Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Your experienced expedition team will utilize their expertise to tailor your day-to-day itinerary, selecting the best options based on prevailing weather, sea ice conditions, and the potential for wildlife encounters. Above the Arctic Circle during the boreal summer, the sun does not drop below the horizon until late August, so you enjoy 24 hours of daylight, and more time to explore this breathtaking part of the planet.
Svalbard's phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountain ranges, and polar desert are rich in fossils, perfectly setting the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. You may encounter a walrus hauled out on sea ice or wallowing on beaches. You may seek out towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and listen to the busy chanting of little auk colonies protected amongst the scree slopes.
With more time than the classic Svalbard voyages, you plan to reach further afield; you attempt to explore the two largest islands in the archipelago, Spitsbergen and Nordauslandet. You may enjoy the delights around Barentsoya and Edgeoya, which are located in the Hinlopen Strait, a known polar bear migration route. You plan to visit the remains of old whaling settlements, old Pomor sites, and enjoy early morning Zodiac cruises. You can encounter glittering glaciers, keep watch for beluga whales, and watch for ivory gulls.
Weather and ice permitting, you may sail along the most northerly point of the Svalbard archipelago, a favored spot for a large colony of walruses.
If you participate in an optional activity, such as kayaking, you can have the opportunity to experience the Arctic whenever conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, when conditions are perfect, you can hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip – a memory to savor for years to come.
