Longyearbyen is the main settlement of the Spitsbergen archipelago. Located at 78° north, this town is one of the world’s northernmost communities. It has approximately 2000 inhabitants and is a modern town center with a wide range of facilities such as a supermarket, outdoor shops, several pubs, and hotels.

Before embarking have an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden.

Sail to Ny Ålesund, the world’s northernmost settlement. The mountains around here are covered by snow, and the scenery presents a rather stark picture. Once a mining village served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen, Ny Ålesund is now a research center where a small community of scientists from all over the world conduct a variety of research in the fields of atmospheric studies, glaciology, biology and related subjects. A short walk takes you into the center of this historic village, where one highlight is a visit to the local souvenir shop and the northernmost post office, from which you can send jealous friends and family a postcard. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration may want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile before their flights to the North Pole.

Heading north along the west coast, arrive in Krossfjorden, where you can board a Zodiac to cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the green slopes near the glacier a colorful variety of flowers bloom while large numbers of kittiwake and Brünnich’s guillemot nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting Arctic fox (who patrol the base of the cliffs in case a chick falls from its nest) and bearded seal, who also cruise this fjord.

The landscape of Liefdefjorden may be used as a demonstration material for “Different forms of water” lecture. It is formed by glacier and snow, by rain, clouds and slushy water, by pack and sea ice. On Andøya Island go for a walk to observe tundra landscapes and various species of arctic birds. Then cruise along the face of the picturesque Monaco Glacier. Sometimes polar bears are seen on the glacier; it offers an incredible opportunity to get great photos.

Land at Phippsoya in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here, find yourself at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. The island is named after the English explorer Constantine John Phipps, who commanded two bomb vessels on an expedition to Svalbard in 1773. Polar bears inhabit this region, along with walrus and ivory gull. You can sit for several hours in the pack ice, taking in these spectacular surroundings.

Enter Hinlopen Strait, pushing on through ice floes. This area is home to seals, polar bears and ivory gulls. Board the Zodiacs for a cruise to towering cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s guillemot nesting on them. The bird colonies provide an abundance of bird egg meals for polar bears and Arctic fox roaming at the base of the cliffs. Another wildlife viewing opportunity is at Augustabukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeers, breeding ivory gulls, and walruses. At Torrelneset discover the dramatic contrasts of Spitsbergen geology; the polar desert of Nordaustlandet lies next to the world’s third largest ice cap, which meets the sea nearby. The area is also a great place for walrus photography.

Enter Freemansundet, a narrow passage between Barentsøya and Edgeøya Islands. Explore both islands today, starting with a landing at Sundneset on Barentsøya. On Sundneset walk to rocky hills to enjoy a lovely scenic view over the tundra with its lakes, where flocks of geese and some Red-throated divers are slowly swimming their loops in safety from Arctic foxes. Reindeer are also frequent in this area. Those interested in the history of Arctic exploration may visit an old trapper's hut served as a base for Julius Büdel’s Stauferland expeditions. At their time, the Stauferland expeditions were amongst the largest scientific operations ever in Spitsbergen.

Go on a historic exploration at Kapp Lee, Edgeøya. Here see the remains of the early whaling and walrus industry in the 16th century, the traces of the Pomors’ presence (Russian peoples from the White Sea area that sailed to Svalbard to hunt and fish), old Norwegian trappers’ huts, and abandoned stations of Swedish, Russian and Dutch research expeditions. The historic buildings serve as a picturesque background to the walruses, relaxing at the beach.

In the morning find yourself among the breathtaking towering mountain peaks of Hornsund at southern Spitsbergen. The highest of all is the majestic Hornsundtinden rising to 1,431m. Another very special mountain – Bautaen – resembles a giant Viking sword. This peak shows why early Dutch explorers gave to the island the name “Spitsbergen”, that means “jagged mountains”. Here we also enjoy the view of 14 magnificent glaciers and – with good luck – of seals and polar bears.

Land on Ahlstrandhalvøya Island just inside the entrance to Bellsund fjord. On the beach not far from the place of your landing there are hundreds of beluga whale’s skeletons – the signs of a brutal industry past. Go for a walk along the tundra plain covered with the flowering purple saxifrage. Here have good chances to watch reindeer. Your return route goes through the higher hillside offering spectacular views of Bellsund and the surrounding mountains – a good chance to say good-bye to the Arctic.

Your adventure ends in the port of Longyearbyen. Disembark after breakfast and go to the airport for your flight home.