We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.
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888 308 4904
Quick Email
888 308 4904
Join the classic 12-passenger ship M/S Sjøveien on a true Arctic adventure through Svalbard’s magnificent wilderness!
In May, Svalbard is characterised by a wonderful purity and offers breathtaking sceneries. The fairytale winter landscape is dominated by sparkling ice formations, snow covered mountains, fjord ice and pastel coloured skies. The polar bear yearlings venture out for the first time, the Arctic foxes and the Svalbard reindeer still wear their winter fur and seals and walruses can often be seen resting on the fjord ice.
In June the snow has started to melting off and the bird cliffs are teeming with life. Summer is just around the corner.
We stay one night in Longyearbyen and then spend seven nights on board the expedition ship exploring this Arctic pearl that has fascinated explorers for centuries. We cruise along glistening glaciers, go ashore to enjoy the unique nature and keep a lookout for Svalbard's iconic wildlife.
• Only 12 passengers
• Totally refurbished expedition ship
• Hot tub on deck
• 2 experienced guides
• Every trip is unique
• Intimate nature experiences
Day 1 - Longyearbyen, Svalbard
We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.
Day 2/8 - Expedition cruising
Explore Longyearbyen on your own before meeting up your fellow travellers and guides for lunch. In the afternoon we embark the expedition ship and sail out through Isfjorden - the Arctic expedition has started! We are now in a part of the world where we are totally dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary depends on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. Our ambition is to head out on Zodiacs cruises every day and also go ashore when the opportunity arises. Here are some examples of places we may visit:
Prins Karls Forland
This narrow strip of land is covered by a magnificent and snow-covered mountain chain. The island is also home to many seabirds and harbour seals.
Virgohamna, Danskøya
Two of the most courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and American journalist Wellman started with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site.
Fantastic fjords
Svalbard offers the visitor countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore a few of them such as: Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, is lined with snow-covered mountain peaks and here we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pinkfooted geese nest in the area and if lucky we could see the rare king eider. In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large number of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity. The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is situated in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole.
North of Spitsbergen
North of Spitsbergen we might meet the edge of the pack ice. Not many ships venture here and we can marvel at the silence and grandeur of this icy landscape. We keep a lookout for the iconic wildlife.
Southwest Spitsbergen
The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a breathtaking landscape of towering mountain peaks, often reaching above the clouds. On a clear day we can see the summit of the highest mountain Hornsundtind, measuring 1431 meters. Hornsund is a favourite haunt for some of Svalbard’s polar bears and bearded seals are often seen resting on the fjord ice.
Day 9 - Longyearbyen
In the morning we leave the ship in Longyearbyen and begin our journey home.
Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your captain and expedition leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
M/S Sjøveien (meaning the Seaway) was built in Bergen in 1964 for the Norwegian Government and she worked for them in various capacities. From 1979 until 1995 she was used as a training ship for mariners. Since 1995 she has been in private ownership and during the many years since, worked for the Norwegian coast guard. After being a hotel ship for the past few years, she has now been refurbished into a classic and exclusive passenger ship and started her career in Svalbard the summer of 2017. She is a true beauty with wooden decks and classic details. There is a lot of deck space on the main deck and there is also an excellent area on top of the bridge, from where you have wonderful views of the magical Svalbard scenery. You also find a wood-fired hot tub out on deck.
You are welcomed by an international crew and the bridge is open for visitors.
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| Guests #: | 12 |
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| Length: | 41m |
| Width: | 8 |
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We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.
