Explore cosmopolitan Oslo

Enjoy time in Oslo before flying to Svalbard

Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway’s fjord-side capital. If you have time, why not explore the city center on your own.

With its rich history and fashionable art scene, Oslo is a fascinating city. You’ll find museums, galleries, and breathtaking architecture, including the beautiful Opera House and new Munch Museum.

Take a stroll in the Ekebergparken Sculpture Park, visit Akershus Fortress, or relax in a floating sauna. Explore modern Sørenga and enjoy urban beach life. You can also try New Nordic cuisine before spending the night at your airport hotel in Oslo.

Longyearbyen adventures

Explore the town at the top of the world

After your morning flight to Longyearbyen, it’s time to explore the world’s northernmost town, a colorful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles.

Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer pass by. Although wild, they’re curious and gentle.

Before boarding your ship in the afternoon and continuing your Arctic discovery, join an included excursion and get a glimpse of this amazing polar bear–inspired region at the top of the world. And if you’d like to discover even more of Longyearbyen’s special surroundings, simply join our optional Pre-Program.

Expedition days

Experience pristine Arctic wilderness

Over the next three days, you’ll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. Surrounded by steep mountains, stark glaciers, and beautiful offshore islands, we’ll scan for Arctic animals, including whales, seals, walruses, and reindeer. If we’re really lucky, we might even see the elusive polar bear from the ship’s Observation Deck. In stunning Kongsfjord, you may see impressive glaciers calving into the sea.

Be ready for adventure. We’ll seize any opportunity to launch our kayaks or set out in our small boats (RIB) and go ashore to hike or participate in a beach cleanup.

Exploring the east

Scouting for polar bears, seabirds, and walruses

Be ready for anything, as this stage of your journey becomes truly adventurous. If sea ice permits, we’ll venture across the 80th parallel north and explore the pristine wilderness of northeast Svalbard.

We may head to the immense Bråsvellbreen glacier to see waterfalls tumbling into the icy depths or to Kvitøya to look for polar bears roaming the ice. We may head south to Freemansundet and Kapp Lee or take our small boats (RIBs) to Edgeøya or Barentsøya.

In true expedition style, our exact route will depend on the day’s conditions. Channel your inner explorer on exhilarating landings, hikes, and kayak trips, and look out for wildlife like polar bears, walruses, guillemots, and gulls.

And if the ice doesn’t allow us to journey east, you’ll experience just as much adventure as we delve deeper into the wonders of western Svalbard. We’ll take a flexible route through deep fjords and pass by soaring mountains, seeking out remarkable Arctic wildlife.

Hornsund and Bellsund

Majestic glaciers, birds, and pioneer history

Your expedition cruise continues south toward Hornsund – one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Rich, colorful vegetation transforms into towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. Head out to the deck to spot seals and whales, admire Mount Hornsundtind, and watch glaciers calving into the sea.

Then we head to snow-capped Bellsund, whose cliffs are home to large colonies of auks, guillemots, and northern fulmars, while Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer can be found below. Look out for the early mining settlements here and learn about Wanny Woldstad, the first female trapper.

Astonishing Isfjord

Witness living history and ecology

Our Svalbard expedition continues into Isfjord’s lush fjord system, where you’ll see immense, glacier-carved valleys rich in wildlife, vegetation and human history.

To the north, Alkhornet is home to guillemots, kittiwakes, Svalbard reindeer, and Arctic foxes. Clear traces of the area’s whaling and hunting past are visible on beaches and in bays. Farther south, we’ll pass the former Isfjord Radio satellite communication station, which is now one of the world’s most beautifully situated hotels.

Today’s activities will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions in Isfjord. Each day, your Expedition Team will decide on the best options for exploring.

Return to Longyearbyen

A final day on top of the world

Your Arctic adventure comes to an end back in Longyearbyen. A transfer will take you to the airport for your flight to Oslo. You’ll return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice, and climate change than when you arrived. You’ll also have lifelong memories of this incredible experience.

If you’re not ready to say goodbye just yet, why not spend some more time in the Arctic and join our optional Post-Program?