Discover Longyearbyen

Start your adventure in the world's northernmost town

Your journey begins in the frontier town of Longyearbyen, where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles. You'll enjoy an overnight stay at a modern hotel in historical surroundings. The town is perfect for exploring on foot. As you take in the galleries, pubs and restaurants you might see Svalbard reindeer saunter by. Although wild, they're curious and tame. Reminders of mining heritage are everywhere in this frontier town. Taste a selection of beers brewed in the Arctic at Svalbard Brewery and immerse yourself in Svalbard's fascinating polar exploration history in the aptly named North Pole Expedition Museum. For a culinary experience, you can try king crab in the Funktionærmessen Restaurant.

Stunning Isfjorden

All aboard the classic MS Nordstjernen

Explore at your leisure before a guided tour after lunch that includes a visit to Svalbard Museum and Camp Barentz. MS Nordstjernen awaits at the harbour. A lovingly modernised ship that retains its 1950s charm, you'll be immersed in nautical nostalgia while on board.

Our cruise begins as we sail into Isfjorden's lush fjord system, where you'll see immense, glacier-carved valleys rich in wildlife, vegetation and human history.

To the north, Alkehornet is home to guillemots, kittiwakes, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The remains of whaling and hunting implements are visible on beaches and bays. Further south, we’ll pass the former Isfjord Radio Station, now a stylish hotel.

The wilds of Spitsbergen

Surround yourself in wild nature

We leave civilisation behind and enter the wilds of Spitsbergen, free from the distractions of modern life. You’ll marvel at Magdalenefjorden's spectacular jagged mountain peaks and glaciers, perfectly reflected in the glassy surface of the water. We'll attempt to land here and take you to the remains of a 17th century whaling station. It's a paradise for wildlife lovers – look out for Little Auks, Arctic terns, Skuas, Eider Ducks and Barnacle Geese. Minke and beluga whales visit these waters in summer, and you might spot seals or polar bears on the floating sea ice.

The fjords of Svalbard

The sights, sounds and scenery of Svalbard’s fjords

As you explore the fjord systems around Spitsbergen, you’ll be struck by its contrasts. Woodfjorden’s landscape features dramatic red mountains, the cone-shaped remnants of three volcanoes and thermal springs. In Liefdefjorden, rolling red hills give way to snowcapped mountains and thousands of sea birds fill the sky. Watch for kittiwakes, terns, Eiders and more. We'll attempt to sail above 80° North, where the Midnight Sun shines on Moffen, an island supporting a large walrus population. We’ll watch from a safe distance as these huge but vulnerable animals frolic in the waters and on the shore.

Birdlife in Kongsfjorden

The birder's paradise of 'King's Bay'

You might hear the creaks and groans of glaciers calving into the sea at Kongsfjorden. It’s one of Svalbard's most scenic spots, and a paradise for birders.

Keep your eyes open for Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Atlantic Puffins and guillemots. A bird sanctuary of about ten islands is home to protected species like the Pink-footed Goose and Common Eider. Later we dock at Ny-Ålesund. This former mining settlement is now an international science and research hub. Discover explorer history at the museum, and maybe send a postcard from the world’s northernmost post box!

Return to Longyearbyen

Arctic memories from the top of the world

Your Arctic expedition cruise around Svalbard ends in Longyearbyen. From here, a transfer will take you to the airport for your flight back home.

You'll return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice and climate change than you arrived with. The incredible contrasts of this unique environment are sure to remain with you for a long time.