Go far into the realm of the polar bear on this epic voyage aboard MS Fram. Attempt to voyage north of the 80th parallel and circumnavigate Svalbard. Your 12-day expedition starts in Longyearbyen, the town on top of the world. Chalk out your list of things you can do in the world's northernmost town. From here, embark on your epic circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago, starting with North West Spitsbergen National Park. Explore picturesque fjords, steep mountains, and beautiful offshore islands while sweeping the landscape for wildlife. Proceed to Hornsound, where you may explore the majestic geography and geology. Continue north towards the Isfjord before concluding your expedition cruise in Longyearbyen.
Highlights
Attempt to sail north of the 80th parallel
Scan for wildlife, including ‘Lord of the Arctic’ himself, the mighty polar bear.
Explore beautiful fjords, glaciers, and icebergs
Discover Hornsund, Svalbard’s most beautiful fjord.
Begin your trip with a flight from Oslo in the evening. Before your flight, enjoy the museums, parks and cafés of the Norwegian capital. Upon arrival in Longyearbyen, set foot in an entirely different world: a tiny town perched on the edge of the Arctic wilderness. Transfer to your hotel and overnight.
After an overnight stay, join an excursion to get to know this unique town after lunch. The mighty Arctic wilderness dominates life here, but Longyearbyen maintains a lively cultural life and serves as a prime destination for adventure travelers. Enjoy the atmosphere of this colorful frontier outpost before boarding your ship in the afternoon.
The North West Corner is scattered with lovely islands, fjords and beaches, but such majestic sights can be blocked by some heavy sea ice. The expedition team will use all their expertise and years of experience in these waters to try and navigate the ice in order to access areas for you to explore. One such site is Kongsfjorden, one of the most beautiful fjord areas in Spitsbergen, with mighty glaciers calving icebergs into the sea, framed by stunning mountain formations. Plan to also call on the former mining settlement of Ny-Alesund, now an international center for research, with a picturesque mix of old and new buildings. There will likely be many other exciting landings and scenic kayaking opportunities if ice conditions permit navigation further north.
Eastern Svalbard boasts the highest population of polar bears in the archipelago. You will also be exploring the area in summertime, which is when polar bears and their cubs will be out hunting for seals on the ice floes. You can have high hopes that you’ll spot one or more during this journey.
The Arctic Ocean in this part of Svalbard is also full of drifting ice and its frozen seascape changes constantly. Being modern-day explorers, the captain and the expedition team will be carefully analyzing the density and movements of the sea ice using advanced sonar and live satellite imagery. They will then discuss together and decide where they can safely sail or land. This is what makes this cruise an expedition: it is a true, suspense-filled adventure into the Arctic’s great wilderness, negotiating and adapting to whatever elements nature presents. Ultimately, it is the sea ice that will determine whether the ship can cross the 80th parallel and head further north to Sjuøyane (Seven Islands) at the extreme of the Svalbard archipelago. Again, depending on sea and weather conditions at the time, the ship will sail east of Nordaustlandet to Kvitøya, before continuing toward Edgeøya, the third largest island in the archipelago.
Day 9-10: South Spitsbergen National Park | Bellsund
The goal for these days is to navigate any sea ice and reach the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen. The varied geology here at Hornsund has created a dramatic and photogenic landscape. Ice pushed into the fjord early in the season also attracts polar bears that hunt on the floes, so with a bit of luck, you may spot this magnificent predator.
Spend the day exploring the Isfjord, the most prominent fjord system on Svalbard. In the inner parts of Isfjorden, the landscape changes constantly. The immense U-shaped valleys, carved out of the mountains by the giant glaciers that covered the area some ten thousand years ago, are home to large populations of the Svalbard reindeer.
Day 12: Longyearbyen | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Return to the colorful town of Longyearbyen at the end of a remarkable voyage that brought you just a few hundred miles from the Geographical North Pole. A transfer vehicle will take you to the airport for your flight back to Oslo.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$9,917
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I
113-140 square feet. Inside cabin: One bed, one sofa bed, TV, refrigerator, shower/wc
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FJ
172-226 square feet. Outside cabin: Double bed, seating area, TV, refrigerator, shower/wc, limited or no view. (FJ 503 with twin beds).
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N
113-140 square feet. Outside cabin: One bed, one sofa bed, table, TV, refrigerator, shower/wc. (N-352 with upper/lower berths).
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U
118-252 square feet. Outside cabin: One bed, one sofa bed, table, TV, refrigerator, kettle, shower/wc. (U-526 with upper/lower berths).
Initial deposit is 20%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
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!
