West Spitsbergen & Bear Island in Luxury

Your itinerary begins with an included flight from Paris to Tromsø in Norway, a remote and very picturesque town that is known as the “Gateway to the Arctic”. You will be met at the airport by your tour representative and transferred to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel.

Settle into your supremely comfortable cabin as we set sail north and our Arctic adventure begins.

Today will be spent at sea sailing north through the western side of the Barents Sea towards Svalbard. This will be the perfect time to relax and enjoy the luxurious facilities on board including the spa, wellness centre, fitness centre, swimming pool and panoramic lounge. You might also choose to spend some time on deck looking for seabirds and whales following the ship.

Today you will enjoy a sail-by of the remote and scenic Bjørnøya (Bear Island), the most southernly island in the Svalbard archipelago. Located around halfway between Norway and Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island, this isolated spot was declared a Nature Reserve in 2002. As we sail as close to the shore as possible you may be able to see why, as huge numbers of seabirds including guillemots, puffins, guls, auks and skuas are likely to be spotted here.

Having arrived along the coast of Spitsbergen overnight, we will now spend two days exploring around the South Spitsbergen National Park area, the largest national park in Europe. During your time here we plan to visit 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.

We will also be on the lookout for the Polar bears that are known to frequent this area!

Moving further up Spitsbergen’s stunning west coast, we will now spend some time exploring around the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park where the Nunataks, glaciers, islands, large bays, and arctic tundra scattered with moss and lichen in shades of silver and gold provide a spectacular backdrop to Arctic adventures. Enjoying Zodiac cruises and shore visits, you will discover areas of historical importance and discover remnants of historical expeditions and trades of days gone by. We will also be on the lookout for sightings of wildlife including Arctic terns and seals.

An exciting day of expedition cruising will see your captain sail 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 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 into beautiful Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard, 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.