Have questions? We're here.
The northern lights dance over the Arctic landscape

Sailing North of 80° to the Russian Arctic

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard MS Spitsbergen
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Norway trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
Remote Franz Josef Land has always attracted hardy adventurers, and now you can set foot on the ice were Nansen and Johansen spent the winter, watch for polar bears wandering in their natural environment, and feel the cool Arctic from the North Pole just a few miles away.
Mysterious natural round stones of Franz Josef LandSun shining on the iceScattered houses of TromsoThe northern lights dance over the Arctic landscape
Highlights
  • Experience wild and rarely visited historic Franz Josef Land
  • Discover the stunning Sørøya ‒ the fourth-largest island in Norway
  • Great chance of sighting walrus and polar bears
  • Enjoy a Russian experience in the port of Murmansk
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
0

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Tromsø, Norway

Your voyage begins, as so many great explorations have, in Tromsø. Spend some time exploring the city before embarking  MS Spitsbergen. Tromsø is a city with many great attractions but it is also easy to escape from the metropolis if you seek a little wilderness. One way is to take the Fjellheisen cable car to the top of Fløyfjellet Mountain (1,867 feet) and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, mountains, and fjords. For inspiration for the upcoming expedition, visit the Polar Museum, where you can learn more about early exploration history and those who bravely ventured into the ice. 

Day 2: Sørøya

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sørøya ‒ the fourth-largest island in Norway ‒ has a great deal of wilderness and few inhabitants. We will go ashore on this scenic island with a dramatic, exposed coastline to visit one of the roadless fishing settlements, or, if weather permits, do some hiking in this relatively easy terrain to get some fantastic views. 

Day 3: Murmansk

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Welcome to Russia!  Murmansk is a young city, founded in 1916, and the largest city found north of the Arctic Circle. The origins of Murmansk lie in the need for a northern seaport, and the marine industry is still the dominant industry today.

Make a short stop here before we head north. 

Day 4-5: At sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Your expedition team and their Russian colleagues will prepare you for our landings ahead with a series of briefings and a chance to learn about the history and wildlife of Franz Josef Land.   

Keep a lookout for the first ice floes as you sail ever farther north.  Perhaps enjoy a visit to your state-of-the-art gym, or simply relax in the Panorama Lounge.

Day 6-10: Franz Josef Land

  • Ship
  • 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners
It is likely that the early Pomors or Norwegian sealers knew of Franz Josef Land, but the first recorded landing among the 192 islands making up the archipelago was made in 1873 by the Admiral Tegetthoff sailing vessel.  They found wide beaches, steep cliffs with nesting seabirds attended by Arctic foxes, polar bears, and walrus. 

Find much of the same.  The exact sequence and choice of our landings will be decided by the captain and expedition leader, who will take advantage of the ice and weather conditions as we find them. 

Possible landing sites include:
Bell Island is mostly ice-free in the summer months and we may be able to undertake a beach clean-up here to help remove some of the discarded fishing equipment and other garbage that poses a threat to the wildlife of the island.  At Bell Island, we find the remains of the oldest building on Franz Josef Land, left by a British expedition in 1880.  In return, the same expedition took a polar bear back to the London Zoo! 

Cape Flora on Northbrook Island earns its name from the copious fertilization provided by thousands of seabirds that nest on the cliffs.  We hope to see Brünnich’s guillemots and black-legged kittiwakes. It was here that Fridtjof Nansen, having survived an unexpected winter in a tent, met by chance – and was rescued – by Fredrick Jackson, in June of 1896.

Tikhaya Buchta, or ‘Calm Bay’, is the location where a team of meteorologists from the Russian Sedov station were marooned at the beginning of the Second World War.  They were not rescued until 1945!  We hope to stay for the day to discover a little of the history here, and listen to the laughter-like calls of the little auks as they fly to and from their burrows in the scree slopes.

The Rubini Rock bird cliff lies just off Calm Bay and is perfect for cruising around.  The cylindrical island is a volcanic plug, the remains of conical volcano.  Its sheer sides of red basalt rise 242 feet from the sea and form the best birds cliffs in the archipelago.
Cape Norvegia on Jackson Island holds special significance for us as this was the spot where in September of 1895 Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen arrived and prepared to overwinter.  Using just a few stones and his tent he made a crude hut, and he successfully survived until the following summer, with Hjalmar Johansen, when they resumed their journey southward.

The ‘Devil’s Marbles’ are found at Cape Triest on Champ Island.  Officially called ‘geodes’, these spherical rock formations are created by accumulation of chemicals within the rock strata – and they can be up to 6 feet in diameter! Keep an eye open for walrus in the water or hauled out on the beach as we head ashore in our small, sturdy explorer boats.

Alexandra Land is the westermost island (not counting the tiny, far flung Victoria Island), and home to the headquarters of the Russian Arctic National Park, which includes Franz Josef Land.  During the Second World War, the Germans tried – and failed – to establish a weather station here.

