Svalbard in Spring: The Return of the Sun

Your journey begins in Oslo, Norway’s dynamic capital nestled along the Oslofjord. If time permits, take the opportunity to explore the city at your leisure.

Oslo blends historical depth with contemporary flair, offering world-class museums, modern architecture, and a thriving arts scene. Highlights include the striking Opera House, the new MUNCH Museum, and the immersive Ekebergparken Sculpture Park.

Stroll along the revitalized waterfront at Sørenga, unwind in a floating sauna, or sample innovative New Nordic cuisine. After a day of discovery, enjoy an overnight stay at your airport hotel in preparation for your onward flight to Svalbard.

After a morning flight from Oslo, your adventure begins with two nights in Longyearbyen—the world’s northernmost town. This colorful frontier settlement, where snowmobiles outnumber residents, offers a fascinating introduction to life on the edge of the Arctic wilderness.

Spend the next two and a half days exploring the town and its surroundings. Compact and walkable, Longyearbyen invites casual exploration, and it’s not unusual to spot Svalbard reindeer wandering the main street. These wild animals are surprisingly tame and unbothered by human presence.

To broaden your perspective, local guides will lead an e-bike tour through the area, sharing insights into the town’s rich history and unique Arctic setting. From the expedition center, travel along an unpaved road to Hotellneset, home to a lake and remnants of Svalbard’s early mining era. This is also the site of Svalbard’s first hotel, built by Hurtigruten founder Richard With—long before modern Longyearbyen took shape.

The route then continues along the historic “Burma Road,” once used to transport coal from the mines to the harbor. Along the way, enjoy sweeping views and pass key landmarks, including a vintage funicular, the Svalbard Church, and the ruins of the original settlement destroyed during World War II.

The tour proceeds beneath the dramatic cliffs of Plateau Mountain, past the cemetery and the iconic Huset—a building with a storied past as a theater, bar, school, and church. Conclude the journey at the Coal Miners’ Cabins, former homes of the early workforce, where a relaxed lunch rounds out the experience before returning to your hotel.

On Day 4, you can have the morning to finish looking around Longyearbyen before boarding the ship in the afternoon and beginning your expedition cruise.

Your expedition cruise continues south toward Hornsund—one of Svalbards most beautiful fjords. Rich, colorful vegetation makes way for towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. Head out on deck to spot seals and whales, admire Mount Hornsundtind, and watch glaciers calving into the sea. 

Then, head to the snowcapped mountains of Bellsund, whose cliffs are home to large colonies of auks, guillemots, and northern fulmars, while Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer can be found below. Look out for the early mining settlements here and learn about Wanny Woldstad, the first female trapper. 

Your activities will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Hornsund and Bellsund. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day.

Making your way to Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, cruise into Magdelenefjorden and through Sørgattet, the southern entrance to Smeerenburgfjord. The light of the midnight sun gives you plenty of time to explore this breathtakingly scenic area. 

Over the next two days, explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of this breathtaking national park. In this wilderness of steep mountains, stark glaciers and beautiful offshore islands, scan for some of the animals of the Arctic: seals, walruses, and reindeer. Early in the season, there’s a good chance you may spot polar bears, too, so be on the lookout for these iconic but elusive predators. And as you progress further into June, you may see whales returning to the region for the summer and birdlife such as little auks, Arctic terns, skuas, eider ducks, and barnacle geese. 

Each day will be different. From landings to kayaking, be ready for anything as your captain and expedition leader decide on the best landing sites and activities based on the day’s conditions.

If conditions allow, sail north and cross the 80th parallel to explore the ever-changing ice edge. The transition zone between the ice cap and the sea is a magical yet ephemeral place where the waters are filled with ice floes and drifting pack ice. From the ship, there are great opportunities here for spotting wildlife, such as seals and walruses who lounge photogenically on the sparkling ice. And if the conditions are right, the team lowers your expedition boats into the water and enjoy an unforgettable close-up experience amid the floating ice.

The ice edge isn’t a fixed boundary, and it moves depending on the season and conditions, so visiting it will be an attempt rather than a certainty. As summer progresses from May to August, it retreats further toward the pole, meaning it may be out of reach for us. If this is the case, then instead explore the equally impressive deep fjords, mighty glaciers and enchanting scenery of the Svalbard coast. In late July and into August, this is a time when the wildflowers appear, blanketing the landscape with a blaze of beauty and color.

Today, discover the serenity of Ny-Ålesund and neighboring fjords, such as Krossfjord and Kongsfjord. Disconnect and enjoy a day without distractions, as the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s nearby geodetic station requires you to switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 

One of the northernmost settlements and a former mining town, Ny-Ålesund was the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions north with the airship “Norge.” Now, the town is a hub for global science and climate research, and you can still see remnants of its history. 

Be immersed in rugged, glacial scenery as you explore the fjords around Ny-Ålesund. Be ready for adventure; seize any opportunity to launch your small expedition boats, go ashore to hike or cruise by majestic glaciers.

Your Arctic adventure comes to an end back in Longyearbyen. A transfer will take you to the airport for your flight to Oslo. Return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice and climate change than you arrived with—and with memories of an incredible experience.