Expedition Svalbard to the pack ice

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard

We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.

Day 2 - 11: Expedition cruising

Explore Longyearbyen on your own before meeting up your fellow travellers and guides for lunch. In the afternoon we board the expedition ship and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden - the Arctic expedition has begun! We are now in a part of the world where we are completely dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary will depend on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. Our aim is to head out on Zodiac cruises every day and to go ashore when the opportunity arises. Here are some examples of places we may visit.

Northwest Spitsbergen

Isfjorden offers plenty of great landing sites and splendid hiking opportunities. At the entrance of Isfjorden is the characteristic cliff Alkhornet, and even though most birds have migrated at this time of year, we marvel at the fascinating landscape. Arctic foxes are often seen in the rock crevices around the mountain and with some luck we might see these lovely little animals scurrying around, frantically looking for food.

The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is located in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. Two other courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. The Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon, and the American journalist Wellman started with an airship. Interesting remnants of these expeditions can still be seen here.

The magnificent fjords of Spitsbergen

Svalbard offers visitors countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore some of them such as: 

In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. Continuing further into the fjord system, we reach Lilliehöökfjorden, which stretches over four kilometres. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by magnificent glaciers and also a favourite haunt of seals. In Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. 

North of Svalbard

In the direction of the North Pole, the goal is to reach the pack ice north of Svalbard and spend around two days here. This floating and ever-changing habitat is a fascinating and powerful experience to say the least. Not many ships come here and we can enjoy the tranquillity of this magnificent icy landscape. We are constantly on the lookout for the exciting wildlife associated with the Arctic Ocean, such as polar bears, seals and ivory gulls. The pack ice around Svalbard is of great importance to the archipelago's ecosystem and climate. It is also a mainstay of life in the Arctic.

Sjuøyane

These islands are situated north of Nordaustlandet and it is Svalbard’s northernmost outpost. On one of the islands, Rossøya, Andrée and his companions had one of their depots with supplies in case their, by now legendary, balloon trip in the late 1800s would fail.

Hinlopen Strait

Ice conditions permitting, we enter the Hinlopen Strait and we head to Kinnvika and Torellneset to look for walruses. We may also continue into the beautiful bay of Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet.

Eastern Svalbard

The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by a huge ice cap and has fascinated naturalists and historians alike. Here the giant glacier Bråsvellbreen stretches for 180 kilometres with 15-20 metre high ice edge.

Day 12: Longyearbyen

Early in the morning, we disembark from our expedition ship and begin our journey back home.

Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Our exact route will depend on the ice, weather conditions, wildlife and government regulations. The places mentioned are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. We always strive to maximise your experience. Please remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

Important!

To ensure responsible tourism and protection of the environment, new regulations came into force in Svalbard on 1 January 2025. Read more about the regulations and PolarQuest's comments about these changes.