Svalbard: Northbound to the Midnight Sun

This eight day expedition from Longyearbyen takes you into Svalbard’s midnight summer, combining flexible routing with intense nature experiences. The focus is on Arctic wildlife and impressive landscapes, from fjords and glacier fronts to historic whaling sites, while the expedition team always sets the route and landings on site according to weather and ice conditions. Wildlife sightings are possible, but cannot be guaranteed.

Svalbard: Northbound to the Midnight Sun, The Itinerary

Day 1: Embarkation in Longyearbyen
The journey begins in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town on Earth. After arrival, crisp polar air, striking mountains and the notice about polar bears shape the atmosphere at the edge of the wilderness. The travel services begin with dinner. Afterwards, you leave the harbor and head away from civilization, setting course for the Arctic archipelago.

All pictures of this partner

Days 2 to 3: Northwest Spitsbergen
In the northwest of Spitsbergen, the route leads through the national park of the same name, which has been protected since 1973 and preserves traces of earlier voyages of discovery and whaling. In places such as Smeerenburg, relics like blubber ovens and graves recall the era of Dutch and English whalers, while nature has reclaimed many areas. During the brief Arctic summer weeks, Arctic flowers, dense seabird colonies, and, with good chances, walruses can regularly be seen here. Polar bears are also repeatedly sighted in this region, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Day 4: Northeast Spitsbergen
In the morning, the expedition reaches the northeast of Spitsbergen, a cool polar desert without the moderating influence of warm ocean currents. Massive glaciers push their way right into ice filled waters, the coasts appear barren and yet are full of life, Arctic foxes roam the shores, while hundreds of thousands of seabirds breed on the cliffs. In the cold coastal waters there is an abundance of shellfish, which is why walruses are common in this area. Which bays, landings, or sailing routes are possible is decided depending on sea, wind, and ice, and makes the expedition character of this stage particularly clear.

Day 5: Northern Spitsbergen
Farther north, the view turns to some of the northernmost land points on Earth, almost permanently shaped by ice. With a bit of luck, Nordaustlandet or the small islands of Sjuøyane are reached, around 1000 kilometers north of the North Cape. If weather and conditions permit, landings and short walks are possible on the rocky islands that are nearly free of vegetation, where mainly mosses, hardy tundra plants, and lichens grow. In this zone, birdlife is often striking, including waders, as well as breeding terns and skuas. Toward the end of the day, the voyage begins in the direction of the Arctic pack ice, which stretches from Spitsbergen to the North Pole.

Day 6: In the Pack Ice
North of Spitsbergen, the vastness of the pack ice opens up, a constantly shifting habitat that stretches all the way to the North Pole and further towards Alaska and Siberia. At first glance the icy landscape seems empty, yet beneath and between the floes a food chain thrives, from small fish like species to seals and seabirds, and belugas and bowhead whales also occur in these waters. Polar bears use the pack ice in summer as their preferred habitat, but they remain shy and are only seen with good chances. The passage through narrow ice leads requires patience and careful observation, while the route continually adapts to the conditions.

Day 7: Kongsfjorden Area
During the Arctic night in the midnight sun summer, the ship enters Kongsfjorden, a widely branching fjord system set against glacier backdrops and the striking Three Crowns mountains. A visit to Ny Ålesund is planned, the northernmost settlement on Earth, known for its research stations. The place is also linked to the history of great polar expeditions, among others as a base for Amundsen and Nansen. In this setting, landscape, science, and the history of exploration come together to form a calm, focused stage of the journey.

Day 8: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen
On the last morning, the expedition reaches Longyearbyen again. After days in seclusion, even the small town feels surprisingly lively. After breakfast, the travel services end. This is followed by disembarkation and the individual transfer to Svalbard Airport for the return journey to mainland Norway.

Special features:
The journey has an expedition character and depends on sea state, wind, and ice. Decisions about landings, Zodiac cruises, and route sections are made on site by the expedition team to ensure safety and respect for the environment. Wildlife sightings depend on conditions and cannot be promised, especially polar bears in the pack ice. In Longyearbyen and at selected places such as Ny Ålesund, visits follow local rules and protection regulations. The journey passes through sensitive habitats, including national park areas and Arctic coastal zones, where a respectful distance from animals and historic remains must be maintained.
Show all dates