West & North Svalbard in Luxury

Join your included flight from Paris to Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard, where you will transfer to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel. You can settle into your supremely comfortable cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship as we sail out of Longyearbyen surrounded by wonderful scenery and head into the Isfjord as your Arctic adventure begins.

Having sailed south along the coast of Spitsbergen, you arrive at Hornsund, considered “the crown of Arctic Norway”. This stunning area with its impressive glaciers and abundant icebergs will be the perfect introduction to this magical archipelago. You will sail around the fjord between imposing glaciers and carved mountains and may get to enjoy your first Zodiac cruise in the iceberg-strewn waters.

The following day you will return north to head into the Bellsund Fjord to search the lush valleys for wildlife and learn all about how important this area was to historical polar explorations and trading.

An exciting day of expedition cruising will see your captain sail right to the edge of the ice floes that extend towards the North Pole. A Zodiac cruise through these huge floating slabs of ice should make for a memorable experience. With a bit of luck you may spot some Polar bears and seals today as we cruise in style through the Far North.

Your first adventure today will take you to the small archipelago of Måkeøyane in the heart of the Woodfjorden where you will be on the lookout for Arctic terns as well as the Polar bears that are often attracted here by the terns’ eggs.

An exciting afternoon will take you to the incredibly impressive Monaco Glacier (Monacobreen) which is thought of as one of Spitsbergen’s most beautiful and majestic glaciers. As well as the spectacular scenery on offer, this is also another great area for spotting Polar bears along with whales and other marine wildlife.

In Raudfjorden today you will be able to admire some of Spitsbergen’s most spectacular ice formations, as well as the magnificent glaciers of Chauveaubreen and Raudfjordbreen.

In the former Dutch whaling colony of Smeerenburg you will enjoy an exploration around the hills with steep slopes, plateaux, lakes and lagoons of one of Spitsbergen’s most important archaeological sites. Your expert guides will tell you all about how whaling was such a prominent industry here.

Your final full day of adventure will begin with a visit to the former mining town of Ny-Ålesund. Now a scientific base, this small town is home to a museum and what is considered to be the most northernly post office in the world. As you enjoy a walk around, your guides will tell you all about how this area was the departure point for many historical Arctic expeditions, including those of the famous explorer Roald Amundsen.

In nearby Kings Bay in Kongsfjorden, one of the most beautiful fjords in Svalbard, we will spend some time soaking up the sights of awe-inspiring snow-capped mountains reflecting in the water where superb icebergs try to outdo each other in their beauty. Photo opportunities abound here and we will also be on the lookout for the rich wildlife that is often found here including reindeer, seals, barnacle geese and black guillemots. A visit to the stunning Kongsbreen glacier will be the perfect way to round off your trip.

As you arrive back into beautiful Longyearbyen, after breakfast it will be time to disembark and join your included flight back to Paris. Numerous further Arctic adventures are available in Longyearbyen so please enquire should you wish to extend your experience and spend a few more days in this unique Arctic town.