Spitsbergen Odyssey reveals the diversity of this island archipelago and takes us into the kingdom of the polar bear. We explore the coastline, with no open sea crossings. We’ll discover deep fjords in the west, mysterious, fossil-rich desert mountains in the east, and best of all, seals and whales in the Arctic pack ice. This voyage offers the best chance for seeing polar bears and features wildflower walks, trapper camps and historical remains of whaling stations.

An historical Trappers Station, friendly sled dogs, a natural history museum and the magnificent Advent River Valley feature on our half-day tour of Longyearbyen, commencing at the airport soon after we arrive. Warmly welcomed on board our expedition ship, Polar Pioneer, in the late afternoon, pulse rates quicken as we depart along stunning Isfjorden, a wonderland of bird cliffs, sweeping glaciers and majestic mountains.

Turquoise ice cliffs of the 14th July Glacier greet us, should we awaken in Magdalenefjorden, well north along Spitsbergen’s rugged west coast. As we soon learn, each day is action-packed, our itinerary dependent on weather, snow and ice conditions, and the presence of wildlife. Gulf Stream currents sweep up the coast, keeping temperatures relatively warm. Our Zodiacs carry us close to fantastic bird cliffs alive with guillemots, Atlantic puffins and thick-billed murres. We’ll look for bearded seals with their quaint, curling whiskers, and visit Ny Ålesund in Kongsfjorden, once a mining town, now a polar research centre. At Amsterdamoya we stretch our legs with tundra walks, ever alert for reindeer, Arctic fox and musk ox; poke about the remains of a 350-year- old Dutch whaling settlement and hear the tale of Swedish explorer Andrée’s ill-fated attempt to fly a balloon over the North Pole.

We enter the Arctic Ocean, searching for beluga whales, pack ice and polar bears as we round the northwest corner of Spitsbergen and make our way down Woodfjorden. Ringed, bearded and even small numbers of harp seals can be seen, both from our ship and Zodiacs. On shore we stretch our legs, searching for trappers’ huts and keeping a watchful eye for reindeer and Arctic fox. Polar bears with cubs often hunt for eggs on Leifdefjorden’s islands, the breeding grounds of eider ducks, Arctic terns, Arctic skuas, great skuas, glaucous gulls and black-legged kittiwakes. Just offshore huffing walrus feed on clams, or haul out on the beach in wallows, especially at Moffen Island, a sanctuary for these fantastic creatures. Along the pack ice edge we stay alert for sightings of minke and other whales. The long days are perfect for relaxed wildflower walks, allowing us time to photograph some of the tundra’s 164 species of flowering plants, including purple saxifrage, exquisite yellow spider plants and Svalbard poppies. If ice conditions allow, we’ll attempt to
cross latitude 80° North – cause for celebration!

Welcome to the wild side! Frigid Arctic currents sweep around Spitsbergen’s northeast corner, lowering air and sea temperatures, and creating a landscape worn down by severe frost. Even in summer, pack ice could bar our way. We attempt to pass through narrow Hinlopen Strait, between Spitsbergen and austere, ice-capped Nordaustlandet, sail down past Barentsøya and Edgeøya, eventually rounding South Cape. Our Russian crew and expedition staff call on their considerable expertise to reach some of the region’s highlights. We Zodiac cruise beneath Alkefjellt, sheer basalt cliffs that rise like an ancient castle more than 250-metres, adorned with some 200,000 nests of Brunnich’s guillemots literally buzzing with life. On Torrellneset, we could stealthily approach dozens of sleeping walrus. A true polar desert, the east coast offers walks among stunted glaciers, exposed fossil fields, and tundra, where we watch for Arctic fox, eider ducks and the elusive Svalbard ptarmi gan. We cross polar bear migration routes and may visit Sundeneset, a fertile plain covered in green mosses and delicate flowers, including the yellow marsh saxifrage.

This is true expedition cruising, where our plans are dictated by ice conditions and our desire to explore. If pack ice allows, we’ll round

South Cape, returning to the world of open water and rugged coastal mountains, and sail north toward Hornsund and Bellsund. If ice stops us on the East side, we’ll simply adjust our itinerary, backtrack and delve deeper into the wonders of Spitsbergen’s north and west coasts, including a visit to Hornsund in the south, where hundreds of thousands of little auks nest and darken the sky as they fly to and from their fishing grounds.

An early morning cruise of Isfjorden returns us to Longyearbyen, the end of our memorable voyage and a transfer to the airport or our hotel.