Kayaking the icy waters around Spitsbergen
Mountainous Samarinvågen, Svalbard
Polar bears on the rocky landscape of Svalbard
10-day expedition cruise of the Svalbard archipelago. Explore Longyearbyen and North West Spitsbergen National Park on an attempt to circumnavigate Spitsbergen.
The Midnight Sun provides perfect light for Svalbard wildlife photography of polar bears, whales, reindeer and more.
Optional Pre- and Post-Programmes available from Longyearbyen to Isfjorden, spotting walrus and visiting glaciers.
Your expedition starts in Oslo, before you fly to Longyearbyen where your expedition continues at sea. We'll sail into North West Spitsbergen National Park. Take in the stunning Arctic nature, as we scout for polar bears, Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer. You'll also see colonies of Brunnich’s Guillemots and kittiwakes.
We plan to circumnavigate Spitsbergen, and attempt to sail beyond the 80th Parallel North if conditions permit. You’ll see awe-inspiring nature and wildlife and the breathtaking Hornsund mountains, before we cruise towards stunning Isfjorden back to cosy Longyearbyen.
Flights
Hotel
Onboard activities
Landing activities
We'll help you plan where to go, when to visit and how long to stay
Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway’s fjord-side capital. If you have time before your flight, why not explore the city centre.
With its rich history and fashionable art scene, Oslo is a fascinating city. You'll find museums, galleries, and breathtaking architecture all within easy reach – including the beautiful Opera House and new Munch Museum.
Take a stroll in the stunning Ekeberg Sculpture Park, visit Akershus Fortress or relax in a floating sauna. Explore modern Sørenga and enjoy urban beach life, or try New Nordic cuisine before flying out to Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago.
After breakfast, it’s time to explore the world's northernmost town, a colourful 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 saunter by. Although wild, they're curious and tame. Admire the polar bear-inspired art or visit the North Pole Expedition Museum.
Get ready for your included excursion after lunch, or join an optional electric bike, dogsledding or hiking tour. In the afternoon, it's time to board your ship and continue your Arctic discovery as we cruise around Spitsbergen.
Over the next three days, you'll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. Seabirds wheel as we scan for animals of the Arctic – whales, seals, walrus and reindeer. We might even see polar bears hunting on the ice.
In stunning Kongsfjorden, you may see glaciers calving into the sea. If conditions allow, we'll stop in Ny-Ålesund, home to a thriving international science community, researching glaciology, wildlife and climate change.
Be ready for adventure as we'll seize any opportunity to use our expedition boats to come ashore to hike, participate in a beach clean-up or launch our kayaks.
The frozen seascape of Eastern Svalbard is home to the archipelago’s largest polar bear population. We have high hopes you’ll see this elusive, magnificent animal over the next two days. We'll scout for walrus and colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and other seabirds in the Hinlopen Strait. We may head south to Freemansundet and Kapp Lee, or take small expedition boats to Edgeøya or Barentsøya. The daily itinerary will be set by your Expedition Team, monitoring local ice and weather conditions to take you on exhilarating landings, hikes and kayaking.
As we sail towards the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen, we'll enter Hornsunden, one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Rich, colourful vegetation makes way for the towering peaks of Mount Hornsundtind along this picturesque waterway. Head out on deck as you may spot seals and whales, and possibly even glaciers calving into the sea.
The green patches of land you’ll see here are fertilised by Little Auk colonies. This in turn attracts Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes, so keep your eyes peeled. In the evening, we’ll journey north, past beautiful Bellsund towards Isfjorden.
Our Svalbard cruise continues 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 clear traces of whaling and hunting history are visible on beaches and bays. Further south, we’ll pass the former Isfjord Radio Station, now one of the world's most beautifully-situated hotels. Our activities today will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Isfjorden. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day.
Back in Longyearbyen, your Arctic cruise comes to an end. Exploring Svalbard creates memories for life, leaving you feeling enriched from wildlife encounters, insights in polar history and local geography.
Before your flight back to Oslo, you might have time to discover more of Longyearbyen or do a spot of shopping for local souvenirs.
If you're sailing aboard MS Fram, you can extend your stay in Longyearbyen by adding one of our unique Post-Programmes when booking your cruise.
Attempt
This epic expedition cruise will see us attempt to find a way through the Arctic’s ever-changing sea ice and venture above the 80th parallel north. Our goal is to successfully complete a circumnavigation of the island of Spitsbergen, if the ice allows us.
