Svalbard Premium – Land of the Polar Bears

Our journey begins in the capital of Spitsbergen—Svalbard, in the town of Longyearbyen. We recommend arriving a day before the trip.

In the morning, there will be time for a tour of the town or strolling through the shops—perfect for picking up souvenirs. In the afternoon, we’ll board the ship and set sail after a safety briefing. We’ll navigate through the main fjord of Spitsbergen and head north along the dramatic western coast of the island. Our journey north will continue as we enjoy a deep night’s sleep, where the sun never sets.

During breakfast, we will be near the northwestern corner of Spitsbergen, close to Amsterdamøya, and the first settlement established by Dutch pioneers—Smeerenburg. In this area, we have spotted several polar bears on our previous trips. From there, we will sail east to one of our favorite secret spots, where we will visit a walrus colony and get as close to them as only we can. Overnight, we will navigate to Hinlopen Strait.

In the morning, we’ll arrive at a spectacular bird cliff and photograph millions of seabirds nesting during the intense summer. At the base of the cliffs, arctic foxes typically look for hunting opportunities, and we’ve even seen a polar bear ascend the cliff. After lunch, we will reach one of the small coves that has consistently provided our best polar bear sightings. We hope to spot bears here again, as unique circumstances often attract them. We will spend the night in this special place, allowing for additional bear-watching opportunities. Remember, the sun doesn’t set, right?

In the morning, we will reach Edgeøya to search for polar bears and visit a large, impressive walrus colony. After lunch, we will arrive at a massive bird cliff where hundreds of thousands of gulls nest—an amazing and noisy spectacle! After dinner, we will sail west from the islands back to the main Spitsbergen island to search for polar bears in an area known for its nursing dens during the winter. Sometimes, during the summer, some families remain in this area.

We will spend more time along the eastern coast of Spitsbergen and head north back toward Hinlopen Strait. Along the way, we’ll navigate between islands or through a narrow passage, arriving at an area known in Hebrew as “Bear Bay,” and there’s a special reason for this—it’s a favorite spot for seals, which in turn attract polar bears for hunting opportunities. During the night, we will sail northeast to the second-largest island in Svalbard.

We’ll have breakfast against a unique and stunning backdrop as we reach the edge of the third-largest ice shelf in the world, located on the northeastern island of Spitsbergen. The ice shelf’s edge consists of a massive, active wall with cascading waterfalls and crashing ice blocks, showcasing the massive melting the area is experiencing due to global warming. Later in the day, we’ll enter the main fjord of the island to search for polar bears and see another side of the rapidly melting ice shelf. In the evening, we will head north toward Nordauslandet and the “Seven Islands” area. This is the northernmost point of our trip, where we will visit additional walrus colonies, and we’ve previously spotted belugas in this region. At night, we will continue westward.

We’ll have breakfast in Lyadfjorden, with a view of one of the most beautiful glaciers in Spitsbergen—Monaco Glacier—before heading out for a hike. During lunch, we’ll sail out of the fjord to a specially protected nature reserve called Moffen. Although we can’t go ashore due to extreme conservation measures, we can observe the amazing phenomenon as it’s one of the best spots for walruses. In the afternoon, we’ll sail west toward Magdalenefjorden, one of the most beautiful fjords, where we will visit after dinner.

We will continue north in the large fjord to the area of the most beautiful glacier—July 14th Glacier, named after the French Bastille Day. We’ll disembark for a hike to an amazing viewing point. Next, we’ll head south to the massive bird cliff, home to several arctic fox dens, and with the western sun, we’ll have excellent lighting on the cliff. We’ll hike approximately one kilometer along a gentle incline, and after watching the playful fox pups as long as we wish, we’ll return to the ship for dinner. In the evening, we will sail into Isfjorden, where we’ll hold a summary lecture and farewell meeting with the crew. Our last night will be spent anchored on the ship, where we’ll pack our gear for departure.

After breakfast, we’ll say our last goodbye (for now at least) to the ship’s crew and head to the airport or the town of Longyearbyen for some exploration before our flight back home. Filled with experiences, amazing photos, and memories for a lifetime.

The itinerary is a statement of intent only. It is subject to change based on conditions, wildlife location, the guide’s and captain’s decisions, and other factors. The itinerary may vary depending on the length of the cruise you registered for.