
more images of Norway North Spitsbergen Polar Bears & Pack Ice Adventure Cruising
more images of Norway North Spitsbergen Polar Bears & Pack Ice Adventure Cruising
Discover the realm of the polar bear, a savagely beautiful land of ice and snow, glassy fjords, and expansive tundra on this exciting Arctic adventure. Cruising the Svalbard Archipelago aboard a comfortable, ice-strengthened vessel, you'll discover Spitsbergen, the largest island in Svalbard - known to Vikings, traders and early explorers. Enjoy prime viewing as you explore cliffs by ship and Zodiac and watch for polar bears, walruses, or beluga whales breaching in the icy water. No two trips are alike, but each one offers rare opportunities to experience the wild and wonderful Arctic.
Longyearbyen, Norway
Longyearbyen, Norway
8 Days
Up to 170 passengers
15 yrs
You can expect 1 or 2 half-day shore excursions for each day depending on weather conditions. The guided excursions will vary from 1-3 hours walking, snowshoeing or zodiac. No previous experience is necessary for any of the offered activities.
Learn more here.
Day 1
Touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plants have been recorded in it. In the early evening, the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
Accommodation: m/v Hondius
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Embark for Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen. Take in the spectacular expanse of the fjord, bordered with glaciers and frequented by ringed and bearded seals. Hike the cliffs and shoreline, home to thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and polar bears.
Accommodation: m/v Hondius
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Weather permitting, sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) face of the precipitous Monaco Glacier, a favorite feeding spot for kittiwakes, and hunting ground for polar bears. If weather is uncooperative, sail along the west coast of Spitsbergen as an alternate route.
Accommodation: m/v Hondius
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Reason #01
MT Sobek's Polar Value Promise means that we offer in-house services to help plan and execute you polar adventure for no added cost.
Reason #02
Over 30 years offering polar voyages we have built strong relationships with polar service providers and ships that cruise the High Arctic.
Reason #03
We choose ships and operators that maintain a high level of commitment to safety, people, value, quality, environment, well-being, and customer service.
Rinie van Meurs
After a formal education in Forestry and Nature Conservation, Rinie started to travel around the world in search of wildlife and birds. Early on in his career, he became hooked on the Arctic when managed to find a job on board of the "old" Plancius as a potato peeler for his first season in Spitsbergen. Rinie has since become leading guide in the Polar region, logging more than 300 expedition cruises, including; the Canadian high Arctic, Geographical North Pole, Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falklands, and many islands along the Atlantic Ridge. Having spent so much time exploring the Arctic, he has encountered many Polar Bears and has published four books to share his passion about them. Give him a ship with the right ice class and Rinie will take you to Polar Bears!
Birgit Lutz
Birgit changed her life from award-winning journalist to Arctic addicted adventurer in 2007, after a first voyage to the North Pole aboard the Russian icebreaker Yamal. She took up 'Circumpolar Studies' at the Canadian University of the Arctic and since then combines arctic voyages with writing. She has skied to the North Pole, across Greenland and spent several months living in the region of Ammassalik to learn from natives. These experiences inspired Birgit to initiate a project for the German Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research, for which she collects data about marine anthropogenic pollution. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for the Arctic and is currently writing her fourth book on the region.rn
Laurence Dyke
Laurence grew up on the coast in Cornwall, UK, and was never far from the water and boats. His background is in geographer with a special focus in glaciology, a choice inspired by seeing a glacier up close for the first time in the Austrian Alps. For the last 7 years he has worked in science, both in the UK and Denmark, working to understand how and why huge glacier systems have changed in the past. Laurence first visited the Arctic in 2010 whilst undertaking research for his Ph.D. and was immediately captivated by the wild landscapes of the high latitudes. His subsequent research has taken him on numerous expeditions to remote areas of Greenland, Svalbard, and Arctic Canada.
Expert polar interpretation and presentations, professional navigation through Arctic waters, wildlife experiences, hiking, and Zodiac cruising.
Ice-strengthened and well-appointed polar expedition ships offer a comfortable and safe way to explore the Arctic. Enjoy healthy cuisine and wellness services onboard.
The air is very dry. Expect a mix of sun, clouds, wind, rain, and possible snow. Daytime temperatures are usually 38°- 50°F.
Will there be any adjustments to the itinerary?
Programs may vary depending on weather conditions and opportunities to see wildlife so flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. We recommend packing your spirit of adventure!
Where do polar bears live?
Polar bears will wander all over the Arctic to find food but it's believed that they have feeding areas called, "home ranges" that they prefer. Any changes in the home range will compel polar bears to travel hundreds of miles in search of better fare, a journey that they are not accustomed to handle. Though polar bears are elusive, Spitsbergen offers the highest probability of sightings.
What other animals will we see?
The Arctic, although a very inhospitable environment, is home to many amazing creatures including the arctic fox, reindeer, walrus, seals, whales, and birds.
Are transfers and pre-/post- arrangements included?
Transfers to/from the airport and vessel are available only for select flights. Please contact the Adventure Coordinator for more details and/or for instructions on how to reach the ship.
Pre-/post- arrangements are not included with the trip.
What cabin types are available?
This itinerary is offered on three different ships, depending on the departure date. Each ship has a variety of cabin types, all at varying price points. Cabins range from Triple and Quadruple Portholes all the way to Grand suites with private balconies. Contact our Regional Specialist team to inquire after availability.
"We have traveled throughout the world, but never experienced a level of service and attention to detail as we did with MT Sobek."
Dennis G.
MT Sobek Guest
"I have traveled extensively around the world. The experience with MT Sobek was by far the best I have ever had. Thank you for such excellence."
Marianne W.
MT Sobek Guest
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Additional costs
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Scheduled Dates
Additional costs
No additional costs currently listed for this trip.
Price Includes
Price does not include
Contact An Expert
Need help picking your next adventure? Call us to answer your questions.
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