Expedition Svalbard

Day 1 Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway

Embark the Silver Explorer this evening and depart on your exciting 11-day expedition. You will be introduced to your Expedition Team and receive a Zodiac briefing. Tonight attend a special Welcome Aboard cocktail party.

Days 2-8 Cruise & Explore Svalbard

Journey along an expansive archipelago of the Arctic Ocean woven between the North Pole and Norway. Svalbard is one of the last major European wilderness areas with pristine mountains, fauna, deep fjords, picturesque icebergs, and massive ice sheets. The goal on this voyage is to explore the eastern and least-visited sections of Svalbard’s breathtaking and the dramatic Spitsbergen. Once there, locate wildlife and spend the maximum amount of time possible hiking on the tundra. Spitsbergen is home to approximately 5,000 polar bears and hope to encounter a good number of them during your trip.

Travel along the same routes as famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Nordenskiöld, Amundsen and Nobile. Trek along beaches blanketed with walruses, get to know the indigenous reindeer, and maybe even spot the Arctic fox or bearded seal. Seabirds, such as Ivory gulls, auks and puffins, will be your constant companions and admire their playfulness and grace. You might even encounter a few whales. A variety of known species frequent the area, in particular the Minke and beluga.

The flexible itinerary allows you to take advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions. Search for walruses, seals, reindeer, Arctic foxes and polar bears. Shore walks and Zodiac landings will bring you up close to the mystical settings and passing icebergs.

Each day your Expedition Leader and Captain will determine your best course, depending on changing weather, ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter. In the true spirit of adventure cruising, your Expedition Leader will provide daily updates. Among the places you may visit include Bellsund, Prins Karls Forland, Danskoya Island, Ice cruising, Kongfjord, Magdalenafjord and Hornsund.

Day 9 Bear Island, Norway

Approaching Bear Island (Bjørnøya), whale watching is a priority. They are in record numbers in this area. Moving closer to this arctic island, witness a kaleidoscope of thousands of sea birds diving into and out of the island’s steep cliffs. With the Zodiacs, explore the rugged coastline of Bear Island, and if weather conditions are favorable, make a landing. Encounter the amazing flurry of life on this barren island, now a nature reserve. Expedition Team will enhance your visit by providing insights to the environment, the terrain, and the wildlife that exist in these extreme conditions.

Day 10 Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø has a proud tradition of being the starting point for many Polar expeditions. The Polar Museum opened on 18 June 1978 – 50 years to the day after Roald Amundsen left Tromsø on his last and fatal expedition to search for the missing Umberto Mobile and his airship. The Museum is housed in an historic customs warehouse dating back to 1830, and has an idyllic setting on the waterfront. A museum visit allows you to view exhibitions that feature hunting and trapping in the Polar regions, and the famous Norwegian Polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen.

The Arctic Alpine Garden is the world’s northernmost botanic garden. In fact, Tromsø lies at approximately at the same latitude as the northernmost point in Alaska, however Tromsø has a longer growing season thanks to the moderating effects of the Gulf Stream and the long daylight hours of summer. What makes the Arctic Alpine Garden remarkable is its ability to sustain delicate alpine plant life under the cold, stressful, and insular conditions of this region.

As an alternative, embark on an ornithological walk. The City Centre is situated on Tromsøya Island, and at the top of the island is Lake Prestvatn – a scenic nature preservation area with a rich birdlife. Join a walk along the track surrounding the lake to observe some of the many birds nesting here.

Day 11 Disembark in Tromsø, Norway

After breakfast, disembark the Silver Explorer.