The Best of Svalbard in One Week - West Svalbard Expedition Cruise

Welcome to Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Svalbard and starting point of our Arctic expedition! At the Longyearbyen airport, you will be greeted by our staff and transferred to a quality hotel, which has been arranged by us and is included in the price of the tinerary.

Take time to explore the compact, walkable town center and enjoy your first views of the surrounding Arctic landscapes.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the pier where we will warmly welcome you aboard the expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Get settled in your spacious suite and explore the ship that will be your comfortable home during the extraordinary adventure to come.

As M/V Sea Spirit sails into Isfjorden, step onto the open decks and watch the mountains and wild coastlines of Svalbard unfold beneath the midnight sun.

During these expedition days discover the highlights of western Spitsbergen: glacier-filled fjords, rugged mountains, Arctic tundra, historic sites, and the everchanging Arctic ice formations. With relatively short distances between exploration sites, the voyage is designed to make the most of each day, offering ample opportunities for shore landings, Zodiac cruises, and wildlife encounters.

There is no fixed daily schedule in the Arctic. Weather, sea ice conditions, and wildlife activity will shape our route, and our expedition team will select the most rewarding landing sites and activities each day.

In South Spitsbergen National Park, we will explore Hornsund, one of Svalbard’s most spectacular fjords, where immense glaciers descend between rugged mountain peaks. Along the southern shores of Bellsund, we will discover the remains of historic whaling operations, including old wooden boats, cabins, and thousands of whale bones — remnants of the region’s whaling history. The surrounding tundra also offers excellent hiking opportunities through landscapes rich in Arctic flora, birdlife, and fascinating geological formations.

Farther north, Northwest Spitsbergen National Park features deep fjords, immense tidewater glaciers, and dramatic sea cliffs. During the breeding season, millions of murres, guillemots, and little auks return to the islands and cliffs. Look out for whales and Arctic seals in the surrounding waters.

Our voyage will also take us to Forlandet National Park and Prins Karls Forland, one of Svalbard’s best places to observe walruses hauled out on shore. In North Isfjorden National Park, we will look for endemic Svalbard reindeer grazing across the tundra and Arctic foxes roaming the landscape. We will also visit Ny-Ålesund, a former mining settlement and airship base that is now an international center for Arctic research and one of the northernmost permanent communities in the world.

A special focus of the expedition will be exploring the Arctic sea ice. We will make every effort to approach areas of fast ice along the coast or reach the polar ice edge, taking the ship as close as conditions safely allow. These ice-covered environments offer prime opportunities to spot polar bears hunting ringed seals in their natural habitat.

After a final breakfast on board, we return to Longyearbyen, where our polar journey comes to an end. After disembarkation, join a guided sightseeing tour and discover some of Longyearbyen’s most interesting sites. We will then arrange transfers to the airport or the town center for those continuing their stay in Svalbard. The expedition may have come to an end, but the iconic landscapes, extraordinary wildlife, and serenity of the High Arctic will stay with you long after you return home.

Itineraries are subject to change.