Svalbard In-Depth

Day 1: Longyearbyen

Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative hub of the Spitsbergen archipelago, where West Spitsbergen stands as the largest island. Before setting sail, take some time to explore this former mining town. Its charming parish church and fascinating polar museum are well worth a visit. In the early evening, your ship will depart from Isfjorden. 

Days 2 to 9: Circumnavigating West Spitsbergen

Sailing north along the western coast, you may reach Krossfjorden by morning, where impressive glacier fronts create a dramatic backdrop. In the afternoon, continue to Ny Ålesund, Earth’s most northerly settlement. This former mining village, complete with the world’s northernmost railway (the tracks are still visible), it’s now home to an international research community. 

Nearby, you'll find nesting grounds for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese and Arctic terns. If Arctic exploration fascinates you, don’t miss the historic anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile for their airships Norge (1926) and Italia (1928).

Weather permitting, you may cruise into Liefdefjorden, with the chance to stop at Texas Bar and sail past the striking 5-km (3.1 mile) long face of the impossibly steep Monaco Glacier. The waters fronting the glacier are a hotspot for thousands of feeding kittiwakes, while the ice’s edge is a known hunting ground for polar bears. Another option is to explore the mouth of Wijdefjorden, flanked on both sides by tundra and featuring the glacier front of Nordbreen. If ice conditions make this route inaccessible early in the season, an alternative journey along Spitsbergen’s west coast can be arranged.

The most northerly stop on your journey might take you beyond Nordaustlandet to Chermsideøya and Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, where you'll cross the 80° north latitude – just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. This remote region is home to polar bears, and the ship may pause among the pack ice for several hours to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. When the sea ice edge lies far north of the Seven Islands, usually in August, there’s a chance to spend a second day exploring the area. 

Alternatively, especially in July, you may head to Sorgfjord. Here, you could encounter a herd of walruses near the historic graves of 17th Century whalers at Eolusneset. A nature walk may also lead to sightings of ptarmigan families, while the opposite side of the fjord at Heclahamna offers another picturesque spot for an excursion.

The next day, your agenda takes you into Hinlopen Strait, a region known for its bearded and ringed seals – not to mention frequent polar bear sightings. At the strait’s entrance, there’s even a chance of spotting blue whales. If ice blocks the way, as with Liefdefjorden, an alternate route along west Spitsbergen can be followed.

Travelling among Lomfjord’s ice floes by zodiac rib boat offers a close-up experience of this icy wilderness, followed by a visit to the dramatic bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, where thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots nest. On the eastern side of Hinlopen, you may attempt a landing at Palanderbukta, where reindeer, pink-footed geese and walruses are commonly seen. Another option is Torrelneset, where you can explore the stark beauty of Nordaustlandet’s polar desert, set beside the world’s third-largest ice cap. You may come face-to-face with walruses hauled out along the shore here.

Your Captain and onboard expedition team will aim to sail against the current through Heleysundet, the narrow strait between West Spitsbergen and Barentsøya, emerging into a landscape framed by nearby glaciers like Negribreen. Later in the day, you may land at the mouth of Skjolddalen Valley on West Spitsbergen, just 4 km (2.5 miles) from an Ivory Gull colony. Another possible stop is Diskobukta on Edgeøya, near a canyon that hosts a bustling Kittiwake colony. Depending on conditions, other landings – such as Kvalhovden, with its dramatic glacier fronts – may also be on the itinerary.

The next day, you'll start by cruising through the side fjords of the Hornsund region in southern Spitsbergen, surrounded by spire-esque peaks. Hornsundtind towers at 1,431 meters (4,695 feet), while Bautaen perfectly captures why early Dutch explorers named this island Spitsbergen, or “pointed mountains”. The area is home to 14 huge glaciers, and there’s a good chance of spotting seals, beluga whales and possibly polar bears. Potential landings include Samarinvaagen and Birgerbukta, both offering excellent opportunities for a lengthy, scenic walk in this striking Arctic landscape.

Your next destination is Bellsund, one of the largest fjord systems in Svalbard. Thanks to warmer ocean currents, this area supports relatively thriving vegetation compared to the rest of the archipelago. It’s a fantastic place to experience both Arctic wildlife and history.

One possible stop is Ahlstrandhalvøya, at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden, where you’ll find haunting piles of beluga skeletons – a stark reminder of the 19th Century whaling era. Thankfully, belugas survived this exploitation, and you stand a good chance of spotting a pod in the surrounding waters.

Alternatively, while cruising the side fjords of Bellsund, you might explore tundra meadows where reindeer graze, or visit rocky slopes near Vaarsolbukta, home to colonies of nesting little auks.

Day 10: Longyearbyen

Today, you’ll disembark from the ship back in Longyearbyen and can take the included transfer to the airport for your onward travel arrangements. 

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.