Experience the wilderness of Svalbard on this extraordinary expedition with Tour Leader Helen Bryon. In this remarkable, unspoiled landscape, you’ll witness a spectacular icy coastline with endless opportunities for wildlife spotting.
We're operating this voyage early in the season, helping us enjoy unique Arctic scenery, a wintry landscape and near 24-hour light. This contrasts with most summer expeditions, where the sea ice can be a long way north of the island of Spitsbergen, and the landscape loses its snowy charm. In May, the polar bear yearlings venture out for the first time, the Arctic foxes and the Svalbard reindeer still wear their winter coats and walruses, and several species of seals can be seen. There is also the possibility of seeing cetaceans and numerous seabirds.
The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a splendid landscape of towering mountain peaks. On a clear day we may see the summit of the highest mountain, Hornsundtind, measuring 1,431 metres. Hornsund is a favourite haunt for some of Svalbard’s bearded seals, who are often seen resting on the fjord ice, usually under the watchful eye of nearby polar bears.
We're delighted to be chartering the MS Sjøveien. This small vessel allows us to easily navigate the icy Arctic waters and take us to some of the region’s most spectacular areas. The vessel is classic in style, accommodating a maximum of 12 passengers. The vessel boasts two Zodiacs, providing plenty of space to soak up the magical Svalbard scenery.
If you are interested in a dedicated photography voyage, we also offer our Svalbard Photo Expedition with wildlife photographer Bret Charman.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Embarkation
On arrival in Longyearbyen we are transferred to the quayside, where we board our exclusively chartered vessel for our 7-night voyage.
Accommodation: MS Sjøveien, 7-nights
Days2-7: Expedition cruising around Svalbard
The itinerary for the duration of our cruise is flexible and dependent on a variety of factors. The weather and ice conditions will likely dictate where we can navigate, but we will do our utmost to maximise your experience.
Our ambition is to head out on Zodiac cruises every day and go ashore when the opportunity arises. A typical day will usually start with breakfast followed by a Zodiac cruise or landing, we’ll return to the ship for lunch and then head out again in the afternoon, perhaps to admire one of the many spectacular fjords or to search for wildlife. If there is the opportunity to land ashore, we may be able to try snowshoeing, as it is likely hiking will be limited due to the snow.
Places we might visit include:
Prins Karls Forland, a narrow island covered by a magnificent snow-clad mountain chain, home to countless seabirds and a popular spot for harbour seals.
Danskoya is the largest island in the archipelago and the location from which two courageous attempts were made to reach the North Pole. Remnants from these expeditions can still be seen on the island, making this an interesting historical stop (weather permitting).
Svalbard offers countless spectacular fjords, and during our journey, we hope to explore several of them including Liefdefjorden, meaning 'The fjord of love', home to the magnificent Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest in the area, and if lucky, we could see the rare king eider. In Krossfjorden we hope to witness the impressive face of the 14th July Glacier, which is a mighty 16 kilometres long and reaches more than 30 metres above sea level. If weather permits, we will be greeted with the raucous reception of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots, which nest on nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is another area we hope to explore, dominated by immense natural beauty. It is also a favourite spot for seals, and the bird cliffs here are bursting with activity. In South-west Spitsbergen, we may visit the grand fjords of Hornsund, offering a breathtaking landscape filled with dramatic glaciers and towering mountain peaks.
The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund, situated in Kongsfjorden, is the world’s northernmost settlement, and weather permitting, we hope to stop here too. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole.
Day8: Disembarkation
Early morning we disembark our expedition vessel and begin our journey back home.
Please note: The itinerary may change during the voyage due to weather, sea and ice conditions as well as recent wildlife sighting reports.
Key info
Duration and price excluding international flights: 8 daysfrom £7,995 ppSingle cabin from: £10,795
A member of the Wildlife Worldwide team, Helen is a qualified South African safari guide who following a trip to Baja California, discovered a passion for cetaceans.
Extending her marine mammal knowledge accordingly, she has also turned her attention to improving her ornithological knowledge throughout the different destinations she leads to, including South America and Europe. With her boundless energy, enthusiasm and eye for perfection, Helen will ensure you get the most from your time on her trips whilst sharing her passion for wildlife.
High above the Arctic Circle lies the remarkable archipelago known in Norwegian as Svalbard. Spitsbergen, the main island, means 'jagged peaks' and befits this remarkable land with its spectacular coastline, littered with glaciers flowing into the sea, and high cliffs with endless opportunities for viewing wildlife.
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MS Sjøveien is the perfect polar cruise vessel for exploring the Arctic wilderness in the summer months. With a fantastic level of comfort in its varied cabins and even a hot tub, there is no better way to enjoy a polar expedition in some of the world’s remotest corners.
Find Out More about MS Sjøveien
