Begin your Arctic adventure in Longyearbyen, capital of the Norwegian territory of Svalbard and starting and ending point of your 8-day expedition. Explore the many waterways and islands of this unique Arctic landscape. The long days of summer sunlight illuminate the surroundings as you slip your moorings and sail into a true wilderness where wildlife abounds. The scenery as you sail through Isfjorden on the first evening is spectacular and there is already the possibility of marine mammal encounters. From panoramic open decks, enjoy Arctic landscapes and wildlife sightings. Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to walrus and a wide variety of whales.
Highlights
Explore the seldom-visited eastern region of Svalbard
Search for wildlife such as polar bears, walrus, reindeer, foxes & whales
Find remnants from the 17th-century whaling period in Northwest Svalbard
Cruise spectacular fjords, breathtaking landscapes, and waterfalls
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Originally established as a mining town along breathtaking Isfjorden, Longyearbyen is now Svalbard’s largest city, a vibrant cultural hub and an ideal launching pad for your polar adventures. Fulfill a lifelong dream by riding a sled pulled by huskies and visit a mysterious ice cave, whose translucent walls gleam in shades of blue and white. Journey to the Russian mining ghost town of Pyramiden, where fascinating vestiges of a once-thriving operation still stand and continue to Barentsburg, an inhabited Russian settlement that offers a compelling contrast to Longyearbyen. For an invigorating adventure, kayak among small chunks of ice floating offshore or hike through Svalbard’s lunar-like landscapes, perhaps ascending to Plateau Mountain for superlative views or trekking to the critically important Global Seed Vault, a repository for Earth’s plant life. Learn the exhilarating tales of intrepid explorers at the North Pole Expedition Museum, where exhibits shed light on some of history’s most daring voyages. Hang up your coat at Huset, a sophisticated eatery that wouldn’t be out of place in the world’s culinary capitals, and try unusual and impeccably prepared regional dishes such as reindeer and seal steak.
Slicing into the southern tip of Spitsbergen Island, Hornsund is treasured as one Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Its somewhat misleading name derives from a set of reindeer antlers found by explorers in the 17th century, as well as the belief that it cut through to the other side of Spitsbergen, which would have made it a sound, or sound. The fjord’s tallest peak is the towering, serrated Hornsundtind, but dramatic rock formations are plentiful along the shore, including the needle-like Bautaen. To the east, imposing plateau-shaped mountains with horizontal layers of sediment recall an American West landscape, albeit a perpetually frigid one. Where the tundra has taken hold, vibrant flowers emerge and substantial colonies of little auks congregate, ideal conditions for reindeer and Arctic fox. Of the people who have settled here throughout history, the most fascinating may be Wanny Wolstad, a Norwegian woman who joined an expedition to Svalbard in 1932 and settled in Hornsund, becoming an expert trapper in defiance of the era’s social norms and expectations. With luck, you might see the formidable polar bears she once hunted, brought into Hornsund atop floating icebergs carried by ocean currents.
The earliest known explorer of this fjord was Jonas Poole, an Englishman who bravely made his way here in 1610. Trekking about a mile inland, he left across as a marker indicating the date of his arrival, which in turn provided the fjord with its name. Other crumbling traces of human activity can be found in the area, most memorably a secret WWII German weather station, which provided valuable data for planning attacks on convoys. The landscape of the fjord and its tributaries is utterly majestic, with several glaciers coming to an end in the frigid waters. You’ll be mesmerized by Lilliehook, a uniquely horseshoe-shaped glacier that extends for approximately 4.5 miles. Interrupting the stillness, awesome chunks of ice periodically collapse into the fjord, forming slow-moving islands of ice. Elsewhere, gently sloping hills that descend to the shoreline are carpeted with tundra, attracting reindeer, Arctic fox and barnacle geese, hardy residents of this magical land.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$8,499
Notes
Please Note: Fares are capacity controlled and may change without notice. All fares are posted in USD and are based off of double occupancy. Single and triple rates are available upon request.
Cruise fares do not include Governmental, Port, Document Issuance, Handling and Service fees. Please see pricing for additional fees.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 169 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 169 reviews on
1 day ago
Friendly and professional interactions. Answered my questions and followed up on initial contact.
Tim Elliott
2 days ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
3 days ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
3 days ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
4 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.