CIRCUMNAVIGATING SPITSBERGEN – IN THE REALM OF THE POLAR BEAR  

SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY

MS Fram

Purpose-built (2007) as an expedition cruise ship, MS Fram is an exceptional base camp for explorers. On board, comfort is a top priority (she was fully upgraded in 2022), so after a day of exploration you can relax in a hot tub, dine in your choice of two restaurants or at the outdoor BBQ and catch up with your fellow guests with a cocktail in hand as you watch the scenery glide past in the Explorer Lounge & Bar. In the Science Centre, at the heart of the ship, you’ll discover more about the places you sail to and listen to talks by the Expedition Team.

Day 1 Oslo, Norway

Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway’s fjord-side capital. If you have time, why not explore the city centre.

With its rich history and fashionable art scene, Oslo is a fascinating city. You’ll find museums, galleries, and breathtaking architecture – including the beautiful Opera House and new Munch Museum.

Take a stroll in the Ekebergparken sculpture park, visit Akershus Fortress or relax in a floating sauna. Explore modern Sørenga and enjoy urban beach life or try New Nordic cuisine before spending the night in your airport hotel in Oslo.

Day 2 Longyearbyen

After your morning flight to Longyearbyen, it’s time to explore the world’s northernmost town, a colourful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles.

Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer saunter by. Although wild, they’re curious and tame.

Before boarding your ship in the afternoon and continuing your Arctic discovery, join an included excursion after lunch, and get a glimpse of this amazing polar-bear inspired region at the top of the world.

Days 3 – 5 Northwest Spitsbergen National Park

Over the next three days, you’ll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. In this wilderness of steep mountains, stark glaciers and beautiful offshore islands, we’ll scan for animals of the Arctic – whales, seals, walruses and reindeer. If you’re really lucky, you might even see the elusive polar bear from the Observation Deck of the ship. In stunning Kongsfjord, you may see impressive glaciers calving into the sea.

Be ready for adventure; you will seize any opportunity to launch your kayaks or use the small expedition boats and go ashore to hike or participate in a beach clean up.

Days 6 – 7 Eastern Spitsbergen

Be ready for anything as this stage of your journey becomes truly adventurous. If sea ice permits, you’ll venture to the frozen seascape of Eastern Spitsbergen.

We have high hopes you’ll see the elusive polar bear over the next two days. You’ll also scout for walrus and colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and other seabirds in the Hinlopen Strait. You may head south to Freemansundet and Kapp Lee or take the small expedition boats to Edgeøya or Barentsøya.

In true expedition style, exactly where you’ll go will depend on the conditions on the day. Channel your inner explorer on exhilarating landings, hikes and kayak trips.

And if the ice doesn’t allow you to pass through Hinlopen Strait, you’ll experience just as much adventure as you delve deeper into the wonders of western Svalbard. You’ll take a flexible route through deep fjords and by calving glaciers, seeking out remarkable Arctic wildlife.

Day 8 Hornsund

As you sail towards the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen, you’ll enter Hornsund, one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Rich, colourful vegetation makes way for towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. Head out on deck to spot seals and whales, Mount Hornsundtind, and glaciers calving into the sea.

The green patches of land you’ll see here are fertilised by Little Auk colonies. This in turn attracts Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes, so keep your eyes peeled. In the evening, we’ll journey north, past beautiful Bellsund towards Isfjord.

Day 9 Isfjord

Your Svalbard circumnavigation continues into Isfjord’s lush fjord system, where you’ll see immense, glacier-carved valleys rich in wildlife, vegetation and human history.

To the north, Alkehornet is home to guillemots, kittiwakes, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The clear traces of the area’s whaling and hunting past are visible on beaches and in bays. Farther south, you’ll pass the former Isfjord Radio satellite communication station, now one of the world’s most beautifully situated hotels.

Your activities today will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Isfjord. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day.

Day 10 Longyearbyen

Your Arctic adventure comes to an end back in Longyearbyen. A transfer will take you to the airport for your flight home. You’ll return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice and climate change than you arrived with – and memories of an incredible experience.