Classic Svalbard Expedition Cruise
Classic Svalbard Expedition Cruise
This 7-night expedition is the classic introduction to Svalbard, a week spent in the realm of the polar bear. From the frontier town of Longyearbyen you sail into a wilderness of fjords, glaciers and drifting ice, always on the lookout for the wildlife that endures in this remote corner of the high Arctic. You explore not only from the ship but on foot and by Zodiac, cruising close to glacier fronts and bird cliffs, stepping ashore to walk the tundra and visit historical sites. Polar bears are the great prize, found throughout the region though never guaranteed, alongside Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, seals, walrus and vast colonies of seabirds. There is no rigid day-by-day here: your expedition team follows the ice and the wildlife, maximising every opportunity under the midnight sun. Comfortable, good value and genuinely wild, it is the most accessible way to experience the magic of Svalbard.
Itinerary highlights
Spend a week in the realm of the polar bear, searching for Svalbard's most iconic resident.
Sail a flexible, wildlife-led route through fjords, glaciers and drifting Arctic ice.
Cruise by Zodiac to glacier fronts, bird cliffs and quiet shorelines few ever reach.
Step ashore to walk the Arctic tundra and visit historical sites under the midnight sun.
Watch for Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, seals, walrus and colonies of seabirds.
Experience the midnight sun, when daylight never fades through the Arctic summer.
Learn about Arctic history and ecology from an expert expedition team.
Travel comfortably and well aboard a friendly expedition ship, with optional sea kayaking.
Classic Svalbard Expedition Cruise
This 7-night expedition is the classic introduction to Svalbard, a week spent in the realm of the polar bear. From the frontier town of Longyearbyen you sail into a wilderness of fjords, glaciers and drifting ice, always on the lookout for the wildlife that endures in this remote corner of the high Arctic. You explore not only from the ship but on foot and by Zodiac, cruising close to glacier fronts and bird cliffs, stepping ashore to walk the tundra and visit historical sites. Polar bears are the great prize, found throughout the region though never guaranteed, alongside Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, seals, walrus and vast colonies of seabirds. There is no rigid day-by-day here: your expedition team follows the ice and the wildlife, maximising every opportunity under the midnight sun. Comfortable, good value and genuinely wild, it is the most accessible way to experience the magic of Svalbard.
Itinerary highlights
Spend a week in the realm of the polar bear, searching for Svalbard's most iconic resident.
Sail a flexible, wildlife-led route through fjords, glaciers and drifting Arctic ice.
Cruise by Zodiac to glacier fronts, bird cliffs and quiet shorelines few ever reach.
Step ashore to walk the Arctic tundra and visit historical sites under the midnight sun.
Watch for Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, seals, walrus and colonies of seabirds.
Experience the midnight sun, when daylight never fades through the Arctic summer.
Learn about Arctic history and ecology from an expert expedition team.
Travel comfortably and well aboard a friendly expedition ship, with optional sea kayaking.
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation for 7 nights aboard the expedition ship
- Arrival transfer in Longyearbyen
- All meals on board as specified (drinks and tips not included)
- Zodiac excursions with an expert expedition team
- Lectures and the onboard educational programme
- Loan of insulated waterproof boots and an expedition parka
- Shore landings and tundra walks as conditions allow
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation for 7 nights aboard the expedition ship
- Arrival transfer in Longyearbyen
- All meals on board as specified (drinks and tips not included)
- Zodiac excursions with an expert expedition team
- Lectures and the onboard educational programme
- Loan of insulated waterproof boots and an expedition parka
- Shore landings and tundra walks as conditions allow
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Ashley | Expedition Planner
FAQs
This is a round-trip from Longyearbyen with a deliberately flexible, wildlife-led route through Svalbard’s fjords, glaciers and coasts. Rather than following a fixed day-by-day, your expedition team sets the course each day according to ice, weather and where the wildlife is, to give you the best possible chances. How far you range depends entirely on conditions during your week.
Polar bears are found throughout Svalbard and this voyage is built around searching for them, but they are wild animals and sightings can never be guaranteed. Finding them takes patience and persistence, which is part of the adventure. You also have excellent chances of Arctic foxes, reindeer, seals, walrus and huge seabird colonies.
It is the most accessible and best-value way to experience Svalbard: a comfortable, friendly expedition ship, a week focused purely on wildlife and wild landscapes, and the essentials done well. Drinks and gratuities are not included, and there are fewer frills than the higher tiers, keeping the focus on the Arctic itself.
It is rated light and suits most fitness levels. You will get in and out of Zodiacs, walk on wet, rocky beaches and uneven tundra, and use stairs between decks, but nothing is too strenuous. There may be some rougher seas, and a reasonable level of mobility is needed for landings.