The Norwegian Fjords, Bear Island, and Svalbard

Your great journey begins in the city of Bergen, a beautiful destination surrounded by high mountains and deep fjords. Spend the night resting at a centrally located hotel to prepare for the upcoming expedition.

Enjoy a shared lunch with fellow travelers before stepping aboard the beautiful M/S Stockholm in the afternoon. Set a course toward the scenic passage of Alversund, beginning your adventure along the Norwegian coast that features visits to some of the following captivating destinations:

Alesund
Upon reaching Alesund, explore this small town, built in a true Art Nouveau style, enjoying its delightfully decorated facades, towers and pinnacles.

Geirangerfjorden
Get to know the majestic Storfjorden and pay a visit to the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjorden, which is characterized by deep blue water and lush mountain plains with beautiful waterfalls.

Grip
This deserted fishing village is now popular with summer guests. Its original and colorful wooden buildings are well preserved. Visit the beautiful church and you can also pass by the small and very dramatically situated lighthouse.

Torghatten
On your way north, sail past famous natural attractions like the mountain peaks known as the Seven Sisters, followed by Torghatten – a rock with a big hole, that the ice sheet once created, or according to the legend; the hole a giant created in despair from a broken heart.

Kerringoy
Kjerringoy is a real gem on the Norwegian coast. Here, encounter a diverse landscape of mountains, white sandy beaches and small farming communities, but the island is most famous for its old trading post. This is a unique heritage consisting of 15 well-preserved houses, which gives the visitor a great insight into what it was like to live in this northern trading town in the 1800s.

Reine
Visit the picturesque fishing village of Reine. This charming village, with characteristic wooden houses overlook Kirkefjord with high mountain tops in the background. It is not difficult to see why it was once voted Norway’s most beautiful place.

Nusfjord
Nusfjord is a well-preserved and authentic fishing community with focus on cod fishing. The village is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list of unique wooden houses with a charming old fashioned shop well worth a visit. Sail further along what is known as the Lofoten wall. In the evening, enter magical Trollfjorden and later set course towards Tromsø.

Tromso
In Tromso, visit the prestigious Polar Museum and learn more about the first polar explorers, who went north to seek fame and fortune. The city is known as Paris of the North, which derives from its vast cultural offerings.

Set sail towards the remote Bear Island, situated in the middle of the Barents Sea. (The exact day of the crossing can change and is depending on the weather.)

On the 400-meter high cliffs of Bear Island, hundreds of thousands of seabirds are nesting – puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes among others. If wind and weather allows, you aim to do a spectacular Zodiac cruise along the impressive bird cliffs and set foot on this rarely visited island.

Continue your journey and sail over night. Your next destination is Svalbard – one of the world’s most magnificent wildernesses. It is spring in the Arctic and it is a powerful experience to witness the archipelago spring to life. Enjoy the stunning nature that surrounds you – sparkling ice formations, snow covered mountains and glistering glaciers. Where you can travel depends on the drift ice that often accumulates here at this time of year. You may explore the majestic Hornsund, which consists of several fjords where glaciers calve out shimmering blue icebergs. In Bellsund, you hope to reach Vårsolbukta, where tens of thousands of little auks nest.

Disembark in Longyearbyen and begin your journey home.

Please note: The itinerary is for guidance only. The exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions, wildlife, and government regulations. The places mentioned are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. Every effort goes into maximizing your experience. Please remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!