Circumnavigating Svalbard - In the Realm of the Polar Bear

This Arctic Circumnavigation starts with an evening flight from Oslo. Norway's capital is often called 'the blue, the green and the city in between' because of its idyllic setting, nestled between fjord and forest. Spend a day checking out the museums, parks and intriguing architecture, or relax in one of the many cafés or bars. Then, set foot in an entirely different world when you arrive in Longyearbyen after your flight. This tiny town perched on the edge of the Arctic wilderness is surprisingly cosmopolitan, with first-class facilities, charming architecture, an internationally renowned museum and several bars and restaurants.

After an overnight stay in one of our hotels, you can join an exciting excursion to get to know this unique town and the surrounding area. The mighty Arctic wilderness dominates life here, but the town maintains a lively cultural life in spite of its remote position. Longyearbyen is often called an antidote to modern-day life and serves as a prime destination for adventure travelers. Enjoy the singular atmosphere of this colourful frontier outpost before boarding your ship.

The North West Corner is scattered with rugged islands, beautiful fjords and isolated beaches. This is true wilderness, so the captain will work with the elements to create the best itinerary for your expedition cruise.

We may visit Kongsfjorden, which is considered one of the most beautiful fjord areas in Spitsbergen, with mighty glaciers calving icebergs into the sea. We hope to call on the settlement of Ny-Alesund, an international centre for research, that hosts a picturesque mix of old and new buildings. Wherever we explore, the Expedition Team will lead exciting optional ice-cruising and landing activities as we explore further north.

Eastern Svalbard boasts the highest population of polar bears on the archipelago – and we have high hopes of spotting one on this journey! The ocean is full of drifting ice, and we aim to cross 80º N if conditions allow. We hope to sail all the way to Sjuøyane (Seven Islands) at the far north of the archipelago.

Heading south, we will sail through the Hinlopen Strait, where thousands of seabirds mate while walrus dive for clams in the bays.

We continue towards Edgeoya, the third-largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. On its western shores, the landscape is largely un-glaciated, unlike most other places on the east side of Spitsbergen.

We make our way to the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen, where Hornsund hosts a wonderfully varied landscape and geology. Ice pushed into the fjord early in the season attracts polar bears that hunt on the floes, so with a bit of luck, we may spot some of these magnificent predators

We will spend the day exploring the Isfjord, the most prominent fjord system on Svalbard. In the inner parts of Isfjorden, the landscape changes constantly. The immense U-shaped valleys, carved out of the mountains by the giant glaciers that covered the area some ten thousand years ago, are home to large populations of Svalbard Reindeer.

Every good explorer's voyage comes to an end. You will probably sense that time has passed faster than expected. Many report a subtle exhilaration due to having taken a journey to the very top of the globe, just a few hundred miles from the Geographical North Pole. The transfer vehicle takes you early in the morning to the airport for your flight back to Oslo.