Day 1: Longyearbyen – Welcome aboard!
After spending some time in the characteristic town of Longyearbyen, your sailing adventure starts on board at five in the afternoon. You’ll meet the friendly crew and guides and settle into your cozy cabin. After a light dinner and once we set sail, we’ll inform you about life aboard and the weekly program. You will quickly feel at home.
On the ship, life slows down, and you will go with the flow of nature. Every day on this trip is different: shaped by the weather, the wildlife we spot, the group’s adventurous vibe, and the preferences and possibilities of our guests. It’s all about embracing the spirit of exploration, where no two days are the same. A week could include these destinations:
Ymerbukta – Esmarkbreen
For starters, we can cross the beautiful Isfjorden—the majestic fjord of Svalbard—to anchor in Ymerbukta. You will have an amazing view of the glacier Esmarkbreen. This glacier has a stunning length of 15 kilometers! The glacier face is slowly calving, resulting in fields of crackling ice in the water. The bay next to it, Trygghamna, was given the name “Safe Harbour” because of its sheltered location.
Prins Karls Forland
Sailing north, we pass the long island Prins Karls Forland, “the foreland,” where famous walrus colonies are situated. The steep coastline, high mountains, and the glaciers on the east side make for picture-perfect panoramas. Use the jib net or crow’s nest to take a perfect shot!
Visit Ny-Ålesund
Ny-Ålesund is the northernmost settlement in the world, known for its mining history. Nowadays it’s a research station for Arctic studies on climate change, glaciology, geophysics, and space research, among other topics. There are about 50–100 scientists from all over the world, but not many stay here during the Polar Night.
Ny-Ålesund was the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions to the North Pole with an airship. You can visit the historic village, including the northernmost post office, museum, souvenir shop, and bar. Take a hike to enjoy the view of the “three kings” rock formation.
Kongsfjorden – 79 degrees
Just north of Ny-Ålesund lies beautiful Kongsfjorden, named after the three characteristic mountain peaks resembling a king’s crown. Halfway, the north-facing slope is a steep cliff with many birds safely nesting in spring. The vibrant red cliffs next to Kongsbreen sharply contrast with the blue icebergs that break off the calving glacier. A good spot for a Polar plunge!
Krossfjorden
This spectacular fjord has two split fjords in the inner part. The fairly narrow fjord, with its turquoise water, is home to a big bird colony—you can hear them from far away! We can land close to Ny-London and “Lloyd’s Hotel”; in contrast to the untouched scenery, Lloyd’s Hotel is an old hunter’s cabin, painted orange.
Magdalenefjorden
This place will take your breath away with its stunning surroundings. The fjord is rich in wildlife and history: whaling station “Trinity Harbour” was established there by the English. You can spot walruses in their resting zones or seals swimming in groups. We have often encountered curious polar foxes playing on the beach. The cliffs are rich in colonies of the Little Auk and other birds.
Smeerenburg
Discover the historical remnants of the whaling history in Smeerenburg, where Dutch whalers from the 17th century caught whales for their oil and walruses for their tusks. The remnants of blubber ovens and buildings are located close to the beach. Nearby, plastic waste often accumulates on the rocky shore; we’ll collect as much as we can carry. Let’s free the sea!
The remote North-West
The remote islands Danskøya and Amsterdamøya are also famous for their history and wildlife and are good sites to spot polar bears. Several small islands there are non-accessible bird islands, creating safe reserves for the birds to nest and raise their young.
Isfjorden
At the heart of Spitsbergen, the majestic Isfjorden is a real treasure trove. There are many great locations to hike; you can walk around the historic mining towns of Pyramiden and Barentsburg, which feels like a trip back in time. Climb up to the waterfalls and tundra flowers in the intimate bay at Skansbukta, and pass the locations where reindeer graze.
The last day: disembark in Longyearbyen
After a full week of cruising and being immersed in nature, we’re back in civilization. A nice breakfast will energize you for your last day in Longyearbyen. Disembark the ship (9:00–9:30 AM), explore more of the town, and catch your flight in the afternoon!