Take a closer look at our ships typically used on this expedition
MS Spitsbergen
MS Spitsbergen is named after the crown jewel of Arctic Norway – the Svalbard archipelago and its biggest island, Spitsbergen. Hurtigruten has a long history of travelling to Spitsbergen, beginning in 1896 with the 'Sports Route'. MS Spitsbergen cruises along the Norwegian coast from September to May and becomes part of our global expedition sailings during the rest of the year.
MS Fram
MS Fram was purpose-built as an expedition vessel with a superior ice class, chart drawing tools, a ship depth-sounding database, extractable forward sounding sonar, iceberg search lights, an autonomous tracking system, an oversized oil retention system for self-sufficiency, and a full ‘expedition tools deck’ equivalent to a car-deck that holds 25 vehicles. We believe that as an explorer, you need an ‘expedition base camp’ that is comfortable. It should combine ‘all oceans capabilities’ with safety, flexibility, and environmental friendliness. That’s MS Fram. She’s simply the best expedition ship imaginable.
It's a mixture of adventure activities for individuals of all ages
Onboard Science Program
Our Science Programme has one goal: to increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas you are sailing to.
Our Science Program has one goal: to increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas you are sailing to.
Our expedition ships serve as the perfect platform for scientific research; with access to remote regions of the world and onboard experts, we can provide invaluable data to the scientific community—with help from our guests!
We invite our guests to participate in science activities, developing a greater understanding of the region in which they travel, becoming true ambassadors, and returning home to champion the protection of our planet's most fragile ecosystems.
Delivery of our own lecture program.
Interacting with guests in our Science Centers to reinforce the lecture program with practical hands-on guest experiences.
Citizen science program involving guests in programs for third-party organizations.
Carrying scientific equipment for sample collection on behalf of research institutes.
Hosting scientific personnel on board to conduct collaborative science programs.
Seabird Distribution with the Antarctic Site Inventory — Surveys throughout the Antarctic Peninsula help scientists understand how seabirds are using different habitats and provide valuable information about their life cycles.
Cloud Observations with the Globe Program — By observing and recording cloud cover timed to NASA satellite fly-overs, guests can help scientists understand how surface and air temperature are affected by cloud cover, and how clouds will respond to a changing climate.
Happywhale — We assist in tracking individual whales throughout our world’s oceans by harnessing the power of whale watching enthusiasts - our guests - expanding our scientific knowledge of their behavior and distribution.
Sea Leopard Project — A non-profit study aimed at a better understanding of the behavior, ecology, and population dynamics of leopard seals on the Antarctic Peninsula to promote their conservation and safe human-seal interactions.
Fjord Phyto — Study phytoplankton to better understand how they respond to water temperature changes in the polar regions, providing a key to help mitigate future environmental impacts.
Join the Expedition Team here for a range of lectures, photography workshops, and Citizen Science Projects. The area also features scientific and educational equipment, such as microscopes and interactive maps.
In-depth talks on history, climate change, sustainability, wildlife, Earth science, culture, and other topics specific to the destination you are visiting are held here. Learning more about each subject is certain to enhance your expedition experience.
Our Science Program has one goal: To increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas to which you are sailing.
What the Science Program is about
Learning from the experts on board
Facilities, equipment and activities
Citizen Science research projects- and how you can contribute
Speaker: Verena Meraldi
Young Explorers Program
Welcome all young explorers
Young Explorer is a complimentary, year-round program on selected Hurtigruten ships for curious and active youth aged 6-12 years of age.
Young Explorers is a complimentary, year-round program for curious and active 6–12-year-old children on select Hurtigruten ships. The Young Explorers’ Program makes it easier to meet other children on board, bond over common activities and form lasting friendships.
There will be daily onboard activities related to different Young Explorers’ topics. Through the Young Explorers’ Program, children will get a deeper understanding of nature, climate and culture. Depending on seasons and destinations, they will also be introduced to topics like wildlife, local food, environmental protection and famous explorers. This will give the children a sense of what it is like to be a real explorer in beautiful, untouched surroundings.
Children will experience what it is like to be a real explorer in beautiful, untouched surroundings.
All children aged 6 to 12 years are welcome to participate in the Young Explorers’ Program. At the beginning of the voyage, you will receive more practical details of the program. Parents/guardians do not participate in Young Explorers’ activities, but depending on the size and variation of the group some parents may be asked to join on an informal basis. The Young Explorers Program is offered year-round on the following ships:
It is free of charge to join the Young Explorer Program. To reserve, please contact our booking office at [email protected] or call +441224980439.
Learn more about what you can experience when going with us
Practical information you need to know
Expedition exclusive cost savings and rare opportunities.
* Certain offers may not be combinable, up to two savings opportunities except where noted otherwise
Svalbard
In the Realm of the Polar Bear
