A TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS
At The Ultimate Travel Company, all our holidays are created individually to suit your preferences and the Spitsbergen Circumnavigation itinerary can be used for inspiration or as a starting point for your luxury Arctic holidays. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular experience or wish to include extra stops on your journey, our experts will design an itinerary that is entirely unique to you.
ABOUT THE ITINERARY
For an all-round view of the richness of wildlife and the Spitsbergen Archipelago’s most remote coastal regions, take a Circumnavigation from Longyearbyen.
Make no mistake, this archipelago is very much at the frontier with the Arctic, and with wild nature itself. The largest settlement and administrative hub, Longyearbyen, sees so many polar bears that many establishments keep rifles ready as a last resort protection.
Polar bears aren’t the only resident creatures in great abundance. As you cruise around this remarkable collection of Svalbard islands, you could also meet with reindeers, see Arctic foxes and watch fat walrus lazing about on the water’s edge. Every day will bring you to another destination and another natural wonder. You’ll see the Monaco Glacier at Ljefdefjorden; go tundra-hiking at Worsleyneset; walk through a polar desert at Vibubutka; see nesting thick-billed murres at Alkefjellet; explore a tundra meadow at Sundneset.
All round, the Spitsbergen Circumnavigation is a natural wonder.
Shore visits are part of the experience but depend on weather conditions. Extra excursions vary with different itineraries and weather, and could typically include:
- Kayaking on the icy waters
- Hiking
- Snow shoeing
LONGYEARBYEN
Embark in Longyearbyen with its glacier-topped mountains.
SPITSBERGEN
Visit the awesome ice cliffs of the 14th of July glacier.
SMEERENBURG
Take a shore visit on Smeerenburg and discover the region’s whaling history.
MOFFEN ISLAND
View the Monaco glacier, go on a tundra hike and view the walrus sanctuary off Moffen Island.
PHIPPSOYA
Explore the seven islands of Phippsoya mini-archipelago.
VIBUBUKTA
Hike across a polar desert on Vibubukta and visit a beached whale skeleton. Sail past the awesome cliff of Alkefjellet.
SUNDNESET
Sail past the awesome cliff of Alkefjellet. Day 8: Walk across the unique tundra meadow of Sundneset.
Observe a colony of kIttiwakes that use a cavern on Diskobutka as a nesting site. Day 10: Visit Isbutka for a chance to watch polar bears hunt seals on the fast ice. Day 11: Go in search of a mining site and midnight sun-blooming flowers on Bourbonhamna.
ALKHORNET
Sail past Alkhornet with its vast numbers of nesting Guillemots and Murres.
FLY HOME
Disembark in Longyearbyen to catch your homeward flights.
The service we received from The Ultimate Travel Company was second to none. Tania took the time to understand exactly what we wanted and helped us explore every option clearly and thoroughly. Her first-hand knowledge of Kenya and safaris made a real difference – she explained everything brilliantly. The thoughtful extras, like the travel wallet and documents, were such a lovely touch – especially for someone who loves to travel well-organised! Thank you so much. We’ll definitely be back for future adventures.
We’ve been using Ultimate Travel for many years and have always experienced first-class, friendly, and professional service. Catherine has been our go-to person in recent years, and her exceptional support has made every trip trouble-free. Our holidays with AmaWaterways have been seamless, and we’re truly grateful to Catherine for making it all possible.
