 7 days you will sail aboard your expedition vessel to discover the unique landscapes, untouched beauty and iconic wildlife of Spitsbergen and the Svalbard archipelago. Weather dependent, you will attempt to circumnavigate around the entirety of the archipelago, but this cannot be guaranteed. Each day your experienced captain and crew will assess the weather and ice conditions and plot a course for thrilling adventures and unforgettable sights.

What can be guaranteed is sightings of phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains, rich tundra, and a variety of wildlife. As you sail through the snowscapes you can expect encounters with walrus, seals and whales, as well as an abundance of birdlife. But the main goal will be to spot the iconic Polar bears that call these lands their home. Your captain will aim to take you to the areas where Polar bear sightings are most frequent so that you can see their majesty up-close (but not too close!).

Throughout your time here you will enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises across the fronts of stunning glaciers and fjords, take walks across the tundra to look for reindeer and wild flowers, visit ancient whaling stations and ruins, and learn all about the area’s fascinating history and geology from your expert team. For those who choose to add kayaking to their package, there will be numerous opportunities to get paddling.

Unforgettable places you are likely to visit on this exciting Arctic cruise might include Kongsfjorden, the former mining settlement of Ny-Ålesund, Nordvesthjørnet, Raudfjorden, Magdalenefjorden, Virgohamna, Ytre Norskøya, Woodfjorden, Liefdefjorden, Moffen Island, Barentsøya and Edgeøya. If a circumnavigation is possible you may also visit the iconic areas of Hornsund & Bellsund.

On days 9 and 10 you will be sailing across the Barents Sea to Kirkenes in Northern Norway. Along the way there are good chances of whale and seabird sightings from deck. Upon arrival in Kirkenes on the morning of day 11, you will disembark and take your transfer to the airport or a downtown location.