Svalbard in Spring: The Return of the Sun

Enjoy time in Oslo before flying to Svalbard

Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway’s fjord-side capital. If you have time, we suggest exploring the city center on your own.  

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 at your airport hotel in Oslo.

Get to know the town at the top of the world

After a morning flight from Oslo, your adventure begins in the world’s northernmost town. You’ll have the remainder of the day to explore at your leisure.

Longyearbyen is a colourful frontier settlement at the edge of the Arctic wilderness, where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles. The town is perfect for getting around on foot – stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer saunter by.    On Day 3, your guide will meet you at your hotel and you’ll head to Nybyen – Longyearbyen’s ‘New Town’, and former miners’ quarter. Here, you’ll enjoy a hearty Norwegian lunch at Stormessa, the old miners’ mess hall, where historical photographs bring the stories of these early pioneers to life.

After lunch, you’ll set out on a panoramic tour of Longyearbyen, combining modern highlights with historical remains. Sites visited may include the colourful spisshusene (point-roofed houses), Svalbard Church, and scenic viewpoints near the old cableway station.    The tour concludes at Svalbard Bryggeri, a local brewery. Founded by a former miner, the brewery represents a true Svalbard success story. Hear how he helped change legislation to make local brewing possible, then enjoy a tasting of several handcrafted beers before returning to your hotel.

On Day 4, spend the morning at your leisure. You’ll embark MS Spitsbergen in the afternoon. Once you’ve boarded the ship, get settled in, explore, and meet your Expedition Team.

Majestic glaciers, birds, and pioneer history

Your expedition cruise continues south toward Hornsund—one of Svalbards most beautiful fjords. Rich, colorful vegetation makes way for towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. Head out on deck to spot seals and whales, admire Mount Hornsundtind, and watch glaciers calving into the sea. 

Then we’ll head to the snowcapped mountains of Bellsund, whose cliffs are home to large colonies of auks, guillemots, and northern fulmars, while Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer can be found below. Look out for the early mining settlements here and learn about Wanny Woldstad, the first female trapper. 

Our activities will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Hornsund and Bellsund. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day.

Explore pristine snowscapes under the Midnight Sun

Making our way to Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, we’ll cruise into Magdelenefjorden and through Sørgattet, the southern entrance to Smeerenburgfjord. The light of the midnight sun gives us plenty of time to explore this breathtakingly scenic area. 

Over the next two days, we’ll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of this breathtaking national park. In this wilderness of steep mountains, stark glaciers and beautiful offshore islands, we’ll scan for some of the animals of the Arctic: seals, walruses, and reindeer. Early in the season, there’s a good chance we may spot polar bears, too, so we’ll be on the lookout for these iconic but elusive predators. And as we progress further into June, we may see whales returning to the region for the summer and birdlife such as little auks, Arctic terns, skuas, eider ducks, and barnacle geese. 

Each day will be different. From landings to kayaking, be ready for anything as your captain and expedition leader decide on the best landing sites and activities based on the day’s conditions.

Experience the opportunity to sail to the edge of the polar ice cap

If conditions allow, we’ll sail north and cross the 80th parallel to explore the ever-changing ice edge. The transition zone between the ice cap and the sea is a magical yet ephemeral place where the waters are filled with ice floes and drifting pack ice. From the ship, there are great opportunities here for spotting wildlife, such as seals and walruses who lounge photogenically on the sparkling ice. And if the conditions are right, we’ll lower our expedition boats into the water and enjoy an unforgettable close-up experience amid the floating ice.

The ice edge isn’t a fixed boundary, and it moves depending on the season and conditions, so visiting it will be an attempt rather than a certainty. As summer progresses from May to August, it retreats further toward the pole, meaning it may be out of reach for us. If this is the case, then instead we’ll explore the equally impressive deep fjords, mighty glaciers and enchanting scenery of the Svalbard coast. In late July and into August, this is a time when the wildflowers appear, blanketing the landscape with a blaze of beauty and color.

Experience science, serenity, and epic scenery

Today you’ll discover the serenity of Ny-Ålesund and neighboring fjords, such as Krossfjord and Kongsfjord. Disconnect and enjoy a day without distractions, as the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s nearby geodetic station requires us to switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 

One of the northernmost settlements and a former mining town, Ny-Ålesund was the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions north with the airship “Norge.” Now, the town is a hub for global science and climate research, and you can still see remnants of its history. 

You’ll be immersed in rugged, glacial scenery as we explore the fjords around Ny-Ålesund. Be ready for adventure; we’ll seize any opportunity to launch our small expedition boats, go ashore to hike or cruise by majestic glaciers.

A last day on top of the world

Your Arctic adventure comes to an end back in Longyearbyen. A transfer will take you to the airport for your flight to Oslo. 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.