Circumnavigating Spitsbergen: In the Realm of the Polar Bear

After your flight from Oslo, your Arctic journey begins with an overnight stay in Longyearbyen—the northernmost town on Earth.

This remote frontier community, where snowmobiles outnumber residents, offers a rare glimpse of life at the edge of the polar wilderness. If time allows, take a stroll through town and experience its distinctive character before enjoying a relaxed evening at your leisure.

For a deeper Arctic experience, consider an extended version of this voyage. It features the same sailing itinerary, plus two additional days to explore Longyearbyen and its surrounding landscapes in greater depth.

After breakfast, set out to explore Longyearbyen.

Once a coal mining settlement, this compact town is easily navigated on foot. Wander the main street, where you can find boutique shops, an art gallery, and local restaurants—perhaps even spot a Svalbard reindeer passing by.

Before boarding your ship this afternoon to continue your Arctic journey, take part in an included excursion offering deeper insight into this remote outpost at the edge of the world.

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 means you must 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 a hub for global science and climate research, you can still see remnants of the town’s history. 

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

Over the next two days, explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of this breathtaking national park where steep mountains, glaciers and beautiful offshore islands form a unique Arctic landscape. 

Scout 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 you can always be on the lookout for these iconic but elusive predators. 

Be ready for adventure. The team will seize any opportunity to launch the kayaks or set out in the small boats (RIB) to go ashore and hike or participate in a beach cleanup.

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 for spotting wildlife, such as seals and walruses who lounge on the sparkling ice. And if the conditions are right, the team will lower the 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. From May to August, as summer progresses, it retreats further towards the pole, meaning it may be out of reach for you. If so, explore the no-less-impressive fjords, glaciers and incredible scenery of the Svalbard coast.   

Wildflowers start blooming in July and into August, this is a time when the wildflowers appear, blanketing the landscape with a blaze of beauty and color.

Be ready for anything as this stage of your voyage continues to be truly adventurous. If sea ice permits, venture to the frozen seascape of Eastern Spitsbergen.  

You have high hopes you can see the elusive polar bear over the next two days. You can also scout for walrus and colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and other seabirds in the Hinlopen Strait. You may head south to Freemansundet and Kapp Lee or take the small expedition boats to Edgeøya or Barentsøya. 

In true expedition style, exactly where you go will depend on the conditions on the day.  Channel your inner explorer on exhilarating landings, hikes and kayak trips, and look out for wildlife.   

And if the ice doesn’t allow you to pass through Hinlopen Strait, you can experience just as much adventure as you delve deeper into the wonders of western Svalbard. Take a flexible route through deep fjords and by calving glaciers, seeking out remarkable Arctic wildlife. 

Your expedition cruise continues south towards Hornsund – one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Colorful vegetation makes way for towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. The cliffs here are home to large colonies of auks, guillemots and Northern Fulmars, along with Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer below. 

Head out on deck to spot seals and whales, Mount Hornsundtind, and glaciers reaching into the sea, and learn about Wanny Woldstad, the first female trapper to hunt in Svalbard. 

Then, head to admire the classic beauty of the snowcapped mountains of Bellsund  – a historic area where you can see the evidence of former whaling and mining activity on the shoreline. 

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.

Your Arctic adventure ends in Longyearbyen, where you catch your flight back to Oslo. Return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice and climate change than you arrived with – and memories of an incredible experience.