West Spitsbergen & Polar Ice Edge aboard the Sea Spirit
Arctic Wildlife Safari
Overview
The Norwegian Arctic island of Spitsbergen, in the famed Svalbard archipelago, is home to dramatic mountain scenery, tidewater glaciers, and some of the Arctic's best wildlife viewing opportunities—walrus, Arctic fox, reindeer, a variety of whales and seals, and the polar bear, the world's largest land carnivore and a symbol of the imperiled Arctic wilderness. And this is one of the best places in the world to view them! On this expedition, you'll venture to the jumbled edge of the north polar ice cap in search of them stalking their prey in their preferred habitat: the pack ice. Here, at the dynamic boundary between ice and sea, you'll have a rare opportunity to experience raw nature and incredible events hardly ever seen. The unique Arctic ecosystem of Spitsbergen is almost entirely protected in a network of nature reserves and national parks. Nordre Isfjorden Nasjonalpark, Forlandet Nasjonalpark, and the spectacular Nordvest-Spitsbergen Nasjonalpark—each has its own claim to Svalbard's magnificent natural history. Optional sea kayaking adventures allow you to explore rugged coastlines and remote waters that very few people have ever paddled.
Arrive: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Depart: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Highlights
- By land and sea, encounter a wealth of wildlife in one of the High Arctic's most pristine and protected environments
- Search for polar bears hunting in the pack ice
- Explore historical sites including early whaling camps, trappers' cabins, deserted coal mining operations, and an abandoned polar research station
- Optional sea kayaking near tidewater glaciers and icebergs
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
Welcome to Longyearbyen, the Arctic adventure capital of the Norwegian territory of Svalbard and starting point of the expedition. After arriving via scheduled commercial flight, you are free to explore this small but fascinating settlement. Be sure to see the excellent Svalbard Museum and enjoy the shops, cafes, and restaurants in the town center. Your hotel for the night is included in the price of the voyage.
Embark on the M/V Sea Spirit in the afternoon; transfers from the hotel are included. Explore the ship and get comfortable in your home-away-from-home for the extraordinary adventure to come. The long days of summer sunlight illuminate your surroundings as the ship slips its moorings and sails into a true wilderness where wildlife abounds. The scenery while sailing through Isfjorden is spectacular and there is already the possibility of marine mammal encounters.
As this is a real expedition in a true High Arctic wilderness, the route and exploration opportunities are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice conditions encountered. The experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented by nature in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic.
Polar bears and other quintessential Arctic wildlife can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Svalbard. Every opportunity is exploited to experience excellent wildlife viewing, to discover incredible scenery, and to walk in the footsteps of the historic polar expeditions that came here in the past.
You can anticipate exploring the spectacular fjords, coasts, and islands in the northwestern part of Svalbard. This area contains the archipelago's most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic's best wildlife viewing opportunities. Deep fjords and narrow channels are flanked by jagged snowy mountain peaks. Immense tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into turquoise waters. On ice floes and on fast ice several species of seals watch vigilantly for polar bears. Fields of flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox. Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to walrus and a wide variety of whales. The whole area is alive with migratory birds, including numerous rare species, taking advantage of summer's fecundity in 24-hour daylight.
And over it all presides the polar bear, monarch of the North. This wild corner of Svalbard is one of the best places in the world to observe polar bears hunting in their preferred habitat: the pack ice. The ship sails as close as safely possible to the jumbled and broken edge of the polar ice cap, where polar bears stalk the frozen sea in search of seals.
To complete the Arctic experience you'll also explore places rich with history. The area of exploration contains the historical remnants of whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers' cabins, staging areas for historic attempts to discover the North Pole, and even an abandoned polar research station.
Human habitation in this area can be found only at Ny Ålesund, a former mining town that is now home to an international community of Arctic researchers. This is one of the world's most northerly settlements, complete with museum, gift shop, and post office.
The days are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by experts, and enough stunning scenery and wildlife to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions.
After breakfast, bid farewell in the town of Longyearbyen, where the expedition started. A transfer is provided to the airport or to the town center if you wish to spend more time here. As you look back on your wonderful experience in Svalbard, you may already be looking forward to your next incredible adventure to the ice!
The goal for this voyage is a Circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. During this mid-summer voyage we hope ice conditions will be favorable to attempt a circumnavigation, but the exact schedule and route will be shaped by weather and ice. In addition to seeing Spitsbergen from every angle, this itinerary offers the possibility of setting foot on all four of Svalbard's main islands.
The goal for his voyage is to navigate along the ice edge toward the island Nordaustlandet and farther to the east toward Kvitøya (White Island). The route is heavily dependent on the weather and the crew will take the best possible advantage of the circumstances presented in this wild and remote corner of the world.
Dates & Pricing
Payment & Cancel Schedule
At time of reservation: 20% of trip cost
100 days prior to departure: Balance
*Please note that this differs from our standard policy.
Cancellation & Transfer Schedule
Minimum fee: 20% of trip cost
90 days or less: 100% of trip cost
*Please note that this differs from our standard policy.
Included
Not Included
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 1, Easy. For most activities, a relatively moderate level of exertion is required. You will need to climb into and out of Zodiacs for excursions ashore and walk one to three miles over sometimes rough terrain such as uneven, rocky beaches.
Client Testimonials
"This was an amazing adventure, with flexibility to be as active or inactive as you chose. It was educational, fun, with awesome food and service, and the crew and staff were top notch. The evening talks on board about the Arctic really enhanced the experiences we had."
Karen B.
N Bethesda, MD
Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.