Polar Bear Photo Safari Cruise

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN HELSINKI, FINLAND
Your Arctic adventure begins in Helsinki, renowned for its extraordinary architecture and intriguing blend of Eastern and Western influences. If you arrive early, explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax in a Finnish sauna or wander through the vibrant Design District before retiring to your hotel, included in your package.

DAY 2 - EMBARKATION AT LONGYEARBYEN, SVALBARD
This morning, the group is taken to the airport and boards our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, the largest town in Svalbard, which you'll have time to explore before boarding the ship. On departure, catch your first glimpse of the island's steep mountains, crowned with glaciers and rising majestically from the icy waters.

DAYS 3 TO 13 - EXPLORING SPITSBERGEN
Spitsbergen holds an untouched beauty waiting to be discovered. On this unique cruise, you'll sail along the west coast of this striking island, exploring coastal fjords and outlying islets. Each expedition is unique, shaped by weather and ice conditions, but we hope to visit some of our favourite landing sites, chosen both for their prime wildlife-watching potential and for their striking scenery, history and hiking opportunities. With no fixed itinerary (unusual among polar cruises), our primary goal will be to sail in constant search of polar bears. This means we won't move the ship every day as on classic voyages, especially if we find abundant wildlife in one spot. Like true explorers, we let the wildlife and the ice - not a fixed schedule - guide our course!

Our small expedition ship lets us navigate shallower waters and tighter spaces, so we hope to explore the harder-to-reach areas frequented by the elusive polar bear. Onboard expert talks will prepare you for the adventures ahead, and with continuous daylight at this time of year, photo opportunities abound. You'll have ample time to linger and photograph the bears we find on the sea ice, but they're not the only wildlife we hope to encounter. The food-rich waters attract walruses, whales and seabirds, so keep your binoculars close throughout the cruise. Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer may also be spotted during Zodiac excursions ashore - a haven for today's explorers, Spitsbergen and its surroundings offer unforgettable polar experiences that will keep you and your camera busy for the entire expedition. Although 60% of the landscape is covered by glaciers and most of the terrain is mountainous, Spitsbergen (meaning “pointed mountains”) surprises visitors with stretches of colourful tundra bursting with wildflowers in summer. Optional hiking activities let you observe the abundant wildlife up close - but never intrusively.

By the end of the day, you'll have plenty of photos and exciting stories to share with your fellow travellers.

DAY 14 - DISEMBARKATION AT LONGYEARBYEN AND RETURN FLIGHT TO HELSINKI
Your adventure ends in the town of Longyearbyen, with its frontier-settlement atmosphere. We take you to the airport for your return charter flight to Helsinki.