Natural Wonders of Svalbard – Explore Northern Svalbard on an Expedition Micro Cruise

Your expedition begins in the most Northerly town in the world, Longyearbyen. In the afternoon we embark our expedition vessel at the port of Longyearbyen. After an introduction from our expedition leader and a safety briefing from the Captain, we set sail out through the majestic Adventfjord. As Longyearbyen disappears astern, we wave goodbye to civilisation for the next 9 days. As we sail out through the Isfjord we will spend time on deck watching for the whales that frequent the waters.

In the morning we approach Prins Karls Foreland, an uninhabited island of beautiful scenery off the west coast of Spitsbergen. We will drop anchor and launch the Zodiac landing craft to go ashore and visit an area where walruses haul out. In the afternoon we will do a wilderness hike. We frequently see Svalbard reindeer here. If the conditions allow we will sail up to the edge of the sea ice which extends all the way to the North Pole. In calm conditions, we will cruise the edge of the sea ice keeping a sharp lookout for wildlife including polar bears that hunt on the ice.

Every voyage we undertake to Svalbard involves an element of exploration. A part of our Svalbard experience is to have a few days with no set itinerary. Under the guidance of our expedition leader, we will work with the weather and sea ice conditions to show you the best that the north-west coast has to offer. Over the next 3 days we will cruise around the coast with regular shore landings to visit different natural and historical sites including glaciers, do wilderness hikes and spend some time enjoying the raw nature of the Arctic.

As we sail back south we explore the area in and Kongsfjorden. Expect majestic glaciers, some of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords and scenery from the decks. Here we encounter one of Svalbard’s most breathtaking sites, the Lilliehook glacier, one of Svalbard’s largest calving glacier fronts. We will spend time here witnessing nature’s beauty in its rawest form with the option of doing a wilderness hike to a neighbouring fjord.

In the morning we arrive back at the port of Longyearbyen. After breakfast we say our goodbyes after making new friends and sharing a wonderful adventure together.

The above itinerary is a guide only. A part of any Arctic adventure is the flexibility to take advantage of the weather and ice conditions. Our expedition leader will make sure you see as much a possible.