Hondius
Oceanwide's 170-guest Polar Class 6 ship, an informal and well-run way to look for polar bears on the Svalbard sea ice.
Around Spitsbergen: a nine-night Arctic voyage for polar bears
About this journey
A night in Oslo and one in Longyearbyen, then nine nights on an expedition ship circling Spitsbergen in the midnight sun, looking for polar bears along the pack ice, walrus on the beaches and seabird cliffs in Hinlopen Strait.
- 11 nights
- July and August
- Oslo, Longyearbyen and Around Spitsbergen
What is included
- Return economy flights from London Heathrow to Longyearbyen, connecting in Oslo
- One night in Oslo and one in Longyearbyen, bed and breakfast
- The nine-night voyage aboard Hondius in a twin porthole cabin, with all meals on board
- Zodiac landings and cruises, guided shore walks and talks by the expedition team
- Transfers between the airport, hotel and ship in Longyearbyen
Not included
- Travel insurance, which must include emergency evacuation cover
- Optional paid activities such as kayaking
- Gratuities for the ship crew
- Drinks on board
Day by day
Open any day for the detail. Everything here can move: add a night, swap a hotel, change the order.
Oslo
Fly to Oslo and spend the evening by the harbour at Aker Brygge. A night here means a missed connection north does not cost you the ship.
Longyearbyen
Fly north to Longyearbyen, one of the most northerly towns on Earth. Visit the Svalbard Museum for the history of trappers, miners and polar expeditions, and adjust to the light that never goes.
Embark
Board Hondius in the afternoon and sail out of Isfjorden. The first safety briefings, a first dinner, and the first watch for whales from the bridge.
The north-west fjords
Sail up the west coast to the glaciers of Krossfjorden and Magdalenefjorden. Land at old whaling and trapping sites with armed guides, and look for reindeer, Arctic foxes and walrus hauled out on the beaches.
The pack ice and Hinlopen Strait
Push north and east towards the edge of the pack ice, where the chances of polar bears are best, ice permitting. In Hinlopen Strait, Zodiacs cruise below the bird cliffs at Alkefjellet, home to many thousands of Brünnich's guillemots.
The east and south of Spitsbergen
Round the island through Freemansundet and down the east side to Barentsøya and Edgeøya, then west to Hornsund in the far south, with its jagged peaks and tidewater glaciers. Every day depends on the ice and the weather.
Disembark and fly home
Disembark in Longyearbyen in the morning and fly home to London Heathrow, connecting in Oslo.
Where you stay
The properties this route is planned around. We can suggest alternatives at a different price point.
Ways to make it yours
A window or balcony cabin
Upgrade from a porthole cabin to a window cabin or a suite with a balcony, for watching the ice from your own space.
Kayaking
Join the kayaking group for paddles along the glacier fronts when conditions allow. Places are limited and are booked before departure.
Dates and seasons
Planned for July and August, when Svalbard is at its best. Outside those months it still works, with different trade-offs; ask us.
When to go to SvalbardAsk about this journey
Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and your specialist will send a tailored version of this route.
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