Exploring Svalbard In Depth Cruise
Join us on a circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago and explore the lush tundra's, mountains and pack ice during this in depth expedition cruise.
An expedition cruise along Svalbard’s coast is the best way to explore its deep fjords, fantastic polar landscapes and giant glaciers and maybe even spot polar bears and other Arctic wildlife.
Classic Svalbard Expedition Cruise
You might not expect many animals in this remote Arctic region, yet Svalbard is teeming with wildlife. Huge colonies of migratory birds, such as little auks, arctic terns and fulmars, come here each summer to breed on the steep cliffs along the shore. They attract Arctic foxes that are always on the hunt for a chick or egg that was left alone by its parents. On the tundra you might spot Svalbard reindeer, a small species of reindeer endemic to the islands. And while sailing along the coast, there are good chances to spot whales, and in places with a lot of sea ice you might find walrus or seals resting on ice-shelfs. Still, the ultimate wildlife encounter will be seeing a polar bear, especially when it's hunting on the fast ice.
On our Svalbard expedition cruises you will explore the western and, weather and ice conditions permitting, also the northern coast of this magnificent region. As you depart from Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island, the spectacular arctic scenery emerges right away. The west coast of the Svalbard archipelago holds some of the most spectacular landscapes and wildlife opportunities in the Arctic. Imagine giant calving glaciers, beautiful fjords packed with sea ice and the possibility to spot polar bears at any time.
In North Svalbard we will sail through fjords that are dominated by spectacular glaciers and cliffs. The shoreline of these fjords support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. Sailing along the pack-ice of North Svalbard will give us the best opportunities to spot polar bears, the Kings of the Arctic.
Svalbard is great to visit from early June to the end of August. If you travel to Spitsbergen during June you have something wonderful to look foreward to. Polar bears are showing themselves as they are roaming the ice, while reindeers are grazing at the spots without snow. Walrusses take place on the pack-ice and seals frequently show their faces. Loads of Arctic birds are either finding a partner, sitting on their eggs or feeding their kids. All this is visible through the midnight sun that illuminates the day and provides a lovely temperature of 5°C (41°F)
But whenever and wherever you go on a Svalbard expedition cruise, each day will hold new adventures and experiences, from hiking the tundra in search of wildlife to zodiac rides close to giant glaciers. And the expedition team will always be on the lookout for polar bears, so make sure to keep your camera at hand in case they spot one!
"Svalbard is a destination that I will remember forever. The rugged landscape and the diversity of wildlife is fascinating. For those who are up for an adventure, you should definitely visit this spectacular archipelago."
Ingrid Vroman (the Netherlands)
Note:
Each trip might have a slightly different itinerary and offers unique experiences. We try to do as much as possible and are always ready to embrace any opportunity that occurs, but, due to safety, we can't guarantee anything. The final itinerary always depends on weather and ice conditions and wildlife behaviour. We count on your flexibility and sense of adventure throughout the expedition cruise to make this journey a success.
In general your expedition cruise will start in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world. In this tiny Arctic city the streets have no names and it's not unlikely you'll encounter reindeer crossing the road. But also polar bears are never far away. For this reason you are not allowed to leave Longyearbyen without a guide that's carrying a rifle. While in Longyearbyen, we recommend you visit the Svalbard Museum which has an interesting collection on the history of Svalbard, the mining industry and polar exploration.
In the afternoon of the first day you will embark the ship and depart on your expedition cruise along the coast of Svalbard. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden, where we may see our first Minke whale.
Below we have gathered some places you might visit on your Svalbard expedition cruise. On these locations you might go out for shore hikes or zodiac rides and on some expedition cruises it is even possible to go kayaking.
There are several settlements in the Isfjorden area, two of them being Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen, and Pyramiden, an abandoned Russian coal mining settlement.
On the southwestern coast of Svalbard we will find Bellsund, a large fjord system consisting of two branches (Van Mijenfjord and Van Keulenfjord) and two smaller bays (Recherchefjord and Fridtjofhamna). The landscape here is fascinating. In the middle of Van Mijenfjord you'll see a long narrow island called Akseløya that almost completely blocks the entrance of the fjord. There are also several glaciers in the area. The glacier Recherchebreen ends at a lagoon which is frozen most of the year, with many smaller icebergs floating around. In Fridtjofhamna we will find the calving glacier Fridtjofbreen which is surrounded by steep mountains. In the past we have spotted Beluga whales here, and also polar bears are likely to be present anywhere in the Bellsund area.
A unique location we hope to visit during this expedition cruise is Poolepynten, a 1.5 kilometer long headland on the eastern coast of the island Prins Karls Forland. This location is famous for the huge number of large walruses that often come ashore here, making it easy to admire them from close range. It's a spectacular sight to see these huge animals in their natural environment.
We might make our way into Kongsfjorden where you will find Ny Ålesund on the southern coast and the Kronebreen glacier at the end of the inlet. Ny Ålesund is one of Svalbard's four permanent settlements. This former mining town was also the starting point for several Arctic expeditions by the famous polar explorer Roald Amundsen. There are many cultural and historical remains for you to explore, as well as a museum, post office and gift shop.
Of the northwestern coast of Svalbard there's an uninhabitat island with some remnants of Dutch history. In 1614, the island was occupied by a Dutch group of whalers on a mission to explore the whaling potential around Spitsbergen. They named it Amsterdam Island and founded the settlement Smeerenburg (Blubber Town) where they built ovens to turn blubber into whale oil which was then shipped back to Europe. In its heyday the town consisted of 17 houses and had approximately 200 inhabitants during the summer seasons. Today, pieces of wooden structures and the bases of the blubber pots are all that remains.
We may sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5 kilometer long face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwake. As well, polar bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography.
We will try to reach our northernmost point at Sjuøyane (the Seven Islands), north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar bear inhabit this region, along with Ivory gull. The ship may sit for several hours in the pack ice, before turning west again.
We disembark the vessel in Longyearbyen for a flight home via Oslo or Tromsø.
Up to 10% discount
Repositioning cruise from Flushing via Scotland and Jan Mayen to Svalbard
Route: Iceland - Jan Mayen - Svalbard
Up to 10% discount
South and East Spitsbergen
Up to 20% discount
Now up to 30% discount
Route: Svalbard - Jan Mayen - Iceland
Now up to 30% discount
Now up to 30% discount
Now up to 30% discount
Route: Svalbard - Jan Mayen - IcelandRoute: Scotland - Faroe Islands - Jan Mayen - West Svalbard
Ski & Sail
Ski & Sail
Hike & Ski & Sail
Hike & Ski & Sail
Repositioning cruise from Flushing via Scotland and Jan Mayen to Svalbard
Route: Iceland - Jan Mayen - Svalbard
Super Early Bird Discount: up to 20% off (valid until May 31, 2023)
Route: Scotland - Jan Mayen - Svalbard
Repositioning cruise from Flushing via Scotland and Jan Mayen to Svalbard
Route: Iceland - Jan Mayen - Svalbard
Super Early Bird Discount: up to 20% off (valid until May 31, 2023)
East Svalbard and Solstice
Super Early Bird Discount: up to 20% off (valid until May 31, 2023)
Solstice and Birding cruise
South Svalbard and Bear Island
Route: Svalbard - Jan Mayen - Iceland
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