Day 1: Longyearbyen
The largest of the Svalbard Archipelago Islands. Take a historical walk through this old mining town. The ship leaves in the early evening from Isfjordan.
Day 2: Krossfjorden
By morning you'll arrive in Krossfjorden where you might board a Zodiac vessel to get a glimpse of the Fourteenth of July glacier. This beautiful blue and white glacier has lush green slopes with guillemots and kittwake flocks in nests on its cliffs. You'll sail onto Ny Alesund in the afternoon, the northernmost settlement on Earth. Although it now serves as a research center, it has a prior history as a mining town.
Day 3: Monaco Glacier
Today our plan, weather permitting, is to make our way to Liefdefjorden and get within 5 km (3.1 miles) away from the awe inspiring Monaco Glacier. This is a common feeding area for polar bears. If ice prevents this itinerary, an alternate course around the western coast of spitsbergen will be taken.
Day 4-5: The Seven Islands
The next stop is the Seven Islands of Nordauslandet at 80" north and only 870 km (540 miles) away from the geographic North Pole. We may rest the ship for a while inside the ice to watch for polar bears before turning west again. Depending on the conditions of the ice, a second day may be spent in this area (generally August). Otherwise, it's off to Sorgfjord in search of walruses. This is a great opportunity for a nature walk to see ptarmigans on an excursion.
Day 6: Hinlopen
The journey today takes us into the Hinlopen Strait which is home to ringed and bearded seals, blue whales and polar bears. If ice prevents this, your captain will take you on the west Spitsbergen route. Zodiac excursions into the ice flows of Lomfjordshalvoya are part of today's plan, as well as a visit to Nordaustlandet, a polar desert next to the third-largest ice cap in the world. You'll get a hike along the coast where you may spot walruses on the beach.
Day 7: Barentsoya
Today we will land in Freemansundet, if the polar bears aren't barring the way. You have the chance to stop at an old trapper's hut, a kittiwake colony, and a walk across the tundra. Kapp Lee is most likely where you will finish up the day.
Day 8: Land of the Pointed Mountains
Along the south Spitsbergen, we will cruise the side fjords of the Hornsund area viewing the 1,431m peaks that caused the Dutch explorers to name it "pointed mountains".
Day 9: Bell Sund
This is one of the biggest fjord areas in Svalbard. It is warmer here which is evident in the vegetation. You may see Ahlstrandhalvoy, which is known for piles of beluga skeletons. Although this is a sad reminder of exploitation in hunting practices, you will have a chance to view the pods that fortunately escaped extinction.
Day 10: Journey's End
Take the memories of an unforgettable experience as you disembark the cruise in Longyearbyen.
