True Svalbard Expedition Cruise from Longyearbyen
True Expedition Svalbard Cruise from Longyearbyen
This expedition is the ultimate Svalbard quest, a full circumnavigation of the archipelago that takes in all of its magnificent extremes. Round-trip from Longyearbyen, you travel from the green southern fjords to the vast northern pack ice, from the wildlife hotspots of the northwest to the eerie polar deserts of the Hinlopen Strait, venturing into one of the largest protected areas in the Arctic. How far north you reach, and the exact route, depend on the whims of nature, as any true polar expedition should. You explore by ship and Zodiac, navigating ice channels in search of polar bears along the floe edge, landing at historic whaling sites, standing beneath some of the world’s greatest seabird cliffs, and watching walrus haul out on remote beaches. Reindeer, Arctic foxes, seals, belugas and bowhead whales all share this wilderness. Immersive, ambitious and genuinely wild, this is Svalbard seen whole.
Itinerary highlights
Circumnavigate Svalbard, taking in the full range of the archipelago's magnificent extremes.
Push north into the drifting pack ice, the polar bear's prime hunting ground along the floe edge.
Sail the Hinlopen Strait, past towering cliffs hosting some of the world's largest seabird colonies.
Explore the eerie polar deserts and iceberg-studded seas of remote northeast Svalbard.
Visit Ny-Alesund, the northernmost settlement on earth and a base of the great polar explorers.
Discover historic whaling sites and the green southern fjords of Bellsund and Hornsund.
Watch for polar bears, walrus, reindeer, Arctic foxes, seals, belugas and bowhead whales.
Travel with a true expedition mindset: the route follows the ice, with optional kayaking and citizen science.
True Expedition Svalbard Cruise from Longyearbyen
This expedition is the ultimate Svalbard quest, a full circumnavigation of the archipelago that takes in all of its magnificent extremes. Round-trip from Longyearbyen, you travel from the green southern fjords to the vast northern pack ice, from the wildlife hotspots of the northwest to the eerie polar deserts of the Hinlopen Strait, venturing into one of the largest protected areas in the Arctic. How far north you reach, and the exact route, depend on the whims of nature, as any true polar expedition should. You explore by ship and Zodiac, navigating ice channels in search of polar bears along the floe edge, landing at historic whaling sites, standing beneath some of the world’s greatest seabird cliffs, and watching walrus haul out on remote beaches. Reindeer, Arctic foxes, seals, belugas and bowhead whales all share this wilderness. Immersive, ambitious and genuinely wild, this is Svalbard seen whole.
Itinerary highlights
Circumnavigate Svalbard, taking in the full range of the archipelago's magnificent extremes.
Push north into the drifting pack ice, the polar bear's prime hunting ground along the floe edge.
Sail the Hinlopen Strait, past towering cliffs hosting some of the world's largest seabird colonies.
Explore the eerie polar deserts and iceberg-studded seas of remote northeast Svalbard.
Visit Ny-Alesund, the northernmost settlement on earth and a base of the great polar explorers.
Discover historic whaling sites and the green southern fjords of Bellsund and Hornsund.
Watch for polar bears, walrus, reindeer, Arctic foxes, seals, belugas and bowhead whales.
Travel with a true expedition mindset: the route follows the ice, with optional kayaking and citizen science.
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation for 9 nights aboard the expedition ship
- All meals on board, with beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks served with dinner
- Zodiac excursions and shore landings with an expert expedition team
- Lectures, citizen science and the onboard photography coach programme
- Expedition jacket on loan and a custom down jacket to keep
- Certified ship's doctor and clinic; voyage photographer
- Dedicated passenger service manager
What's Included
- Shipboard accommodation for 9 nights aboard the expedition ship
- All meals on board, with beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks served with dinner
- Zodiac excursions and shore landings with an expert expedition team
- Lectures, citizen science and the onboard photography coach programme
- Expedition jacket on loan and a custom down jacket to keep
- Certified ship's doctor and clinic; voyage photographer
- Dedicated passenger service manager
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Every journey I plan starts with a conversation. Tell me what excites you, what you've always dreamed of experiencing, and I'll craft something extraordinary. The best expeditions begin with a single question: What would make this unforgettable for you?
Ashley | Expedition Planner
FAQs
This is a full circumnavigation, round-trip from Longyearbyen, taking in the whole archipelago: the northwest wildlife hotspots, the northern pack ice, the Hinlopen Strait and eastern polar deserts, and the green southern fjords. How far north you reach, and the exact circuit, depend on ice and weather, as with any true polar expedition, but the aim is to sail right around Svalbard.
Both are true, adventure-forward expeditions, but this one is a longer ten-day full circumnavigation from Longyearbyen, reaching the northern pack ice and the remote east. The Helsinki voyage is an eight-day west-coast highlights week reached by charter flight. This itinerary ranges much further around the archipelago.
Reaching the pack ice north of Svalbard is a central aim, and the floe edge is the polar bear’s prime hunting ground, so this voyage offers strong chances. Bears and all wildlife are wild and never guaranteed, but you also have excellent odds of walrus, reindeer, seals, belugas, bowhead whales and vast seabird colonies.
The expedition mindset runs throughout: the route follows the ice rather than a fixed plan, you explore intensively by Zodiac and on foot, and there is a real sense of venturing into one of the largest protected wildernesses in the Arctic. Citizen science and a photography coach are included, with optional kayaking.