Realm of the Polar Bear

Embark in the afternoon and depart Longyearbyen in the evening.

Our itinerary over these days is dependent on ice, sea and weather conditions and will be determined on a day by day basis - this is true expedition sailing. We will visit ice-covered fjords with breathtaking mountain scenery and glaciers. Spend time sailing through the ice in search of polar bears hunting seals. At one or more of the stops, we hope to see Arctic fox and Svalbard's unique reindeer.

Ice conditions sometimes allow us to sail through Hinlopen Strait towards the east coast of Spitsbergen, then through Freemansundet towards the south. However this is not always the case and on many departures we decide to explore alternative routes to maximise our time in this remote destination. Early season voyages often provide the greatest opportunity to see large ice floes in the Arctic pack ice, which usually means excellent wildlife viewing. Later in the season we can cover more territory, which may allow us to explore the entire archipelago. This can lead us to the less explored regions of Nordaustlandet and Kvitoya, or the continental edges where large whales are attracted by nutrient rich upwellings.

All the time, we are on the lookout for wildlife and with near 24 hour daylight, there are lots of opportunities, so be prepared to be called at any time for close up polar bear or whale sightings. We will also see lots of birds, including hopefully, the rare and lovely ivory gull, plus little auks, guillemots, puffins and more.

Arrive in the morning to disembark.