This 10-night itinerary will take you on a journey of polar exploration to the remote northern reaches of the Svalbard Archipelago. This vast area is filled with breath-taking fjords, snowy islands and unspoilt wilderness, home to polar bears, sunbathing walruses, whales, ring seals, birds and more.
Preparation for your journey is the key to being comfortable in the Arctic. You will need a Schengen visa to enter Norway, and while it is technically summer, the temperature will range from below zero to an average of 6°C. Please consider the wind chill factor with waterproof wear and rubber boots for zodiac and land adventures. Layering with fleece, wool or down will insulate you from the cold and offer protection from the wind. We also recommend bringing a camera for wildlife photography and binoculars for encounters from the ship or zodiac.
You will make your own international flight arrangements to Longyearbyen. Please let us know if you’d like our assistance on airline and route recommendations.
Your Arctic adventure starts in this small Norwegian town where you will be met at the airport and transferred to Funken Lodge. In the evening, Gruvelageret Restaurant will be your destination for a four-course set menu accompanied with wine pairing.
Your time aboard M/S Polarfront will be spent exploring the Svalbard Archipelago in search of Arctic wildlife and frozen landscapes. The exact itinerary will depend upon the weather conditions, the density of the pack ice in the north and wildlife opportunities.
During your Arctic safari you can expect to visit ice-filled fjords framed by breath-taking snow-capped peaks. Alongside stunning landscapes, go in search of polar bears as they hunt for seals, seek out sunbathing walrus and spot whales breaching in the icy seas. On shore you may come across Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer and beautiful Arctic flora.
Please note: The exact itinerary will depend upon the weather conditions, the density of the pack ice in the north and wildlife opportunities.
Gather in the lounge for a presentation by your Specialist leaders on the trip overview. You will also be invited up to the bridge, where you will get a lesson on how to use binoculars and spot and identify wildlife, whether birds, geological rock formations.
We head to the east flank of Isfjorden, south of Scansbukta to watch reindeer eating lichen, which forms the main part of their diet in these barren lands.
Throughout your voyage, your Specialist leaders will keep a lookout for Ursus Maritimus, also known as the walrus. They usually gather in groups to feed or nap, so this is a great opportunity to take some photographs by zodiac. Your guides will take questions and share an in-depth presentation on the physiology, habitat and behaviour once you are back on M/S Polarfront.
Your Specialist leaders will be able to arrange land adventures and hikes, where possible. Please note this is always dependent on weather, tides and animal activity. Exploring on land is a fascinating way to witness the geology, flora and fauna of Svalbard and will give you a completely different perspective from the sea-based voyaging.
Around 60 per cent of Svalbard is covered in glaciers, which make for a truly awe-inspiring sight. Throughout this voyage you will have the opportunity to view the glaciers from a safe distance, with explanations about their history, formation, calving and plight from your Specialist leaders.
Subject to weather conditions, we hope to include a visit to Kongsfjorden to admire the sharp-peaked mountains named after the countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. We will also travel across fast ice to watch ring seals sunbathe, and if we are lucky enough, a polar bear hunting for its next meal. We find civilisation again at Ny Ålesund, originally a coal mining town and the site of two unconfirmed attempts to be the first to the north pole; it is now a rather surreal scientific community complete with its own gift shop.
There are currently around 22,000 polar bears left in the wild, in a total of 19 sub-populations. Global warming and climate change are their greatest threat.
The latest figures on the number of polar bears suggest that the Svalbard Archipelago is home to around 3,000 bears, a mere 13.6 per cent of the global population. This can make it tricky to sight polar bears, but our expedition takes advantage of the best seasons to do so. The month of May brings perfect conditions as the ice has not yet melted. Later in July, we can explore further north to cover more ground where the polar bears often concentrate to hunt for seals in the remaining icy areas.
Hornsund is the southern most major fjord system on the west coast of Spitsbergen, influenced by the gyre back-current that originates in the Arctic waters to the east, and is therefore colder and holds snow and sea-ice longer than the northern fjords. This makes it the perfect playground for not only ring seals, but whales. You may observe Beluga whales in their natural habitat, while on the northside at Burgerbukta, Blue, Minke and Humpback whales have made their presence known.
You will arrive back into Longyearbyen, disembark and then time to say your final farewells and begin your journey home.
With a range of backgrounds, all of our Specialist leaders have years of experience working aboard ships in Svalbard. Whether they focus on photography, wildlife, history, culture or a mixture of all these things, they are fascinating people who will greatly add to your Arctic experience.
Andy Mann is an Emmy-nominated director, National Geographic photographer and marine conservationist whose imagery is helping tell the story of our rapidly changing planet.
Mann has worked on all seven continents, travelling the globe with world-class athletes and scientists in the name of documenting conservation and environmental change. As a lead storyteller and senior fellow for SeaLegacy and Only One, he works with students and classrooms around the world to inspire the next generation of ocean ambassadors.
Contact
Complete our enquiry form here or email us at expeditions@comohotels.com.
