Beyond the Arctic Circle: Chasing the Midnight Sun

After breakfast at your hotel, the morning is yours to enjoy Tromsø. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and picturesque fjords, this vibrant Arctic city has a rich history of polar exploration. Take advantage of the opportunity to stroll through the charming city center, shop for souvenirs, or pick up some last-minute necessities such as cold-weather gear. Just remember, you will soon receive your very own parka to keep and waterproof boots to borrow on board the ship. For lunch, Tromsø offers a variety of cafés and restaurants where you can enjoy local Norwegian cuisine.

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 into your spacious suite and explore the ship that will be your comfortable home during the extraordinary adventure to come. After getting underway, a full schedule of events kicks off with informative briefings and introductions from your expedition staff. After the first of many delicious dinners on board, step out onto the open decks to admire the spectacular coastal scenery of northern Norway as we begin our Arctic voyage.

Leaving the coast of northern Norway behind, we sail north across the Barents Sea towards the remote islands of Svalbard. Along the way, we keep watch for seabirds soaring above the waves and marine wildlife that may appear in these Arctic waters. From the ship’s open decks, enjoy the vast Arctic seascapes as our expedition team introduces us to the fascinating wildlife, history, and unique environment of the region. Informative presentations and briefings prepare us for the adventures ahead. 

Far out in the Barents Sea lies Bjørnøya, or Bear Island, one of the Arctic’s most fascinating and remote destinations. Its dramatic cliffs are home to impressive seabird colonies, while the surrounding waters provide a rich habitat for marine wildlife, including bearded seals. Polar bears are also known to visit the island, following the drifting sea ice. With its rugged coastline, spectacular birdlife, and ever-changing Arctic conditions, Bear Island embodies the wild, untamed spirit of polar exploration.

The itinerary for this voyage focuses on the spectacular fjords, coasts and islands of western Spitsbergen, the main island of the Svalbard archipelago. This area contains Svalbard’s most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Our exact schedule and route will be shaped by the weather and ice conditions we encounter. Polar bears and other iconic Arctic animals can be spotted at anytime, anywhere in our area of exploration.

Also on our route is Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the crown jewel of Svalbard’s scenic wonders. Here we find deep fjords flanked by serrated mountain peaks and immense tidewater glaciers calving icebergs into turquoise waters. The whole area is alive with migratory Arctic seabirds. On this voyage, we are just in time to witness the return of millions of murres, guillemots and little auks to the small islands, mountainsides and sea cliffs where they breed within the park. This is also a great area to encounter marine mammals, including various kinds of whales and Arctic seals. Set among this incredible scenery and wildlife activity, we also find evidence of Svalbard’s earliest sealers and whalers.

Our area of exploration also includes gorgeous Forlandet National Park. Here we find Prins Karls Forland, one of the best places in Svalbard to observe herds of walrus hauled out on land. Also along the route is North Isfjorden National Park, where we have the chance to observe endemic Svalbard reindeer grazing and Arctic fox romping in lush tundra meadows.
Human habitation along our route can be found at Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town and airship base that is now home to an international community of Arctic researchers. This is one of the world's northernmost settlements, where we find a museum, gift shop and post office.

From Ny-Ålesund, we continue north via historic Smeerenburg and make a special effort to reach the edge of the polar pack ice. We also hope to assess conditions in Hinlopen Strait, which is often closed by sea ice at this time of year but may occasionally be accessible.

At this dynamic boundary between solid sea ice and open ocean, we have an unparalleled opportunity to witness the dramatic interplay between polar bears and seals. While many voyages spend only a short time at the ice edge, our goal is to maximize our time in this extraordinary environment and, conditions permitting, spend at least two days exploring along the ice. To preserve this flexibility, we keep several northern sites in reserve, allowing the expedition leader to adapt our route according to the prevailing ice and weather conditions while prioritizing time in the most rewarding wildlife habitat. We will take the ship as close as safely possible to the jumbled and constantly shifting ice floes in the hope of observing polar bears hunting in their preferred habitat.

The West Svalbard and Polar Ice Edge route offers a stunning variety of Arctic landscapes and animals with minimal sailing time between excursions. Every day offers something new and exciting. We will not miss a single opportunity to encounter amazing Arctic wildlife, to witness incredible polar scenery, and to walk in the footsteps of historic expeditions that came before.

After enjoying one final breakfast buffet on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard and final destination of our expedition. After disembarkation, a captivating sightseeing tour awaits you, showcasing some of the most interesting locations in the world's northernmost city. We provide transfers to the airport or to the town center in case you plan to stay longer in Svalbard.