Svalbard & Norway in Style

Day 1: Arrive in Oslo

Your Arctic journey begins in Norway’s vibrant capital. After arriving in Oslo, settle into your hotel – your stay here is included in the travel package. Take the opportunity to explore this scenic city framed by forests and fjords, or simply relax ahead of the adventure to come.

Day 2: Fly to Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Board your included charter flight to Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in Svalbard and gateway to the High Arctic. Nestled deep within the Isfjorden, this town offers a curious mix of Arctic wilderness and modern comfort, with shops, cafés and museums all within walking distance. Soak in the surreal setting of life on the edge of the world before embarking on your cruise and setting sail on your adventure. 

Days 3 to 5: Exploring Northern Svalbard

During these three action-packed days, you’ll head into the wilder reaches of Svalbard’s northern region, an area where sea ice is more prevalent and landscapes feel truly remote. You’ll explore dramatic fjords and glacier-filled bays, perhaps navigating around Nordaustlandet and the icy Hinlopen Strait. This region is known for walrus haulouts, bird cliffs buzzing with life and the potential to spot polar bears roaming the ice. Your route will remain flexible, guided by ice and wildlife sightings.

Days 6 to 8: Traversing Southern Svalbard

Svalbard’s southern reaches are shaped by the warmer currents of the Gulf Stream, creating easier access to some of Spitsbergen’s most fascinating fjords. These waters have long drawn trappers, hunters and mining ventures – many of their stories still linger in the scattered remains of huts and machinery. 

Depending on the season, you might land near calving glaciers, encounter seals on the ice or sail into Hornsund, where sheer rock faces and sculptural glaciers dominate the view. Seabirds soar overhead, and the Arctic silence is broken only by cracking ice or the splash of a diving seal.

Day 9: Zodiac cruising around Bear Island

Located midway between Svalbard and mainland Norway, Bear Island is a wildlife sanctuary with towering cliffs and nesting colonies of seabirds. You’ll cruise by Zodiac along steep rock faces near Kapp Kolthoff, where kittiwakes, guillemots, puffins and auks crowd the ledges. Look out for northern gannets and great skuas, too.

The island is remote, battered by the sea and hauntingly beautiful; it’s an Arctic outpost with a long human history of hunting, whaling and coal mining. Beneath the cliffs, you may also glimpse the slowly eroding wreck of the Petrozavodsk.

Day 10: Exploring Skarsvåg & the North Cape

Step ashore in Skarsvåg, the world’s northernmost fishing village, home to just 60 hardy residents and a surprisingly rich array of birdlife. From here, visit the legendary North Cape (Nordkapp), Europe’s northernmost point, where only Svalbard lies between you and the North Pole.

Stand beside the iconic globe monument and gaze out over the Barents Sea in endless daylight. If you’re up for a walk, you may be able to hike out to Cape Knivskjellodden for a striking view back toward the North Cape Plateau. This land of the midnight sun is stark, strange and utterly captivating.

Day 11: Disembarking in Tromsø

Your voyage ends this morning in the Arctic capital of Tromsø. Despite its high latitude, Tromsø buzzes with life, thanks to its university, lively culture and cosmopolitan energy. Surrounded by jagged peaks and deep fjords, this city is known as one of the best places on Earth to witness the Northern Lights. 

Ride the cable car up to Storsteinen for a panoramic view or explore the town’s excellent museums. The Polar Museum tells tales of Arctic hunting and exploration, while the Science Centre explores the science behind the aurora. If you have time, visit the world’s northernmost botanical garden before heading home.

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.

The 28th May, 29th June, and 17th July 2026 departures operate in the reverse direction of the itinerary above, embarking in Tromsø, Norway, and disembarking in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.