Photographic journey to Spitsbergen

Your Arctic journey begins in Oslo, Norway’s lively capital. The following day, you will fly to the Svalbard capital, where you will board your expedition ship.

You will sail along the coasts of this striking island in search of polar bears and other natural wonders. As you make your way through western Spitsbergen, the expedition will give you ample opportunity to observe a unique landscape, wildlife and flora. When sailing north into Krossfjord, keep your camera close at hand to capture Spitsbergen’s finest icebergs. At the head of the fjord, the highly active Lilliehöök glacier awaits. Listen for the impressive roar as huge blocks of ice calve into the frigid waters below. After a Zodiac excursion to Ny-London, an abandoned mining settlement, you can explore the site on foot during a guided visit. You will likely come across wild animals here, including the Svalbard reindeer, endemic to the archipelago.

After sailing through the night, wake up to the striking Monaco Glacier, another prolific producer of icebergs. To make the adventure even more engaging, help your expedition team spot marine mammals along the coast and at the ice edge. Landings may take place at Texas Bar, Worsleyneset and Andøya Island (where polar bears roam). At the 80th parallel north, you will reach a walrus sanctuary on the tiny island of Moffen. Observing these massive, lumbering herds from the ship is an experience not to be missed: keep your binoculars ready.
At Smeerenburg, you will discover an abandoned settlement established by Dutch whalers nearly 400 years ago. At this outpost, one of the northernmost in Europe, you will have time to explore the shoreline and learn about the history of whaling in Spitsbergen. Sailing on toward Magdalenefjord, you will take in panoramas of snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers reflected in crystal-clear waters.
On the final day of your Arctic adventure, you may visit the Russian mining town of Barentsburg, home to the world’s northernmost brewery. You will then end the day at Alkehornet, admiring the towering cliffs teeming with nesting seabirds such as fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots. In the evening, you will share a last exchange with your fellow travellers and the crew at the captain’s dinner.

Then comes the time to say goodbye. This marks the end of your adventure and your return to the starting point, the frontier settlement of Longyearbyen. We will take you to the airport for your return flight to Helsinki.

Depending on departure dates, the expedition vessel will be the Ultramarine or the Ocean Adventurer.

IMPORTANT REMINDER
Embracing the unexpected is part of the concept and the appeal of this expedition. On any journey to remote regions, the expedition team must weigh several factors — sea and ice conditions as well as weather — before deciding on the precise route. The itinerary described here is provided for guidance only and aims to give an overview of the possible adventures of this journey. No specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same logic, we cannot guarantee the presence of all the wildlife described in this brochure, even though every effort is made to spot it. Your expedition team will draw on extensive experience observing wildlife in its natural habitat, but the presence of certain bird or marine animal species cannot be guaranteed.