Circumnavigating Spitsbergen | In the Realm of the Polar Bear

Enjoy time in Oslo before flying to Svalbard Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway’s fjord-side capital. If you have time before your flight, why not explore the city centre. With its rich history and fashionable art scene, Oslo is a fascinating city. You'll find museums, galleries, and breathtaking architecture all within easy reach – including the beautiful Opera House and new Munch Museum. Take a stroll in the stunning Ekeberg 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 flying out to Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago.

Meet reindeer in the street as you shop After breakfast, it’s time to explore the world's northernmost town, a colourful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles. Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer saunter by. Although wild, they're curious and tame. Admire the polar bear-inspired art or visit the North Pole Expedition Museum. Get ready for your included excursion after lunch, or join an optional electric bike, dogsledding or hiking tour. In the afternoon, it's time to board your ship and continue your Arctic discovery as we cruise around Spitsbergen.

Experience pristine Arctic wilderness Over the next three days, you'll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. Seabirds wheel as we scan for animals of the Arctic – whales, seals, walrus and reindeer. We might even see polar bears hunting on the ice. In stunning Kongsfjorden, you may see glaciers calving into the sea. If conditions allow, we'll stop in Ny-Ålesund, home to a thriving international science community, researching glaciology, wildlife and climate change. Be ready for adventure as we'll seize any opportunity to use our expedition boats to come ashore to hike, participate in a beach clean-up or launch our kayaks.

Scouting for polar bears, seabirds and walruses The frozen seascape of Eastern Svalbard is home to the archipelago’s largest polar bear population. We have high hopes you’ll see this elusive, magnificent animal over the next two days. We'll scout for walrus and colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and other seabirds in the Hinlopen Strait. We may head south to Freemansundet and Kapp Lee, or take small expedition boats to Edgeøya or Barentsøya. The daily itinerary will be set by your Expedition Team, monitoring local ice and weather conditions to take you on exhilarating landings, hikes and kayaking.

Majestic glaciers, rich vegetation and seabirds As we sail towards the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen, we'll enter Hornsunden, one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Rich, colourful vegetation makes way for the towering peaks of Mount Hornsundtind along this picturesque waterway. Head out on deck as you may spot seals and whales, and possibly even glaciers calving into the sea. The green patches of land you’ll see here are fertilised by Little Auk colonies. This in turn attracts Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes, so keep your eyes peeled. In the evening, we’ll journey north, past beautiful Bellsund towards Isfjorden.

Rich in flora, fauna, geology and history Our Svalbard cruise continues into Isfjorden's lush fjord system, where you'll see immense, glacier-carved valleys rich in wildlife, vegetation and human history. To the north, Alkehornet is home to guillemots, kittiwakes, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The clear traces of whaling and hunting history are visible on beaches and bays. Further south, we’ll pass the former Isfjord Radio Station, now one of the world's most beautifully-situated hotels. Our activities today will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Isfjorden. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day.

A final day on top of the world Back in Longyearbyen, your Arctic cruise comes to an end. Exploring Svalbard creates memories for life, leaving you feeling enriched from wildlife encounters, insights in polar history and local geography. Before your flight back to Oslo, you might have time to discover more of Longyearbyen or do a spot of shopping for local souvenirs. If you're sailing aboard MS Fram, you can extend your stay in Longyearbyen by adding one of our unique Post-Programmes when booking your cruise.

Itineraries are subject to change.