Reiseverlauf

Reiseverlauf abhängig von Wetter- und Eislage. Beschriebene Naturerlebnisse/Tiersichtungen sind mögliche Ereignisse auf den Expeditionen und nicht garantiert.

• Tag 1 - Oslo

  Oslo

  Enjoy time in Oslo before flying to Svalbard Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway's fjord-side capital, a city rich in history with a thriving art scene. Wander the Ekebergparken sculpture park, admire the striking Opera House and Munch Museum, relax in a floating sauna on the harbour, or head to Sørenga for urban beach life and New Nordic cuisine, before settling in for the night in an airport hotel.

• Tag 2 - Welcome to Longyearbyen

  Welcome to Longyearbyen

  The town at the top of the world After a morning flight from Oslo, your adventure begins with two nights in Longyearbyen, a colourful frontier town at the edge of the Arctic wilderness, where snowmobiles outnumber people. Beyond exploring the town at your own pace, join our curated two-day programme of excursions designed to reveal Longyearbyen's history, nature and resilient spirit. Discover how a settlement once built on coal mining has reinvented itself around science, tourism and a deep connection to the Arctic wilderness, while retaining the traditions that unite those who call this remote frontier home.

• Tag 4 - Your Ship Awaits

  Your Ship Awaits

  Welcome to your expedition home After two days exploring Longyearbyen, it’s time to board your expedition ship. The Expedition Team and crew will be waiting to welcome you aboard. Once you've settled into your cabin, we'll cast off and set course for the remote wilderness and extraordinary wildlife of the High Arctic.

• Tag 5 - Peaceful Ny-Ålesund

  Peaceful Ny-Ålesund

  Experience science, serenity, and epic scenery Today you’ll discover the serenity of Ny-Ålesund and neighbouring fjords such as Krossfjord and Kongsfjord. Disconnect and enjoy a day without distractions as the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s nearby geodetic station means we must switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. One of the northernmost settlements and a former mining town, Ny-Ålesund was the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions north with the airship ‘Norge’. Now a hub for global science and climate research, you can still see remnants of the town’s history. You’ll be immersed in rugged, glacial scenery as we explore the fjords around Ny-Ålesund. Be ready for adventure; we’ll seize any opportunity to launch our small expedition boats, go ashore to hike or cruise by majestic glaciers.

• Tag 6 - Northwest Spitsbergen National Park

  Northwest Spitsbergen National Park

  Experience pristine Arctic wilderness Over the next two days, we’ll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of this breathtaking national park where steep mountains, glaciers and beautiful offshore islands form a unique Arctic landscape. We'll scout for seals, walrus, and reindeer, and early in the season there's a good chance of spotting polar bears too, so we'll always be on the lookout for these iconic but elusive predators. This is also one of Svalbard's most historically rich areas, full of artefacts from its exploratory past. Be ready for adventure; we’ll seize any opportunity to launch our kayaks or use our small expedition boats and go ashore to hike or participate in a beach clean up.

• Tag 8 - Ice edge attempt

  Ice edge attempt

  Experience the opportunity of sailing to the edge of the polar ice cap If conditions allow, we’ll sail north and cross the 80th parallel to explore the ever-changing ice edge. The transition zone between the ice cap and the sea is a magical yet ephemeral place where the waters are filled with ice floes and drifting pack ice. From the ship, there are great opportunities for spotting wildlife, such as seals and walruses who lounge on the sparkling ice. And if the conditions are right, we’ll lower our expedition boats into the water and enjoy an unforgettable close-up experience amid the floating ice. The ice edge isn’t a fixed boundary, and it moves depending on the season and conditions, so visiting it will be an attempt rather than a certainty. From May to August, as summer progresses, it retreats further towards the pole, meaning it may be out of reach for us.  If so, we’ll explore the no-less-impressive fjords, glaciers and incredible scenery of the Svalbard coast. Wildflowers start blooming in July and into August, blanketing the landscape with a blaze of beauty and colour.

• Tag 10 - Exploring the east

  Exploring the east

  Scouting for polar bears, seabirds and walruses Over these three days, we attempt to venture far into eastern Svalbard. Be ready for anything. This might include Sjuøyane (Seven Islands), Svalbard's northernmost point, where moss-covered granite peaks are home to thousands of breeding seabirds and walrus haul out on rocky shores. Or Zodiac landings in the ice-capped wilderness of Nordaustlandet, where reindeer and Arctic foxes roam the barren tundra. Or Kvitøya, one of the archipelago's most remote islands: a polar bear stronghold with a haunting history of early polar exploration. These are places few ever see, let alone set foot on.

• Tag 14 - Hornsund and Bellsund

  Hornsund and Bellsund

  Majestic glaciers, birds and pioneer history Your expedition cruise continues south towards Hornsund – one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Colourful vegetation makes way for towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. The cliffs here are home to large colonies of auks, guillemots and Northern Fulmars along with Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer below. Head out on deck to spot seals and whales, Mount Hornsundtind, and glaciers reaching into the sea, and learn about Wanny Woldstad, the first female trapper to hunt in Svalbard. Then we head to admire the classic beauty of the snowcapped mountains of Bellsund - a historic area where you can see the evidence of former whaling and mining activity on the shoreline. Our activities today will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Hornsund and Bellsund. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day.

• Tag 16 - Longyearbyen

  Longyearbyen

  A last day at the top of the world Your Arctic adventure ends in Longyearbyen, where you’ll catch your flight back to Oslo. You'll return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice, and climate change than you arrived with, and memories of an incredible experience.