A Circle Around Spitsbergen

Day 1: Arrival in Longyearbyen and embarkation

Arrive in Longyearbyen, Svalbard,  the world’s northernmost town with a civilian airport, school, bank and supermarket. This Arctic outpost blends rugged frontier charm with Nordic cosiness (or hyggeligt, as the Danes say).

Stepping off the plane, the crisp polar air and iconic bear-warning sign make it clear: you’re in the High Arctic. Across Adventfjorden, Hjorthfjellet rises sharply, with saw-toothed peaks and tumbling glaciers stretching into the distance.

After arrival, board the ship. Following a safety briefing and lifeboat drill, toast your departure with a glass of champagne on deck as you leave civilisation behind and head into the wild.

Day 2: Kongsfjorden region, northwest Spitsbergen

While you rested (even if the midnight sun doesn’t), your ship sailed past the jagged peaks of Prins Karls Forland and into the breathtaking Kongsfjord. Flanked by towering mountains, and the mighty Kongsbreen and Kongvegen Glaciers, the fjord is watched over by the iconic Three Crowns: pyramidal peaks said to honour the monarchies of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Your first landing is at Ny-Ålesund, a tiny research settlement further north than Longyearbyen — and arguably the northernmost community on Earth. With its scientific stations, post office and one modest shop, it’s a place where you can decide what counts as a “town”.

Ny-Ålesund has long been a hub for polar science and exploration. Legends like Amundsen, Nansen and Nordenskiöld passed through here, launching daring missions to the North Pole. Remnants of that era – like the airship mast used by the Norge – are still visible, echoing the settlement’s storied past.

Day 3: Northwest Spitsbergen

Declared a national park in 1973, North West Svalbard is one of Europe’s largest protected wilderness areas. It also holds some of Svalbard’s richest history – possibly sighted by Norse seafarers, but definitively reached in 1596 by Dutch explorer William Barents.

Barents reported seas teeming with whales and seals, which soon drew English and Dutch whalers. Their legacy remains at sites like Smeerenburg, where 16th Century blubber ovens and building foundations tell the story of an industry that once thrived — and the graveyards of Ytre Norskøya remind us of those who never made it home.

Today, the region is peaceful, wild, and bursting with life in summer. Minuscule Arctic poppies and gorgeous purple saxifrage bloom briefly, seabirds nest, and walrus haul out along the coast. Keep an eye out — polar bears still roam these now-protected shores.

Day 4: Into the ice

An icy breeze brushes your cheeks as your ship ventures north into the drifting sea ice – a sweeping, ever-shifting wilderness stretching from Svalbard to the North Pole and beyond. This frozen seascape may seem lifeless at first glance, but with patience and a bit of luck, it reveals its secrets.

The ship's Captain will navigate carefully in search of accessible sea ice – conditions change year to year, even day to day. As the ship pushes through narrow leads, you might spot tiny fish beneath the surface, or kittiwakes and glaucous gulls trailing in your wake. On the floes, seals bask in the sun, while distant sprays of water may signal the presence of belugas or even a bowhead whale rising through the ice.

And then: a pale shape on the horizon. A polar bear, the King of the Arctic, pads silently across his icy domain in search of prey.

As the day draws to a close, your ship will set course for the Hinlopen Strait, the channel dividing Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet.

Day 5: Northeast Svalbard

Leaving the sea ice behind, you'll cruise into the Hinlopen Strait. If weather permits, your ship will approach the towering cliffs of Alkefjellet, home to one of the world’s largest colonies of Brünnich’s guillemots. Thousands of auks pack the ledges, with barely an inch to spare, while skuas and gulls patrol the skies in search of an easy meal. It's a chaotic, breathtaking spectacle of Arctic birdlife.

Later, you'll aim to land on the starkly beautiful polar desert of Nordaustlandet – a treeless landscape lit by the pale Arctic sun. Though it may appear lifeless, the surrounding waters are teeming with biodiversity. Walrus haul out on sandy beaches, belugas gather in social pods just offshore, and with luck, you may glimpse baleen whales feeding in the deeper waters beyond.

Day 6: East Svalbard

As you journey into Southeast Svalbard, cold polar waters meet the final traces of the Gulf Stream, creating a dynamic marine environment. If conditions allow, your ship will sail through the southern Hinlopen Strait and Freemansundet, passing between Barentsøya and Edgeøya with views of the towering Kapp Lee headland.

The goal is to land on Edgeøya, Svalbard’s third-largest island. Bleached bone piles scattered along the beaches tell a sobering tale of past exploitation, when walrus and belugas were hunted in their thousands by whalers and trappers. Fortunately, these species are now protected, and Svalbard’s rich ecosystems are safeguarded within vast national parks and nature reserves.

Highlights on Edgeøya include the bustling walrus haul-outs at Andréetangen and Kapp Lee, and the dramatic raised shorelines and bird colonies of Sundneset. After your exploration, the vessel will set course around Sørkapp, the southern tip of the archipelago, and head back toward Spitsbergen.

Days 7 & 8: South Svalbard

Rounding the southern tip of Spitsbergen, you'll return to the greener, milder side of the Arctic. The southwest coast benefits from warmer Atlantic currents, causing the sea ice to retreat here first and opening access to the spectacular fjords of Bellsund and Hornsund.

These destinations are a haven for wildlife. Icebergs drift past towering cliffs where seabirds nest in noisy colonies, while reindeer graze the lush slopes below. Snow buntings dart among the rocks, purple sandpipers forage along the shore, and sharp-eyed visitors might spot an Arctic fox stalking through the tundra — the only native land predator in the region.

Low clouds often cling to the peaks, and shifting ice can still block fjord entrances, but the area offers a wide array of landing sites. Highlights include the dramatic bird cliffs of Alkhornet and Vårsolbukta, and historic sites like Calypsobyen and Bamsebu, where trappers and adventurers once sought Arctic fortunes.

Day 9: West and Central Spitsbergen

Overnight, you'll sail into Forlandsundet, the strait between Spitsbergen and Prince Karls Forland. One of the final stops may be Poolepynten, named after British whaler Jonas Poole, and a favourite haul-out for walrus. These tusked giants lounge on the beaches in noisy herds, offering an unforgettable farewell to Svalbard’s wild side.

Surrounded by dramatic peaks, sweeping tundra and remote shores, the area invites exploration. In the afternoon, you'll turn southward and begin your journey back to Longyearbyen, keeping watch for seabirds, whales, and those final Arctic vistas as civilisation draws near.

Day 10: Disembark in Longyearbyen 

This morning, you’ll return to Longyearbyen – a bustling outpost by Arctic standards, which now feels almost like a metropolis after days in the wild. After some final time to explore and a heartfelt farewell to the crew and your fellow travellers, you’ll be free to continue your journey home, taking with you unforgettable memories of the Arctic.

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.