Kingdom of the Ice Bear

Day 1: Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago, sits on West Spitsbergen, the largest island in the group. Before embarking on your Arctic ship, take some time to explore this former mining town. Highlights include the charming parish church and fascinating polar museum. The surrounding area is also surprisingly rich in plant life, with over 100 species recorded.

In the early evening, your ship will set sail through Isfjorden. As you approach the mouth of the fjord, keep an eye out – you might spot your first minke whale.

Days 2 to 7: Exploring Spitsbergen

Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, you’ll take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers and often visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation and the possibility of polar bears.

Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5 km (3.1 mile) long face of the jaw-droppingly sheer Monaco Glacier. The waters fronting this monolith are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, while the base is a popular polar bear haunt.

If ice conditions prevent sailing here early in the season, an alternate route is along the west coast of Spitsbergen. 

Your northernmost point on this trip may take you beyond Nordaustlandet, into the remote Seven Islands. Here, you could reach as far as 80° north – just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. At Phippsøya, you might spot walruses hauled out on the beach, while Rossøya marks the northernmost landmass in Spitsbergen.  

You’ll venture into the pack ice, far from Spitsbergen’s coast, where you can watch for polar bears and other wildlife patrolling the icy edges. Depending on the conditions, your journey through the ice could last several days.  

While you're in the pack ice, you won’t go ashore or take excursions off the ship, but the real magic lies in the wildlife. This is a prime habitat for creatures that thrive in frozen landscapes: think polar bears, seals, and even whales.

After your time deep in the ice, you’ll retrace your route west, keeping a lookout for more polar bears, ringed seals, and if you're lucky, the elusive Greenland (bowhead) whale. You’ll also sail through territory favoured by ivory gulls. About 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of Spitsbergen, you’ll cross the edge of the continental shelf – an area where fin whales come to forage during summer, drawn by the nutrient-rich upwelling zones of the Spitsbergen banks. Near the mouth of Kongsfjorden, keep a watch for minke whales, too.

Walruses sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet, your next stop. Alternatively, you might sail south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet, where several species of rorqual whales are sometimes seen.

Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation Another possible landing is the glacier front at Ymerbukta, where you can spot gatherings of eider ducks – king, common, and possibly Steller’s – all in one place.

Day 8: Disembark in Longyearbyen

Leave your ship one last time in Longyearbyen, ready to make your journey home. A transfer to the airport is included as part of your travel package.  

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.