Spitsbergen Highlights: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic

Arrive in the Finnish capital and head to the group hotel conveniently located at Helsinki Airport. (The hotel is included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package.) Spend the rest of the day exploring museums, galleries, and restaurants, relaxing in a Finnish sauna, or wandering through the vibrant Design District. For a visit to the city center, take advantage of the convenient 40-minute rail service from the airport.

This morning, the group transfers to the airport to board a private charter flight to Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in Spitsbergen.

You’ll sail around the shores of this magical archipelago, constantly searching for natural wonders. Covering western Spitsbergen, your expedition affords ample opportunities to view immense glaciers, deep fjords, soaring mountains and unique flora and fauna. Sailing north into Krossfjorden, have your camera handy, ready to capture some of the best glacier calving in Spitsbergen. Deep in the fjord, the highly active Lilliehöök Glacier awaits. Listen in awe to the growling as big chunks break off into the icy waters below. A Zodiac excursion to nearby Ny-London, an abandoned mining settlement, provides an ideal place for a guided walk. Sightings of wildlife, such as the endemic Svalbard reindeer, might be possible here. After cruising overnight, wake up to the stunning sight of the magnificent Monaco Glacier, another prolific iceberg producing glacier. To make this even more thrilling, help your Expedition Team to scan the shorelines and ice edge for marine mammals. Possible landing sites include Texas Bar, Worsleyneset and Alicehamna. At Smeerenburg you can see the remains of an abandoned settlement that was established by Dutch whalers nearly 400 years ago. Here, at what was once one of Europe’s most northerly outposts, you’ll have time to explore ashore and learn about Spitsbergen’s whaling history. Afterwards, cruising to Magdalenefjorden rewards you with panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers reflected in the crystal-clear waters. You hope to round out the day in Alkhornet, taking in the towering cliffs teeming with nesting seabirds, such as fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Sightings of reindeer are possible here too. Later, in the evening, swap stories with your shipmates and crew one last time, at the captain’s farewell dinner.

The time to say goodbye has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontier settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, you are transferred to the airport for your charter flight to Helsinki, and group hotel night. Both are included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

After breakfast at your included hotel, make your way independently to the Helsinki airport for your onward flight home, or spend more time exploring the Finnish capital as prearranged.