Norway Spitsbergen Polar Bears & Pack Ice Adventure Cruising Tour
Wildlife & Glaciers of the Svalbard Archipelago
- Available: May, June
- Activity: Level 1
- Accommodations: Luxury Ship, Comfortable Small Ship
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Group Size:
Up to 170 passengers
Min Age: 15
Highlights
- Sail in comfort on an expedition in search of the majestic, awe-inspiring polar bear in a fantastically beautiful world of sea and ice landscapes surrounded by flocks of seabirds, singing whales, elusive narwhale, and massive walruses
- Walk in one of the last true wilderness areas on earth on shore excursions varying from leisurely strolls to strenuous hikes
- Enjoy zodiac cruises to best take advantage of wildlife viewing opportunities, getting up close and personal to ice and sea creatures
Itinerary
Arrive Longyearbyen
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 Plancius
Accommodation: m/v HondiusMeals: Dinner
Sail to Raudfjorden
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 Plancius
Accommodation: m/v HondiusMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover the Monaco Glacier
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 Plancius
Accommodation: m/v HondiusMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruise the Hinlopen Strait
Day 4
Enter the Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears and blue whales. Cruise among the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in the Zodiacs, and view the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with their thousands of Brünnich's guillemots. If conditions permit, make a landing on Nordaustlanden on the east side of the Strait, to look for reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses.
Accommodation: m/v Plancius
Accommodation: m/v HondiusMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stop at the Seven Islands
Day 5
Get close to the North Pole at Nordaustlandet in the Seven Islands. Reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Park for several hours among the pack ice, watching for polar bears, before turning west again.
Accommodation: m/v Plancius
Accommodation: m/v HondiusMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail on the Continental Shelf
Day 6
Retrace the route west, keeping watch for polar bears and elusive Greenland bowhead whales. Sail the edge of the continental shelf about 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, where fin whales forage during the summer in the upwelling zones that run along the Spitsbergen banks. Scan the waters at the mouth of Kongsfjorden, for sightings of playful minke whales.
Accommodation: m/v Plancius
Accommodation: m/v HondiusMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Voyage Back to Longyearbyen
Day 7
Watch for walruses in the approach to Forlandsundet, or sail into St. Johns Fjord or the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at the cliffs of Alkhornet, home of nesting seabirds. Enjoy views of Arctic foxes, searching for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer, grazing on the sparse vegetation. Arrive in Longyearbyen by evening.
Accommodation: m/v Plancius
Accommodation: m/v HondiusMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Longyearbyen
Day 8
The trip comes to and end upon disembarkation in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Meals: Breakfast
Dates & Prices
- 2023
- 2024
- Go Custom
- Inclusions
2023
Scheduled Dates
The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
- $5,750 price per person dbl occAvailableConfirmed
- $5,750 price per person dbl occAvailableConfirmed
- $5,750 price per person dbl occAvailableConfirmed
- $5,750 price per person dbl occAvailableConfirmed
2024
Scheduled Dates
The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
- $5,600 price per person dbl occAvailableConfirmed
- $5,600 price per person dbl occAvailableConfirmed
- $5,600 price per person dbl occAvailableConfirmed
Go Custom
Create Your Very Own Adventure
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
Start PlanningInclusions
Price Includes
- Expertise and services of our experienced adventure guides
- All accommodations as noted in the itinerary
- All breakfasts, almost all lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary
- Snacks and water between meals
- Additional regional guides and experts on many trips
- Comprehensive Trip Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at historic sites, museums, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the itinerary
- Special events and other select attractions as mentioned in the itinerary
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Equipment and experienced guides for activities as described in the itinerary
- Park and other entry fees (unless otherwise noted)
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the itinerary
- Select transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Baggage transfers and porterage
- Pricing based on double occupancy in a Window Cabin
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
- Alcoholic beverages (MT Sobek provides wine at select events)
- Gratuities for MT Sobek guides and guide-drivers
- Travel Protection Program
- Personal expenses
Need help picking your next adventure? Call us to answer your questions.
Your Guides
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Rinie van Meurs
After a formal education in Forestry and Nature Conservation, Rinie traveled the world in search of wildlife. Early on in his career, he became hooked on the Arctic when found a job as a potato peeler aboard the "old" Plancius in Spitsbergen. Rinie has since become leading guide in the Polar region, logging more than 300 expedition cruises, from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands. 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 see 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.

Laurence Dyke
Laurence grew up on the coast in Cornwall, UK, and was never far from the water and boats. His background is in geography 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 10 years he has worked in science, both in the UK and Denmark, seeking to understand how and why huge glacier systems change. Laurence first visited the Arctic in 2010 whilst undertaking research for his PhD 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.
Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 1. 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 about activity levels here.
Accommodations
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.
Weather
The air is very dry. Expect a mix of sun, clouds, wind, rain, and possible snow. Daytime temperatures are usually 38°- 50°F.
Know Before You Book
Pricing
Please call for an exact quote. Pricing varies by cabin category.
This cruise is not privately chartered for MT Sobek travelers. In order to offer the widest selection of travel dates and flexibility for our guests, MT Sobek works directly with the ship owner to book MT Sobek travelers on scheduled departures throughout the year, and we are pleased to offer our in-house expertise and services to assist you every step of the way.
FAQs
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.
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