Arctic Cold Coast Islands Itinerary 2026-2028

This morning, I arrived in Longyearbyen by charter or commercial flight. This small town on the island of Spitsbergen is the world's northernmost inhabited city, with a population of less than 2,500, yet it boasts an airport, supermarkets, bars, and museums—the last vestige of civilization before venturing into the Arctic wilderness. Upon arrival, a short stop in the city center is recommended for a visit to the Svalbard Museum, offering insights into Arctic ecology and the history of human Arctic exploration. In the afternoon, board a professional polar expedition vessel and depart from the dock for a week-long adventure exploring glaciers, fjords, and wildlife.

The ship sailed north along the northwest coast of Spitsbergen, venturing deep into the fjords surrounded by glaciers and steep peaks. These two days are planned to include a visit to the renowned 14th of July Glacier, where the cliffs are teeming with the calls of Arctic seabirds, black-footed gulls, and pink-footed geese. There's also a possible landing in the abandoned mining town of Ny-London to explore early 20th-century Arctic industrial relics and search for caribou roaming the tundra. During the inflatable boat tour, the expedition will take you up close to calving glaciers and photograph the blue icebergs floating in the fjords.

The ships continued north or northeast, entering the edge of the sea ice zone—the core area where polar bears are found. The expedition team will take turns observing from the bridge day and night, immediately notifying passengers to go up to the deck for filming upon any sighting. Past voyages have successfully recorded footage of polar bears hunting seals on ice floes and mother bears leading their cubs across the ice fields. They will also attempt to land on remote islands such as Phippsøya and Isbukta, and, when conditions permit, view the "White Island" of Kvitøya—one of the very few Arctic wildernesses accessible to expedition ships.

On the return journey, we will make the most of our last day of exploration. The ship is expected to visit Poolepynten or a similar walrus habitat to observe adorable sights of groups of Arctic walruses napping and rolling on the beach; and may also conduct a Zodiac cruise on the Alkefjellet cliffs—one of the most spectacular gatherings of seabirds in the Arctic, home to over 60,000 pairs of thick-billed ravens. In the evening, the ship will turn south and return to Longyearbyen.

We arrived in Longyearbyen in the early morning and, after breakfast, officially bid farewell to the polar expedition ship.You will return to the real world with photos full of polar bears, glaciers, and walruses. We suggest extending your stay in town to learn more about the Svalbard Global Seed Vault or participate in ground activities such as dog sledding to continue your Arctic journey; or you can take a direct flight back to Oslo/Helsinki and be picked up for your international flight home.