Svalbard Wildlife In-Depth

Day 1: Arrive in Helsinki

Your Arctic voyage begins in Finland’s vibrant capital city. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep you busy. A night at the airport hotel is included as part of your transfer package, so you can settle in and relax ahead of tomorrow's flight to Svalbard.

Day 2: Embarkation Day in Longyearbyen, Norway

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll fly north to Longyearbyen, Svalbard's largest settlement, on an included group charter flight. Here, you’ll embark on your ship and set off on your voyage. Soak up the island's rugged, glacier-topped mountains rising from icy waters – your first taste of the epic scenery to come. 

Days 3 to 13: Circumnavigating Spitsbergen

Get ready for a new adventure each day as you start your journey by sailing north and circling the island of Spitsbergen while also exploring smaller outlying islands. The variety of incredible wildlife and geological formations found here is astounding. The plan is to circumnavigate Spitsbergen, but if conditions are in your favour, the Captain will attempt to circle the entire Svalbard archipelago.

The mercurial weather and ice conditions in the Arctic mean that each expedition differs, but the aim is to visit the onboard expedition team’s favourite  landing sites, including the 14th of July Glacier, Ny-London, Phippsøya, Alkefjellet and the lesser-visited Kvitoya.  

For birders, the 14th of July Bay is home to purple sandpipers, common eiders, barnacle geese and Arctic terns, while Brunnich's guillemots (thick-billed murres) nest on Alkefjellet. If you're looking for confirmation that reindeer are real, you'll want your camera ready for visits to sites such as Ny-London, Sundneset and Alkhornet.

As for the world’s largest land carnivore, searching for polar bears is a constant activity for the expedition team. Phippsoya and Isbukta are two of the creature’s preferred hunting grounds, which translates into great potential for you to see them in action.

Getting to know the culture is a large part of visiting Spitsbergen - not just how inhabitants live nowadays, but also how this land was first navigated. You’ll see old 16th Century blubber ovens, plus other evidence of the old whaling industry, at landing sites like Smeerenburg.

At every part of the journey, the scenery and wildlife are unmatched. Colourful tundra meadows are complemented by glaciers, and sometimes there’s even a rare chance to spot beluga whales.

Day 14: Disembark in Longyearbyen & fly to Helsinki

Your journey ends back in Longyearbyen. From here, you’ll transfer to the airport for your return group charter flight to Helsinki.

Please 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.