DAY 3:

Today you’ll awaken to yet more stunning views of wilderness and shimmering glacier fronts. As you grow accustomed to nature’s silence, you’ll realise that it is not so silent as it seems as there is a continual fizz and pop coming from the glacier as the melting ice releases trapped air bubbles. And sometimes this all comes to a crescendo as the glacier roars, calves and releases its load into the ocean beneath.

You’ll experience the millions years of geological history that Svalbard is famed for in search of fossilized wildlife some dating back to Jurassic times. The largest fossil find in these parts was the fearsome pliosaurus, a 15 metre long carnivorous marine reptile. Your final lunch and opportunity to view the Beluga whale which frequents the waters en route to Longyearbyen. This afternoon you’ll bid farewell to your fellow passengers and crew as you return to Longyearbyen for your final night of the trip. You’ll stay at the boutique Basecamp Hotel in a trapper style room.

DAY 4:

Today it is time to depart Longyearbyen and transfer to the airport for your return flight. If you'd like to extend your trip, get in touch and we'll be pleased to put together a package for you. This expedition cruise is also available as a longer five day trip. Please get in touch with our team to find out more and departure dates for the coming seasons.

Sailing through the season

Although this trip is considered a summer expedition cruise, it begins at the end of Spring in Svalbard from the end of May. This means that there can be varied sailing conditions and wildlife depending on when you join the trip. In May and June, there can still be sea ice in the fjords which means a better chance to view polar bears but this can limit access to some of the fjord arms. By July, fjord and sea conditions are more reliable, and it’s possible to see chicks jumping their nests for the first time. By late August the light of the low midnight sun casts a magic spell over the Arctic scenery. The wind starts picking up as well, and this is not a bad thing if you live onboard a sailing ship.

Flexibility is key for this trip. We have provided an itinerary as it is planned. However, weather conditions play a part in the ship’s course through the fjords. We can’t guarantee you’ll view wildlife nor enjoy the itinerary in its entirety but you can be sure that the crew will be working tirelessly to give you a trip of a lifetime and the best chance possible to view Spitsbergen’s great natural beauty.