Day 1: Embarkation in Longyearbyen
Welcome to the top of the world! Arrive in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town with a population of around 2,400, situated at 78 degrees north on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago. Transfer to the port and board the G Expedition, your home for the next week. This ice-strengthened expedition vessel (105 meters, 134 passengers) is specially designed for polar exploration. After a mandatory safety briefing, settle into your cabin with ocean views. As the ship departs Longyearbyen, watch the colorful wooden houses of this frontier town disappear behind you as you head into true Arctic wilderness. Dinner is served in the ship’s dining room, and your expedition team introduces the plan for the coming days.
Meals: Dinner
Ship: G Expedition — ice-strengthened, 134 passengers, 69 crew
Days 2-7: Exploring the Svalbard Archipelago
For six full days, your expedition follows an ever-changing itinerary dictated by ice conditions, weather, and wildlife sightings. This flexibility is the essence of true expedition cruising — the Captain, Expedition Leader, and team continuously assess conditions to maximize your Arctic experience. Each day typically includes two or three Zodiac excursions, landing on remote beaches or cruising along glacier fronts.
Arctic Wildlife Encounters
Svalbard is one of the best places on Earth to observe polar bears in their natural habitat. The expedition team maintains constant watch from the bridge, scanning the ice edge for these magnificent predators. Polar bears can weigh up to 800 kilograms and are found throughout the archipelago hunting seals. You’ll also search for walrus colonies, often found hauled out on ice floes or beaches; Svalbard reindeer, a short-legged subspecies found nowhere else; Arctic foxes in their summer or winter coats; ringed and bearded seals; and countless seabirds including guillemots, little auks, fulmars, and the charismatic puffin.
Glacier & Ice Exploration
Zodiac cruises take you close to towering glacier fronts, where you’ll listen for the thunderous crack of ice calving into the sea. You may visit the Hornsund fjord system, dominated by the Hornsundtind massif, or explore Bellsund with its historical whaling stations and trappers’ huts from the 17th century. The ship navigates through sea ice, grinding through frozen waters in search of wildlife along the ice edge — the most productive Arctic ecosystem.
Lectures & Education
Between excursions, attend onboard lectures presented by the expedition team of polar experts, naturalists, marine biologists, and historians. Topics include polar bear biology, Arctic marine mammals, glaciology, the history of Arctic exploration, and climate change in the polar regions.
Optional Activities
For the ultimate Arctic immersion, sign up for the optional Arctic Kayaking program — paddle silently among icebergs and along glacier fronts in small groups accompanied by expert kayak guides. This is an unparalleled way to experience the Arctic wilderness at water level.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner daily
Included Activities: Daily Zodiac excursions, onboard lectures and educational programs, polar bear scouting from the bridge
Day 8: Disembarkation in Longyearbyen
After a final breakfast aboard, bid farewell to the G Expedition and her crew. Disembark in Longyearbyen, where you may have time to explore the town before your flight. Visit the Svalbard Museum to learn about the archipelago’s 400 years of history including whaling, mining, and polar exploration. Stop by the world’s northernmost post office to send postcards home, and browse the shops for unique Arctic souvenirs. Transfer to Longyearbyen Airport for your flight south, carrying memories of the high Arctic — a realm of ice, wildlife, and extraordinary beauty that few humans ever experience.
Tour Highlights: Polar bear spotting from an ice-strengthened ship, Zodiac landings and glacier cruises, walrus colonies on ice floes, Hornsund and Bellsund fjord systems, 24-hour daylight (Midnight Sun in summer), onboard lectures by polar experts, optional Arctic kayaking, world’s northernmost settlements
Ship: G Expedition — 105m / 344ft, 134 guests, 69 crew, ice-strengthened hull, fleet of Zodiac landing craft
Included: 7 nights aboard G Expedition, all meals (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners), daily Zodiac excursions, onboard lectures, expedition parka (to keep), rubber boots (loan), English-speaking expedition team
Season: June to August (Arctic summer — Midnight Sun, wildlife, and navigable waters)
