Voyage into Svalbard’s High Arctic

Day 1: Welcome to the High Arctic – Longyearbyen

Your journey begins in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town. Settle into Basecamp Hotel before venturing underground with a private tour of Mine No. 3, where Svalbard’s coal past comes to life. As evening falls, savor Arctic cuisine at Gruvelageret, a rustic cabin transformed into a fine-dining retreat.

Begin the day with breakfast at Basecamp before traveling to Trapper’s Station, where a team of huskies pulls you through Arctic valleys. After a warm fireside lunch, embark on a private boat across Isfjorden, gliding past towering cliffs and drifting ice toward Isfjord Radio, a historic outpost transformed into a boutique Arctic retreat. Evening unfolds with a guided walk and dinner overlooking the endless sea.

Begin the day with breakfast overlooking the Arctic Ocean before hiking along the windswept coast to a walrus colony. Pause for an expedition lunch en route, then return to Isfjord Radio for champagne and tapas by a bonfire. The evening closes with a cliffside sauna, optional Arctic plunge, and a refined multi-course dinner.

Enjoy a final breakfast at Isfjord Radio before returning by boat to Longyearbyen. In the afternoon, board MV Vikingfjord, your 12-guest expedition vessel. As evening falls, sail past Bird Mountain, where cliffs rise dramatically against the polar sky

Land at Alkhornet, where tundra meets towering cliffs alive with seabirds and Arctic foxes. Continue to Poolepynten, a windswept headland home to a walrus colony. Evenings aboard offer fine meals and Arctic light lingering late into night.

Spend the day at the ice edge, where frozen sea meets open water. Photograph seals on the floes, seabirds in flight, and—if fortune allows—polar bears hunting in this stark wilderness. As night falls, gather in the lounge to watch twilight linger over drifting ice.

Begin the morning stepping ashore at Sallyhamna, where a 1937 trappers’ hut recalls the harsh realities of Arctic life. Continue into Magdalenefjorden, where glaciers carve the horizon and remnants of 17th-century whaling stations still mark the shore.

Start the day at Camp Zoe, a remote Arctic cabin that recalls life on the frontier. After lunch aboard, head out by Zodiac to Lilliehöökbreen, where towering glaciers crack and collapse into the sea. Evening brings quiet moments back on board with views of drifting ice.

Begin the day sailing south through fjords and coastal inlets, with opportunities to step ashore or explore by Zodiac. Wildlife sightings guide the pace. The evening ends with dinner aboard as you continue toward Isfjorden.

Your final full day in Svalbard is spent exploring fjords and coastlines, with landings and wildlife encounters shaping the experience. As evening approaches, reflect on the days behind you and the rare access this Arctic expedition has given.