Svalbard – North to the Midnight Sun

Svalbard – North to the Midnight Sun 8 Days

Prices From £6,228pp
May to August | 7 nights

Up To 25% Discount!

Single Cabins Available

Svalbard – North to the Midnight Sun 8 Days

Aboard: Ocean Albatros The Discoverer

Set sail for the immense beauty of Svalbard on this thrilling Arctic expedition. With the goal of sailing as close as possible to the Svalbard pack ice to search for Polar bears, you will discover a world of spectacular scenery and enchanting wildlife. Travelling in the Arctic’s high summer, this is the perfect opportunity to discover the natural life on northern and western Svalbard, including reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, whales and a myriad of seabirds. Exciting Zodiac cruises will allow you to view wildlife at close proximity and enjoy exploratory mini cruises in the fjords and glacial landscapes, whilst shore visits accompanied by your expert guides will see you enjoy nature walks whilst learning all about these remarkable Arctic lands. Sailing aboard one of the world’s only ice-class expedition ships built to meet the North Pole pack ice, this is the ideal itinerary for those seeking to discover the far northern reaches of the world.

This trip operates on various dates. Mentioned activities may not be applicable to all departure dates. Please enquire for full rates and dates.

Highlights

  • Attempt to reach the North Pole pack ice aboard one of the world’s most capable ice-class expedition ships
  • Discover the incredibly remote Sjuøyane (Seven Islands)
  • Great chances of seeing Polar bears
  • Incredible scenery throughout
  • Get up-close to Arctic wildlife including reindeer, walrus, Arctic fox, seals and whales
  • Witness an abundance of birdlife
  • Enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises, and hikes and nature walks on land
  • Travel with a dedicated expedition photographer who will provide lectures and tips for capturing the perfect pictures (select departures)
  • Kayaking option available (select departures - costs apply)

What's Included

  • Return flights between Oslo & Longyearbyen (as part of included Mandatory Transfer Package)
  • Full board accommodation on board ship with all meals, tea, coffee and snacks
  • Complimentary house wine, beer, and soft drinks at dinner (selected labels and brands)
  • Welcome and farewell cocktails
  • Zodiac cruises, nature walks and hikes as per itinerary
  • Informative lecture and presentation programme
  • Post-voyage digital journal link with images and voyage log from your trip

Up To 25% Discount!

Book select departures by 31st August and receive up to 25% discount off select cabins!
Price shown includes discount.

Offer applicable when booked before 1st September 2026

Applies to select cabins on select departures and is subject to availability. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Full terms and conditions apply. / Available on selected dates/vessels.

Single Cabins Available

This vessel offers single occupancy cabins, which is a perfect option for solo travellers. Travelling alone is often the best way to see the world. No responsibilities, no difficult choices and no trying to please anyone else…just you, your itinerary and your adventurous spirit!

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Oslo to Longyearbyen - Embark
1Day

Oslo to Longyearbyen - Embark

Fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen today, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago, where you will board your vessel and begin your Arctic adventure. After a welcome drink and time to familiarise yourself with the ship, there will be voyage and safety briefings before your captain steers the ship out of Advent Fjord and into the wilderness.

Please note: Your flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen are included in the price of your expedition, as part of a mandatory transfer package.

Northwest Svalbard
2 - 3Days

Northwest Svalbard

As with all Arctic expeditions, our exact route in Svalbard will be dictated by weather and ice conditions, with your experienced captain and crew charting the perfect course each day for unforgettable sights and adventures. This itinerary describes the expected route but may be subject to change.

First up we’ll head to Northwest Svalbard, a protected national park since 1973 and one of the archipelago’s most atmospheric regions. These remote shores are steeped in Arctic history. Dutch and English whalers once operated here after the area was first recorded by explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596.

As you explore, you may spot striking traces of that era including old processing sites and the poignant resting places of sailors, particularly around Smeerenburg. Today, strict conservation has allowed the landscape to recover and thrive. In summer, tundra blooms with hardy Arctic flowers, cliffs and coastlines fill with seabirds, and the pack-ice edge can deliver unforgettable wildlife moments, from hauled-out walrus to the chance of seeing polar bears roaming this wild frontier.

Northeast Svalbard
4Day

Northeast Svalbard

This morning we push into the far northeast of Svalbard to discover a raw, high-Arctic landscape often described as a polar desert, shaped by its cold seas and the lack of warming ocean currents. Immense glaciers spill down from the interior and meet waters laced with drift ice, framing mountains and shorelines that look almost empty at first glance.

Look closer, though, and the region feels anything but lifeless. Arctic foxes may patrol the beach fringes, and towering cliffs can be alive with nesting seabirds by the hundred-thousand. In the frigid coastal shallows, shellfish thrive, drawing in walrus that regularly haul out along the shores.

Because conditions here can change quickly, our route and landing plans stay flexible. Wind, ice, and sea state will guide the day, making every hour feel truly unpredictable, immersive, and wonderfully wild.

North Svalbard
5Day

North Svalbard

Today we head even farther north, aiming for some of the most remote land you can reach by ship, hoping to discover bleak, beautiful islands that spend much of the year locked in ice. If conditions allow, we’ll try for Nordaustlandet or, even farther on, the scattered isles of Sjuøyane at the top of the archipelago. These wind-scoured outposts sit roughly 1,000 km north of Nordkapp on mainland Norway, and they feel like the edge of the map, mostly rock, frost, and sky. Vegetation is minimal, just resilient mosses, lichens, and a few tough tundra plants clinging to the stones.

