Arctic Wonders Expedition Cruise - a full circumnavigation of Svalbard

Day 1 - UK - Oslo

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Oslo.

Day 2 - Oslo

We’ll spend the morning enjoying an Oslo city tour. The highlight will undoubtedly be our visit to the Fram Museum, which showcases the history of Norwegian Arctic exploration. The centrepiece of the museum is the imposing Fram ship - the very vessel our expedition ship is named after. The strongest wooden ship ever built, the Fram took explorers on expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic. Find out more about these expeditions and take the chance to step onto the Fram for yourself, where you can have a nose inside cabins, lounges and the engine room. The afternoon is free to relax and explore Oslo. Perhaps visit the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet - the views from the rooftop are amazing - or the National Museum, which houses an incredible collection of art (including Edvard Munch’s The Scream).

Day 3 - Oslo - Longyearbyen

Transfer to the airport for our flight across the Arctic Circle to Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town and the ‘capital’ of the Svalbard archipelago. Longyearbyen is a colourful frontier settlement on the edge of the Arctic wilderness, where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles. Once a coal mining town, it’s now predominantly home to research scientists, students at the University Centre in Svalbard, and those working in tourism. If you have time, head out to explore this special town. Tomorrow, our Arctic expedition cruise begins!

Day 4 - Longyearbyen - embark MS Fram

After breakfast, it’s time to explore Longyearbyen. The town is perfect for exploring on foot - stroll down the main street and you’ll often see Svalbard reindeer sauntering past (the first of many incredible wildlife experiences on our Arctic adventure). Although wild, they’re curious and tame, often grazing on lawns outside cafes while locals sip their cup of coffee. In the afternoon, we’ll embark MS Fram in preparation for our circumnavigation of Svalbard. Settle in and explore the ship, perhaps stopping by the onboard Science Centre to learn about everything from regional flora and fauna to sustainability initiatives in the Arctic.

Day 5 - Ny-Ålesund

Today you’ll discover the serenity of Ny-Ålesund and neighbouring fjords. One of the northernmost settlements we’ll visit on our Svalbard cruise, Ny-Ålesund was the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions north with the airship ‘Norge’, and there are reminders of his fascinating story all over town. Go ashore to explore the town or do a little hiking, or maybe join one of the expedition launches to skip across the water past majestic glaciers. With the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s geodetic station nearby, you’ll need to switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on any devices - so enjoy a day without distractions as we disconnect and immerse ourselves in our Arctic surroundings.

Days 6-7 - Northwest Spitsbergen National Park

The natural beauty and rugged tundra of Northwest Spitsbergen National Park awaits us over the next couple of days. We’ll see mountains and glaciers, rocky islets and ice-flecked coves, and scan the shores and seas for sightings of whales, seals, walruses and reindeer. If we’re lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of a polar bear from the ship’s Observation Deck. Look out for the ship’s photographer, who’ll be on hand throughout the voyage with hints and tips to help you capture the best photos possible. Be prepared for adventure at any moment - kayaking among icebergs or hopping ashore to join an Arctic beach clean-up.

Days 8-9 - Ice edge attempt

If conditions allow, we’ll sail north and cross the 80th parallel to explore the ever-changing ice edge. The transition zone between the ice cap and the sea is an incredible place where the waters are filled with ice floes and drifting pack ice. From the ship there are great opportunities for spotting wildlife, such as seals and walruses who loll lazily on the sparkling ice. And 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. The ice edge isn’t a fixed boundary, and it moves depending on the season and conditions, so visiting it will be an attempt rather than a certainty. As summer progresses, it retreats further towards the pole, meaning it may be out of reach for us. If this is the case then we’ll instead explore the no-less-impressive deep fjords, mighty glaciers and enchanting scenery of the Svalbard coast. In late July and into August, this is a time when the wildflowers appear, blanketing the landscape with a blaze of beauty and colour.

Days 10-13 - Exploring the east

This stage of our Svalbard cruise continues to be truly adventurous. If sea ice permits, we’ll continue east, exploring the pristine wilderness of northeast Svalbard before heading south in our attempt to fully circumnavigate the archipelago. Perhaps we’ll head to the immense Bråsvellbreen glacier to see waterfalls tumbling into the icy depths, or lower our small boats around Kvitøy. Every day in the east will be a new opportunity to look for elusive polar bears roaming the ice. Continuing south, we may head to Freemansundet and Kapp Lee or take our small expedition boats to Edgeøya or Barentsøya. In true expedition style, exactly where we’ll go will depend on the conditions on the day. Channel your inner explorer on exhilarating landings, hikes and kayak trips, and look out for wildlife including walruses, guillemots and gulls. And if the ice doesn’t allow us to pass to the east, you’ll experience just as much adventure: we’ll delve deeper into the wonders of western Svalbard or attempt to circumnavigate Spitsbergen through the Hinlopen Strait. We’ll take a flexible route through deep fjords and by soaring mountains, seeking out remarkable Arctic wildlife.

Days 14-15 - Hornsund - Bellsund

Our Arctic expedition cruise continues south towards Hornsund, one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Head out on deck to spot seals and whales - we may even see glaciers calving into the sea. Next, we head to Bellsund. Large colonies of auks, guillemots and northern fulmars nest high in the cliffs here, while Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer can be spotted below. Look out for the early mining settlements here and learn about Wanny Woldstad, the first female trapper. Our activities will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Hornsund and Bellsund. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day.

Day 16 - Longyearbyen - Oslo

Your Arctic cruise comes to an end back in Longyearbyen. A transfer will take you to the airport for your flight to Oslo, where you’ll have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 17 - Oslo - UK

After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.