Classic Arctic Holiday

The start of your trip is from Longyearbyen which is the largest town on the island of Spitsbergen and the only permanently populated island of the Svalbard Archipelago.

Depending on the time of your arrival you might like to explore this historic town, home to the Global Seed Vault, a fail-safe seed storage facility, built to withstand the test of time as well as natural and man-made disasters. Although the vault is not open to visitors it is possible to see the outside of the impressive and important facility.

For those who would prefer to spend some time in Longyearbyen there are many accommodation options such as Basecamp Hotel and some incredible restaurants serving fresh arctic specialties.

Board your luxury, intrepid cruise ship this afternoon and settle in ready for its departure out of port this evening. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and walruses as soon as you start gliding through the freezing arctic waters.

Home while on this exciting voyage is one of the two ice-strengthened vessels used on this trip throughout the arctic season. They both offer a variety of cabin options from sharing options to spacious suites. The communal areas include lecture halls, comfortable lounges, dining areas and observations decks.

The exact itinerary of the cruise will depend on the local ice and weather conditions and the wildlife viewing opportunities that present themselves enroute. The expedition leader on board each trip will determine the final itinerary, and this will be communicated to you throughout.

In general, the route of the boat will follow the north-western coast of Spitsbergen exploring the fjords, shorelines and glaciers on the way. Thriving seabird colonies of kittiwakes and guillemots can be found on the sea cliffs, herds of reindeer on islands and hopefully polar bears, which are trapped on the archipelago by the retreating ice.

Days consist of Zodiac excursions and guided walks on shore, excited announcements of notable wildlife sightings will have you rushing to the nearest window or observations deck and the endlessly dramatic and impressive scenery will provide constant stimulation and photographic opportunities. A series of lectures from expert naturalists onboard will provide background information and context for the environment around you and the impressive species found therein.

Every adventure must come to an end and today will be your final full day aboard your arctic exploration vessel. As you travel south back towards the town from which you started your voyage, you might sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden. Here at Alkhornet, you will find nesting seabirds and crafty arctic foxes which are looking to take advantage of any fallen eggs or chicks, reindeer might also be present grazing on the sparse vegetation.

Arrive at Longyearbyen later in the evening for a final night on the ship before your departure tomorrow.

Back on dry land, a transfer is included back to the airport which is just a short distance out of town.

There are a host of other adventurous activities on the island of Spitsbergen and please discuss with us options to extend your trip. Options include multi-day dog sledding or buggying trips, trips to remote outposts such as Isfjord Radio and Nordenskiöld Lodge and abandoned towns and walking tours. Or perhaps you might like to enjoy a few days in one of the boutique hotels in town to sample the culinary delights of the region.