Voyage to the Arctic & Svalbard

Our Norwegian adventure starts in earnest this morning with a city tour (flight time dependent*). Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, we'll gain a fascinating insight into the city's rich heritage and life today while viewing all its major attractions. We'll see the modern Opera House - with its marble-embellished slanted roof, which is meant to be walked on. Explore Oslo's best shopping district, Karl Johans Gate, and visit the old and new royal residences: the medieval Akershus Castle and Fortress and the opulent Royal Palace, built in the early 19th century. We'll also have a short stop to visit the Holmenkollen Ski Jump, an impressive landmark used in the 1952 Winter Olympics.

This afternoon, we'll fly to Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost town which sits on the archipelago of Svalbard, north of mainland Norway. We’ll have a one-night stay here. This unique place on the edge of the Arctic wilderness is a colourful frontier settlement - there are as many snowmobiles here as there are people! You may wish to explore independently before enjoying a light dinner with your fellow travellers.

*Please note: If a morning flight to Longyearbyen is arranged, your Oslo city tour will take place on an alternative day. 

After breakfast, there's time at leisure to explore Longyearbyen. Situated in a valley on the shores of the idyllic Adventfjord, surrounded by steep mountains and several glaciers, the tiny metropolis may look harsh and industrial against the backdrop of such natural beauty, but it's known for its hospitality and comfort. For such a remote town, there are a surprising number of shops, restaurants and bars - it even has its own brewery and chocolaterie! This morning why not enjoy a stroll down the town’s main street? You might even see a Svalbard reindeer saunter by - despite being wild, they’re very curious creatures!

After an included buffet style lunch at the hotel, we'll visit the Svalbard Museum - this award-winning museum is the perfect introduction to the Arctic flora and fauna we'll see later on our trip and provides fascinating insights into the history of the area.

After ample time to soak in the information at the museum, we'll enjoy a scenic drive into the Advent Valley to visit the unique Camp Barentz. Here you will meet some huskies before being welcomed into the ‘Gammen’ - a traditional round building with seating for the whole group. A hot drink and tasty snack await whilst the host provides a presentation on the local life and the King of the Arctic – the polar bear. 

Returning to Longyearbyen, we'll board MS Fram and begin our exciting Arctic voyage.

*The content of your excursion in Longyearbyen is subject to change

Our first full day aboard MS Fram will take us towards one of Svalbard's most beautiful fjords - Hornsund, located on the western side of the southernmost tip of northern Norway's Spitsbergen Island.

Opening into a number of beautiful, sheltered bays, as we sail closer the scenery changes from rich, colourful vegetation to towering snow-capped mountains, including the jagged peak of Mount Honsundtind. Between steep glaciers and cliff walls are surprisingly green patches of tundra that draw Arctic foxes and reindeer. If we're lucky, we may spot seals and even whales breaching the water.

As we cruise, you might spot the remains of 17th-century blubber ovens and whaler's graves, a grim reminder of the region's history as a whaling zone. (B,L,D)

*Please note the order of activities in Hornsund and Bellsund (Days 4 & 5) is dependent on the ever-changing weather, sea and local conditions. Our knowledgeable Expedition Team will decide the best possible itinerary on the day. 

We'll continue cruising today through the Arctic sound of Bellsund, which separates Nordenskiöld Land to the north and Wedel Jarlsberg Land to the south. While it's sometimes referred to as a fjord, it is indeed a sound - a smaller body of water usually connected to a sea or an ocean, deeper than a bight and wider than a fjord.

From whaling activity in the 17th century to mining in the early 20th century, ruins of past human interference can be seen dotted along the shoreline but, for the most part, Bellsund offers even more classic Nordic natural beauty - snow-capped mountains, glaciers and tundra – and is home to noisy colonies of birds. Auks, guillemots and northern fulmars make their breeding homes on the cliffs found to the west of the sound, and their resulting faecal matter acts as a fertiliser creating the green tundra below, which in turn is home to Arctic foxes and herds of reindeer, and polar bears.

