Tour overview

This 8-day expedition cruise sails around Svalbard under the midnight sun, in search of polar bears, walruses, whales and the great glaciers of the high Arctic. Return charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen are included. You spend seven nights aboard the Ocean Albatros, a modern ice-class expedition ship with cabins with views, most with balconies, observation decks and two outdoor hot tubs. All meals are included on board, and an expedition team leads Zodiac landings and cruises as conditions allow.

From Oslo you fly to Longyearbyen, the northernmost town on Earth, and board your ship. Two days in Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, once a base for Dutch and English whalers, bring Arctic flowers, seabird cliffs and the chance of walruses and reindeer. In the northeast of the archipelago, without the warming Gulf Stream, a stark polar desert of glaciers and ice caps is home to Arctic foxes and nesting seabirds.

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Sailing to some of the northernmost land on Earth, you may visit Nordaustlandet or the Sjuøyane islands, then cruise to the edge of the Arctic ice pack, where seals, beluga and bowhead whales and the polar bear live among the floes. Your final stop is Kongsfjorden, framed by glaciers and the Three Crowns, and Ny-Ålesund, the world's northernmost settlement and the base of polar explorers such as Roald Amundsen, before you return to Longyearbyen and fly to Oslo.

The physical rating is medium, with Zodiac landings in cold conditions. This voyage suits travellers who dream of seeing the high Arctic and its wildlife.

Trip highlights

  • Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost town (Day 1)
  • Northwest Spitsbergen National Park (Days 2–3)
  • The polar desert of northeast Svalbard (Day 4)
  • Nordaustlandet and Sjuøyane (Day 5)
  • The edge of the Arctic ice pack (Day 6)
  • Ny-Ålesund and Kongsfjorden (Day 7)

Your route

6 stops from Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen

8-day route: Oslo – Longyearbyen – Northwest Spitsbergen – Northeast Svalbard – Nordaustlandet – Arctic ice pack – Kongsfjorden – Longyearbyen
  1. Longyearbyen Day 1
  2. Northwest Svalbard Days 2–3
  3. Northeast Svalbard Day 4
  4. North Svalbard Days 5–6
  5. Kongsfjorden Day 7
  6. Longyearbyen Day 8

Why choose this tour

The high Arctic under the midnight sun, with charter flights from Oslo. Zodiac landings led by an expedition team.

Best suited to

  • Wildlife lovers and photographers
  • Travellers seeking remote places
  • Repeat cruisers
  • Couples and solo travellers
A glacier with icy cliffs meeting a fjord

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Oslo, Norway to Oslo, Norway

  1. Day 1 · Oslo, Longyearbyen Longyearbyen

    Fly north and board.

    Hotel
    Ocean Albatros
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Northwest Spitsbergen National Park Northwest Svalbard

    Whalers' history and wildlife.

    Hotel
    Ocean Albatros
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Northwest Spitsbergen National Park Northwest Svalbard

    Landings and glaciers.

    Hotel
    Ocean Albatros
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Northeast Svalbard Northeast Svalbard

    A polar desert.

    Hotel
    Ocean Albatros
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Nordaustlandet, Sjuøyane North Svalbard

    The northernmost land.

    Hotel
    Ocean Albatros
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Arctic Ocean Arctic ice pack

    Among the floes.

    Hotel
    Ocean Albatros
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Ny-Ålesund, Kongsfjorden Kongsfjorden

    The northernmost settlement.

    Hotel
    Ocean Albatros
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Longyearbyen, Oslo Oslo

    Fly back to Oslo.

    Meals
    Breakfast
An iceberg below Svalbard's mountains

Where you stay

  • Svalbard (7 nights) Ocean Albatros expedition ship

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Return charter flights Oslo–Longyearbyen
  • Accommodation 7 nights aboard the Ocean Albatros
  • Meals 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Zodiac landings and cruises
  • Expedition team and onboard talks
  • Transfers in Longyearbyen
  • Coffee, tea and water throughout

Not included

  • Flights to Oslo
  • Drinks other than coffee, tea and water
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance, tips and personal spending
Colourful houses in Longyearbyen

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a guaranteed itinerary
  • You are prone to seasickness
  • You want a land-based holiday
  • You want flights from the UK included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Days 2–7 · Dinner: Days 1–7
Walruses resting on an Arctic shore

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £6,221 per person, twin share, tour only. 12 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Will I see polar bears?

There's a good chance near the ice pack, but sightings can never be guaranteed.

Are the flights to Svalbard included?

Yes, the charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen are included.

Does the route change?

Yes, the expedition team adapts the route to ice, weather and wildlife.

Do I need a visa?

UK citizens don't need a visa for Norway or Svalbard for short stays.

What should I pack?

Warm, waterproof layers, a hat and gloves. Waterproof boots are usually provided for landings.

What is the ship like?

A modern ice-class expedition ship with cabins with views, observation decks and hot tubs.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £6,221
See dates & prices