Svalbard Circumnavigation & Kvitoya

Welcome to Longyearbyen, the starting point of our Arctic expedition. Upon arrival at the Longyearbyen airport, our staff will greet you and transfer you to a quality hotel. Spend the day exploring the charming town center and visit the excellent Svalbard Museum. Enjoy a delightful dinner at one of the local restaurants. Experience the midnight sun, a unique phenomenon where the sun does not set.

After breakfast at your hotel, spend the morning at your leisure in Longyearbyen. Enjoy the stunning views of icy fjords and glaciated mountains. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the pier to board the deluxe expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Settle into your spacious suite and explore the ship. Enjoy a delicious dinner on board as we pass through the wildlife-rich waters of Isfjorden.

Today, we aim to circumnavigate the Svalbard archipelago, heading towards the northeastern part. Experience the pristine nature of Spitsbergen, protected by the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. Witness the deep fjords, serrated mountain ranges, and immense tidewater glaciers. Visit Ny Ålesund, a former mining town and airship base, now home to an international community of Arctic researchers.

Continue our voyage towards the northeastern part of the archipelago, aiming for Kvitøya, famous for its polar bears. This rarely visited island offers a unique opportunity to observe polar bears in their natural habitat. Experience the incredible High Arctic territory and its diverse wildlife.

Spend the day exploring the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the crown jewel of Svalbard’s scenic wonders. Witness the deep fjords, serrated mountain ranges, and immense tidewater glaciers. Enjoy the sight of millions of murres, guillemots, and little auks hatching at countless breeding colonies. This is also a great chance to encounter marine mammals, including beluga whales and various Arctic seals.

Today, we navigate along the ice edge towards the island of Nordaustlandet. This corner of Svalbard is full of stunning scenery and wildlife as well as rich history from the age of exploration. Please note that our route and research opportunities are heavily dependent on the weather.

We will make an attempt to go to the eastern and northern regions of the Svalbard Archipelago. Visit Kvitøya, one of the most rarely visited islands, and Karl XII Öya, the northernmost part of Svalbard. These remote locations offer a unique opportunity to observe polar bears in their natural habitat and follow the trails of polar explorers.

Spend the day exploring Karl XII Öya, the northernmost part of Svalbard. This remote island was visited by polar explorers Alfred Gabriel Nathorst and Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld in the 19th century. If we are lucky enough, we will be able to follow their trails.

Today, we expect to encounter significant sea ice concentrations in the enormous Northwest Svalbard Nature Reserve. This remote and isolated region is home to a prodigious number of seabirds and has historically been a good location for spotting polar bear and walrus.

Spend the day exploring the massive Austfonna ice cap, one of the great wonders of the Arctic world. This polar desert environment supports little in the way of vegetation, but hosts a prodigious number of seabirds.

Today, we visit the Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve and South Spitsbergen National Park. These areas are home to a dense population of endemic Svalbard reindeer and are important breeding areas for ground-nesting birds. Historical sites throughout the islands provide glimpses into the region’s bygone era of trapping and hunting.

Our circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago is coming to an end. We are back to the West Coast of the Spitsbergen archipelago, with its beautiful locations like Alkhornet Mountain, also known as bird heaven because its cliffs support over 10,000 breeding pairs of seabirds.

Spend another day exploring the beautiful Alkhornet Mountain, known as bird heaven. Witness the stunning views and the rich birdlife, with over 10,000 breeding pairs of seabirds.

After breakfast on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen. We provide transfers to the airport for your flight to Oslo. As you leave, you may already be planning your next amazing trip with us into the polar world.