As we explore today, you'll hear more about Svalbard's first female trapper (the term for someone who hunts and fishes in the Arctic) Wanny Woldstad.

*Please note the order of activities in Hornsund and Bellsund (Days 4 & 5) is dependent on the ever-changing weather, sea and local conditions. Our knowledgeable Expedition Team will decide the best possible itinerary on the day. 

Turning our sights north, we'll make our way through the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park over the next couple of days.

We'll sail through the tranquil waters of the Magdelenefjorden, where towering cliffs and glistening glaciers create a striking backdrop as you navigate through Sørgattet, the southern gateway to the pristine Smeerenburgfjord. As the midnight sun casts an ethereal glow across the landscape, you'll have ample opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning vistas and explore this incredible area in depth. Over the course of the next two days, you will embark on a journey through the rugged wilderness of the national park, characterized by its unique tundra ecosystem. The landscape teems with life; keep your eyes peeled for the playful seals sunbathing on ice floes, the majestic walruses resting on rocky shores, and herds of reindeer gracefully traversing the terrain. Each encounter offers a glimpse into the thriving wildlife that calls this remarkable place home.

* Please note the order of activities in Northwest Spitsbergen National Park (Days 6 & 7) is dependent on the ever-changing weather, sea and local conditions. Our Expedition Team will decide the best itinerary on the day. 

As we venture further into the park, you will be captivated by the freezing glaciers flowing from rugged mountains, their ice-blue hues reflecting the sunlight. The sheer cliffs and dramatic rock formations provide a striking contrast to the serene waters of the fjords, creating a picturesque setting that is truly breathtaking.

Keep your eyes on the shoreline: Though polar bears can be elusive, your patience may reward you with a rare sighting of these magnificent creatures - especially during the early part of the season when they are more actively foraging on the ice. Both Days 6 and 7 bring new adventures and opportunities for wildlife observation. Nature can be unpredictable but in this remote region unforgettable moments are all but guaranteed.

* Please note the order of activities in Northwest Spitsbergen National Park (Days 6 & 7) is dependent on the ever-changing weather, sea and local conditions. Our Expedition Team will decide the best itinerary on the day. 

Today, if conditions allow, you'll join an exclusive list of people who have crossed the 80th parallel. The circle of latitude that is 80 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane, and 10 degrees - you'll be just 10 degrees away from the North Pole ... just a short 690 miles to go!

The transition zone between the ice cap and the sea reveals a magical yet ephemeral landscape, where vibrant turquoise waters are interspersed with ice floes and gently drifting pack ice. From the ship, this captivating landscape offers great opportunities for spotting wildlife, such as seals and walruses who lounge contentedly on the ice. If the conditions are right, we’ll lower our expedition boats into the water and enjoy an unforgettable close-up experience amid the floating ice. 

We'll also attempt to visit the ice edge - a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Also known as the marginal ice zone, the ice edge is the area where the Arctic's sea ice meets the open ocean. It's not a fixed location; it moves depending on the season and conditions, so visiting it is not guaranteed!

If the ice edge is beyond reach, instead we'll explore the no-less-impressive deep fjords, mighty glaciers and enchanting scenery of the Svalbard coast.

Further north than Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund is THE northernmost town, consisting of scientific stations, a post office and a single shop. Its remoteness isn't merely geographical, it's technologically remote too. Thanks to the nearby Norwegian Mapping Authority’s geodetic station, it's illegal to use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth - which is common in computers, mobile phones, smart watches, cameras, and even hearing aids!

We'll venture to the beautiful Kongsfjord, a former mining town near Ny-Ålesund, to explore its history. While 17th century whalers had found coal on the beach here, it wasn't until the 20th century that mining began, but it never went smoothly and was abandoned in 1962.

The town was also the starting point for Roald Amundsen's expeditions north with the airship ‘Norge’ and it remains a hub for global science and climate research.

Say goodbye to MS Flam and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Oslo. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to a hotel for your overnight stay and to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Why not make the most of the evening sunshine and take a stroll along the waterfront or enjoy dinner at one of the numerous excellent restaurants in the city centre.