Around Svalbard – Far North 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.

As we begin our exploration of Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island's, stunning west coast, we will 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.

As we arrive along the far northern reaches of Svalbard, we will spend 3 or 4 days exploring around the incredibly impressive Nordaustlandet/Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve area. This vast Polar desert is a delight to explore, not to mention the exhilaration of knowing you are in one of the most northernly places on the planet. Discover imposing glaciers and majestic icebergs, fjords, cliffs, ice caps and a wide variety of wildlife including huge colonies of thick-billed murres on the steep cliffs, with Arctic foxes and maybe even Polar bears stalking below.

During our time here we will also attempt to reach Kvitoya, Svalbard's easternmost island.

It’s now time for an unforgettable sail through the Hinlopen Strait which separates Nordaustlandet and Spitsbergen and is a wildlife and scenery paradise. With breathtaking views of magnificent basalt formations, imposing icebergs drifting in the sea and the ice cap stretching as far as the eye can see, this magical landscape is a sight to behold. It is also a fantastic area for birdwatching as well as for spotting polar bears and walruses.

The second largest protected area in all of Norway, the South East Svalbard Nature Reserve offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities including chances of seeing Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes and cetaceans. Designated as an Important Bird Area, you should be able to observe a huge variety of seabirds here, and a visit to Edgeoya Island is likely to bring great chances of spotting Polar bears. As well as the wildlife, you’re likely to be equally impressed by the landscapes on show here too as we explore around to see stunning panoramas of rocky islets, mountain plateaux, vast tundra plains, and ice floes.

Having sailed along the south 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 finale to this magical expedition. You will sail around the fjord between imposing glaciers and carved mountains and enjoy your final Zodiac cruises in the iceberg-strewn waters.

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.