Springtime in Svalbard with M/S Quest 2024
Join a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the realm of the midnight sun! During the month of May, Svalbard is characterised by a wonderful purity and offers spectacular sceneries. The fairytale winter landscape is dominated by sparkling ice formations, snow covered mountains, fjord ice and pastel coloured skies.
It is spring in the Arctic and it is an indescribable experience to be there and witness the archipelago come to life.The polar bear yearlings venture out for the first time, the Arctic foxes and the Svalbard reindeers still wear their winter fur and seals and walruses can often be seen resting on the fjord ice. This is also a great time to spot the king eider and rock ptarmigan.
- Experience the Arctic spring
- Stunning winter landscapes
- Magical midnight sun
- True expedition cruising
- 5 experienced guides
- Offer: USD 300 Discount
Itinerary
With our sturdy Zodiacs we explore this winter wonderland, heading for some of Svalbard’s most magnificent fjords. We also try to go ashore when the opportunity arises and ice and snow allows us.
Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.
Day 2 - 8: Expedition cruising
We start our Svalbard adventure by exploring Longyearbyen. In the afternoon we embark our expedition ship M/S Quest and head out through Isfjorden - our Arctic adventure has started. Perhaps we could make a first outing before we continue either south or north – all depending on the weather and the current ice situation. Here are some examples of places we may visit:
Alkhornet
At the entrance of Isfjorden is the characteristic cliff Alkhornet. We go ashore to enjoy the beautiful tundra and its birdlife with barnacle geese, Brünnich’s guillemots, glaucous gulls, snow buntings and tens of thousands of kittiwakes. Arctic foxes are sometimes 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.
Prins Karls Forland
This narrow strip of land is covered by a magnificent and snow-covered mountain chain. The island is also home to many seabirds and harbour seals
Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden
The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is situated in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. In the nearby Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large number of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs.
Raudfjorden
Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity.
Virgohamna, Danskøya
Two of the most courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and American journalist Wellman started with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these Arctic expeditions left on this site.
Bellsund
At the beautiful Vårsolbukta in Bellsund little auks nest by the tens of thousands. We go ashore and walk across the tundra to take a closer look at these charming birds.
Hornsund
The majestic Hornsund consists of several magnificent fjords along the west coast of Spitsbergen, where enormous glaciers calve out shimmering blue ice. This is one of the favourite haunts for some of Svalbard’s polar bears and if lucky we can spot one of them on the fjord ice.
Day 9: Longyearbyen
In the morning we leave the ship in Longyearbyen and begin our journey home.
All itineraries are for guidance only. Our exact route will depend on 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!
Snowshoeing
For the active there is a chance to explore the areas we visit with snowshoes. This is an extra option that requires a good level of fitness. Please note: this activity is always dependent on weather, wind and other safety precautions.
Flights
We offer group flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen with return (limited availability). Contact us for more information!
The Package Travel Directive – protects the traveller’s rights
When you have booked a trip with PolarQuest, you are protected by the Package Travel Directive. This includes that you have the right to rebook your trip or cancel and receive a full refund, if your Government, or other relevant authorities, have implemented restrictions against travelling. This includes documented quarantine requirements in the country you are travelling to. However, free cancellation is only possible when it is less than 30 days to departure, provided the travel restrictions are still in place and clearly will affect your trip. You are also entitled to a full refund, should PolarQuest cancel the trip for any reason whatsoever.
USD 300 Discount
Book any Svalbard expedition in 2024 by the 31st May 2023 at the latest and get a USD 300 discount per person! Cannot be combined with any other offers.
The ship M/S Quest
A COMFORTABLE EXPEDITION SHIP WITH A WONDERFUL CREW
The ship was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry on Greenland’s west coast. In 2004/2005 she was completely refurbished into a comfortable expedition ship and in 2018 she underwent a renovation of the passenger areas. M/S Quest takes 51 passengers and all 26 cabins are outside cabins with private facilities. The triple cabins have upper and lower berths. All other cabins have two lower berths or a double bed. In your cabin you find a desk with a chair and a cupboard for storage. The superior cabins are spacious and have armchairs and TV. The owner’s cabin has a double bed, two large picture windows, a separate seating area and TV.
In the dining room you are treated to delicious meals in between landings and in the panorama lounge you can enjoy breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape. Here you can listen to entertaining talks on the area’s flora, fauna and history. In the lounge you also find a bar and a small library. The ship has spacious observation decks, where you can enjoy the beautiful vistas. Passengers are welcome on the bridge around the clock and there is always something to see or search for. You are welcomed by an international crew and the atmosphere is relaxed and very friendly. There are five Zodiacs and five guides on board M/S Quest.
It is always possible to share a cabin on board M/S Quest. All cabins have windows and private facilities.
Cabins & prices
- Book any Svalbard expedition in 2024 by the 31st May 2023 at the latest and get a USD 300 discount per person! Cannot be combined with any other offers.
Cabin category | Price per person | ||
---|---|---|---|
Triple cabin | upper/lower beds | USD 5 790 | |
Twin cabin | 2 twin beds | USD 6 690 | |
Twin cabin Plus | 2 twin beds | USD 7 090 | |
Double cabin | double bed | USD 7 090 | |
Double cabin Superior | large double bed* | USD 8 190 | |
Owner’s cabin | large double bed | USD 8 790 | |
Twin cabin for single use | USD 10 890 |
Please note: It is always possible to share a cabin on board M/S Quest. All cabins have windows and private facilities.
*The double bed in the Superior cabins is separable.
Price includes
- 7 nights on board M/S Quest
- 1 night in a hotel in Longyearbyen
- Lunch day 2
- All meals on board
- Coffee and tea
- An experienced Expedition Leader and knowledgeable guides
- Guiding ashore and talks on board
- All excursions and activities
- Comprehensive information material before the expedition
Not included
- Flight to/from Longyearbyen
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Gratuity to the ship’s crew
- Personal expenses such as bar and shop charges
Departures & booking
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or wish to make a reservation.
Booking requestDeparture | Return |
---|---|
9 May 2024 | 17 May 2024 |
16 May 2024 | 24 May 2024 |
23 May 2024 | 31 May 2024 |
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The magical midnight sun
The eternal sun, polar day – the midnight sun is known by many names. Regardless of what you choose to call this natural phenomenon, it is a truly unique experience to visit Svalbard during the summer months when the days never end. Most people know about the midnight sun, but do you really know what causes the phenomenon?
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Five birds you have a good chance to see in Svalbard
Svalbard has a fascinating bird life and most of us get impressed by the enormous abundance. During the summer, the steep cliffs are filled with hundreds of thousands of nesting pairs - an overwhelming sight. Some birds like to stay close to the sea surface, others prefer higher altitudes. Some are very curious and if you are lucky, you can get really close to them. Here are five bird species that you might see during your visit to Svalbard.
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