Upon arrival at Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Svalbard, you are greeted by the staff and transferred to a quality hotel, which is included in the itinerary's price. The charming town center is easily walkable and offers many delightful restaurants. It is recommended that you start discovering this fascinating Norwegian High Arctic territory with a visit to the Svalbard Museum, where travelers can purchase hard-to-find polar books and maps. The sun never sets during your stay in Svalbard, a unique experience.

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you have the morning free to explore Longyearbyen. Icy fjords and glaciated mountains surround the town, and you can enjoy the stunning views. You can also shop for souvenirs or any last-minute cold-weather gear you may need. Receive your parka to keep and waterproof boots to borrow on board the ship. For lunch, Longyearbyen offers quick and easy meal options, including the northernmost pizzas and kebabs in the world.

In the afternoon, transfer to the pier to board the deluxe expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Once on board, you can get settled in your spacious suite and explore the ship, which will be your home throughout the adventure. The expedition staff will provide informative briefings and introductions, kicking off a full schedule of events. After enjoying a delicious dinner on board, you can step out onto the open decks to admire the breathtaking scenery in 24-hour daylight as you sail through the wildlife-rich waters of Isfjorden.

The goal of this voyage is a circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago. Attempt to go to the northeasternmost part of the archipelago—the island of Kvitøya, famous for its polar bears. Along the way, you hope to experience the many facets of this incredible High Arctic territory.

Much of the pristine nature of Spitsbergen is protected by a system of national parks, and the first one on your way will be the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, which is the crown jewel of Svalbard's scenic wonders. This area is well-known for its deep fjords flanked by serrated mountain ranges and immense tidewater glaciers calving icebergs into turquoise waters. The skies are filled with millions of murres, guillemots, and little auks, whose eggs are now hatching at countless breeding colonies on small islands, mountainsides, and sea cliffs within the park. This is also a great chance to encounter marine mammals, including beluga whales and Arctic seals.

Your journey will also take you to Ny Ålesund, a former mining town and airship base now a vibrant international community of Arctic researchers. This unique settlement, one of the world's most northerly, offers a glimpse into the history and culture of the Arctic. Here, you can explore a museum, browse a gift shop, and even send a postcard from the world's most northerly post office.

The Svalbard Archipelago is located halfway between the top of Norway and the North Pole, which means the Polar Ice Edge can be found north of the islands! This corner of Svalbard is full of stunning scenery, wildlife, and rich history from the age of exploration. The plan is to navigate along the ice edge towards the island of Nordaustlandet and further to the east towards Kvitøya (White Island). However,  remember that your route and research opportunities depend heavily on the weather. Rest assured, the team will take the best possible advantage of the circumstances presented to you by nature in this wild and remote corner of the world.

On this part of the journey, attempt to go to the eastern and northern regions of the Svalbard Archipelago – infrequently visited aboard expedition ships – experiencing the isolation and beautiful remoteness of Svalbard’s Arctic wilderness areas. Kvitøya (White Island) is one of the most rarely visited and closest islands to Franz Josef Land. This place, almost entirely covered by ice, became the final resting place of the balloon expedition of the Swedish polar explorer Salomon August Andrée. Kvitøya is not always accessible to expedition ships, but it may provide another opportunity to observe polar bears in their natural habitat.

During this voyage, you expect to encounter significant sea ice concentrations in the enormous Northwest Svalbard Nature Reserve, which covers the rugged northwestern parts of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, the second-largest island in Svalbard. Ice can persist late into the summer in this remote and isolated region. The massive Austfonna ice cap rises above the stunning landscapes of the High Arctic. Part of it meets the sea along the 45-kilometer ice cliff known as Bråsvellbreen—one of the great wonders of the Arctic world. The polar desert environment supports little vegetation but hosts many seabirds. The cliffs of Alkefjellet are home to thousands of pink-footed geese, glaucous gulls, little auks, black guillemots, snow buntings, and (probably) barnacle geese. This icy wilderness has historically proven a good location for spotting polar bears and walruses.

The Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve is a pristine and rarely visited wilderness containing hundreds of uninhabited islands. Broad tundra valleys on the large islands of Edgeøya and Barentsøya support the territory’s densest population of endemic Svalbard reindeer. The valleys are also important breeding areas for ground-nesting birds such as geese, eiders, and sandpipers. Arctic foxes prowl the vast landscape, seeking to provide food for their young cubs, who are just now emerging from their dens. Shallow, murky seas are ideal feeding grounds for walruses resting in large numbers on gently sloping beaches. Historical sites throughout the islands provide glimpses into the region’s bygone era of trapping and hunting.

South Spitsbergen National Park is a vast region of varied landscapes, including polar deserts and impassible mountain ranges. The centerpiece of this park is Hornsund, a picture-perfect fjord where countless mighty glaciers cascade from soaring mountaintops into icy inlets. The park also includes the southern shores of Bellsund, a picturesque bay where the remains of historical whaling operations can be found, including wooden boats, cabins, and thousands of whale bones — a distant past scene frozen in time. Throughout the park, wildlife sightings are always highly probable, ensuring your journey is filled with thrilling encounters. Wildflowers will be at their peak during this time.

Because of its extended length, this ambitious and in-depth Svalbard circumnavigation expedition cruise is a great chance to get a comprehensive view of the Arctic’s many faces. Every day offers something new and exciting. Do not miss a single opportunity to encounter unique Arctic wildlife, witness incredible polar scenery, and walk in the footsteps of historic expeditions.

Your circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago is coming to an end. You are back to the West Coast of the Spitsbergen archipelago, with its beautiful locations like Alkhornet Mountain (also known as bird heaven because its cliffs support over 10,000 breeding pairs of seabirds).

After filling up with one last buffet breakfast on board, bid farewell in Longyearbyen. Transfers to the airport or the town center are provided if you plan to stay longer in Svalbard. By this time, you may already be planning your next amazing trip to the polar world with the team!