Day 11-12: At sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Willem Barents was attempting to find the Northeast Passage when he accidentally discovered our next destination instead.  In 1596 he sailed to Svalbard, naming it 'Spitsbergen' for the pointed mountains he found. As you sail over the sea named for him, enjoy a relaxing day on board by enjoying the hot tubs on deck or taking part in one of the lectures presented by the expedition team.

Day 13: Murmansk

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Return to Murmansk, and you will have time to explore the city. Overlooking the port is a 115 foot statue of a Russian soldier known as Alyosha. This statue is a memorial to the Russian soldiers who fought in World War II.

You might like to visit the church of the Savior on Waters.This gold-domed church built in 2002 from public donations, is part of a memorial complex dedicated to the memory of Murmansk's seamen who perished in peacetime. Just below the church is the lighthouse monument, and next to it is part of the ill-fated submarine Kursk.

Day 14: Skarsvåg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Skarsvåg is a small village that lies along the northern coast of the island of Magerøya. It claims the distinction of being the world's northernmost fishing village. Join the optional excursion to the North Cape and discover what it’s like to stand at the end of the Earth. There is a combined museum and restaurant at the plateau where you can learn more on the early expeditions to North Cape and watch a panoramic film that takes you through the four seasons of the Norway coast in this landscape full of contrasts and breathtaking scenery. North Cape is a spectacular place to experience the midnight sun. 

Day 15: Tromsø, Norway

  • 1 Breakfast
Unfortunately, every great explorer's journey comes to an end. It may seem as though the time flew by too quickly. We have traveled where few others have gone, just a few hundred miles from the Geographical North Pole. 

Ship/Hotel

MS Spitsbergen

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Select a Date
Polar Inside - B
Outside cabin, 193 sq ft. With limited/ no view, queen bed, kettle, TV, bathroom with shower. Accessible to guests with limited mobility
Select a Date
Polar Inside - I
Most cabins have separate beds, where one can be turned into a sofa, some have a double bed or upper and lower berths, shower/wc
Select a Date
Polar Inside - K
Some cabins have a double bed, some have separate beds, where one can be turned into a sofa, shower/wc
Select a Date
Polar Outside - AJ
Upper and lower berths, shower/wc, limited/no view
Select a Date
Polar Outside - J
Some cabins have a double bed, some have separate beds, where one can be turned into a sofa, or upper or lower berths, shower/wc, limited/no view
Select a Date
Polar Outside - A
Upper and lower berths, shower/wc
Select a Date
Polar Outside - N
Some cabins have a double bed, some have separate beds, where one can be turned into a sofa, or upper or lower berths, shower/wc
Select a Date
Polar Outside - O
Some cabins have a double bed, some have separate beds, where one can be turned into a sofa, or upper or lower berths, shower/wc
Select a Date
Arctic Superior - P
Some cabins have a double bed, some have separate beds, where one can be turned into a sofa, kettle, coffee/tea, shower/wc
Select a Date
Arctic Superior - U
Some cabins have a double bed, some have 3 or 4 beds, some have a seating area, kettle, coffee/tea, TV, mini bar, shower/wc, limited/no view
Select a Date
Arctic Superior - QJ
Some cabins have a double bed, some have separate beds, where one can be turned into a sofa, kettle, coffee/tea, shower/wc
Select a Date
Expedition Suite - Q
One room with a double bed, some with seating area, some with 3-4 beds that can be upper beds, TV, mini bar, kettle, coffee/tea, shower/wc, view
Select a Date
Expedition Suite - MG
One or two rooms with seating area, double bed, TV, stereo, mini bar, kettle, tea/coffee, shower/wc, some with bathtub, most with private balcony or bay window
Select a Date
Expedition Suite - MX
Two rooms with a double bed, seating area, dining table, TV, mini bar, kettle, coffee/tea, stereo, shower, w/c, private balcony
Included
  • 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners
  • 14 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Photography Guide on Expedition Team
     
  • Complimentary Expedition Jacket
  • Loan of Boots, Trekking Poles, & All Equipment for Activities
  • Photos & Film/Video Footage from the Voyage Shared in The Expedition Logbook
  • Wine, beer, juice, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board ship
  • Coffee and tea are included throughout the day. Beverages (beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water in all ship restaurants)
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with very limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
  • À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Luggage Handling 
  • Mandatory medical evacuation insurance

Map

Inquire

* By providing your phone number, you consent to receive direct phone calls or SMS messages from our Trip Planners to get the process started. We do not share your information with third-parties.
Travel Agents

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now
I could not be happier with my Adventure Life experience, from beginning to end. I travel a lot, and I think your company and personnel do an outstanding job. I truly appreciate your professionalism, attentiveness, and flexibility. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your company and would be happy to serve as a reference.
Constance Block
More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By