For wildlife lovers, the birdlife can be the highlight here. Watch for busy shorebirds along the waterline and keep an eye overhead for nesting terns and skuas. This is prime binocular territory.

Later, we begin our push toward the Arctic pack ice, the shifting frozen frontier that stretches from these islands toward the North Pole and beyond.

Into The Ice
6Day

Into The Ice

North of Svalbard lies the pack ice, an immense, shifting world of frozen sea that reaches toward the North Pole and continues across the Arctic toward Alaska and Siberia. From a distance it can look stark and silent, but this is one of the planet’s most active marine ecosystems, constantly reshaped by wind, current, and temperature.

Beneath the ice edge, life thrives. Small fish and microscopic food chains support seabirds, seals, and larger marine mammals such as belugas and bowhead whales. And, if fortune is on our side, we may even glimpse the Arctic’s top predator, the polar bear, moving along leads and pressure ridges in search of its next opportunity.

With your ship able to thread through narrow channels and openings, today is about embracing the rhythm of the ice. The best encounters often come to those who watch carefully, stay patient, and let this remarkable, ever-changing environment reveal itself.

Kongsfjorden Area
7Day

Kongsfjorden Area

Overnight, we cruise into the spectacular Kongsfjorden system, an Arctic panorama of broad waters, tidewater glaciers, and jagged peaks. Looming above the fjord are the striking “Three Crowns” mountains (Tre Kroner), creating one of Svalbard’s most dramatic backdrops.

Our destination is Ny-Ålesund, often described as one of the world’s northernmost communities and a global hub for polar science. A cluster of international research stations operates here, monitoring everything from climate and atmosphere to Arctic ecosystems. It’s also a place with deep expedition heritage and once served as a departure point for renowned explorers including Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen.

Set against glaciers and mountains, Ny-Ålesund feels like a meeting point of past and present, coupling the romance of exploration with the modern mission of understanding a rapidly changing Arctic. This region will offer a fitting finale to our Svalbard adventures.

Longyearbyen to Oslo
8Day

Longyearbyen to Oslo

After breakfast this morning it will sadly be time to bid farewell to the crew as you disembark in Longyearbyen and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Oslo.

Please note: Your flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen are included in the price of your expedition, as part of a mandatory transfer package.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Ocean Albatros
Luxury  first class vessel

Ocean Albatros

The brand-new (November 2022) Ocean Albatros has been built to the highest Polar code 6 and Ice class 1A and is the ideal vessel for small-ship cruising due to its sturdy construction and X-Bow®-Infinity class, which provides high stability in rough weather and allows for the smoothest movements on high waves. Designed to surpass environmentally friendly standards, the Ocean Albatros is part of the Green Initiative Program and is a low-energy vessel with 4 diesel engines and 2 electro engines, all controlled electronically to optimize speed and fuel consumption. The ship will have more than a 50% lower carbon footprint than traditional expedition vessels. The vessel also features a Solas 2012 classification which facilitates a safe return to port.

There are 95 very comfortable and stylishly furnished staterooms and suites, which are split into 9 different categories with varying features, with many offering unobstructed sea views and many which also offer a private balcony. 12 dedicated solo travel cabins are also available without a single supplement. The communal areas on board this high-end vessel include 2 restaurants, an Albatros Nordic Bar, a fantastic panorama sauna, open-air swimming pool with lounging deck and jacuzzis, an open deck dining area, wellness area with gym and Polar spa, an observation lounge, boutique giftshop and a modern lecture theatre.

The Discoverer
Mid range vessel

The Discoverer

Blending true expedition capability with contemporary comfort, the Discoverer is a refined small ship designed for immersive exploration in the polar regions. Carrying a limited number of guests, it maintains an intimate, boutique atmosphere while offering the strength and agility needed to navigate remote, ice-filled waters. With an ice-strengthened hull, a fleet of Zodiacs, and expansive outer decks for wildlife viewing and photography, Discoverer ensures guests can experience dramatic landscapes and wildlife encounters up close, rather than from a distance.

On board, a recent refurbishment has introduced bright, modern interiors and enhanced public spaces that feel both welcoming and stylish. Guests can relax in the panoramic Observation Lounge, attend expert-led talks in the lecture theatre, or unwind in the wellness centre with its sauna and spa facilities. The restaurant offers a relaxed setting for international cuisine, while outdoor jacuzzis provide a memorable way to take in the scenery. Accommodation ranges from comfortable staterooms with ocean views to spacious suites with private balconies, creating a restful retreat between each day’s unforgettable adventures.

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.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

As Senior Travel Expert, Simon has an absolute wealth of experience in adventure travel in some of the most fascinating places in the world. With in-depth knowledge and fantastic organizational skills, Simon’s first-hand experience and genuine passion drive him to work to create your perfect itinerary.

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.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Having amassed a host of extraordinary adventures in destinations all over the world, Sheena’s experience, skills and enthusiasm for helping clients plan their ideal itinerary will help make your holiday unforgettable, action packed and life-changing.

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

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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

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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