Tours of Svalbard

Our Discovery collection draws together the best of our holidays that focus on the culture of a destination, as well as on visiting iconic sights and embracing local traditions. Some of these Discovery holidays will also have an element of activity, combining sightseeing with short walks, for example. Others might have a multi-activity holiday format, including biking and/or rafting, for instance, and these holidays are specifically designed for the adrenaline seeker! Also within our discovery collection are those of our holidays with a wildlife emphasis, photographic workshops, and polar cruise holidays. Never too physically demanding, these are predominantly touring holidays and their grade (usually towards the lower end of our 1 to 12 scale) reflects, in part, the remoteness of the area visited and the conditions likely to be encountered. Our Discovery holidays allow the discerning traveller to get right to the heart of many of the world's most stimulating destinations.

Polar Cruise - Realm of the Polar Bear in Depth

Similar to our Realm of the Polar Bear but with 3 additional days in Arctic waters, this exciting 10-day cruise to the Svalbard archipelago is a once in a life time opportunity to see polar bears and other arctic wildlife in their natural habitat while cruising along some of the most remote coastlines in the world. Our home for this incredible holiday is the very comfortable MS Expedition, a recently refitted and refurbished vessel, uniquely equipped to meet the demands of cruising in polar regions. We board the boat in the world's most northerly town of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen. From here we will make a leisurely circumnavigation of the island investigating the its many fjords and bays. From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region's plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of nonstop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife we will explore Svalbard not only by ship but also up close from small Zodiac boats and on foot. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land which is only accessible for just a couple months of the year. Each day of our cruise there are presentations and informative talks from the expert expedition staff on the wildlife, history and environment of the area and these are followed up with excursions in the Zodiacs guided by the expedition staff. There are also opportunities for exploration on foot in the company of polar experts. Outfitted as a cruise ship, the MS Expedition provides an excellent base for polar exploration. With dining areas, presentation rooms, good sized cabins, and viewing decks, we will have plenty of space and entertainment whilst onboard. After our 10 day cruise through the Arctic waters of Svalbard, we dock at Longyearbyen and disembark with some very special memories.

Great value, reasonable prices, quality experiences. Comfortable and varied tourist-class accommodations chosen for location and character. Mix of public and private transport for the best overall experience. All the top highlights included, plus plenty of time to explore on your own.

Realm of the Polar Bear in Depth

Tour Map of Realm of the Polar Bear in Depth

Similar to our Realm of the Polar Bear tour, with three additional days of exploring. Scour the ice and tundra in search of the elusive polar bear and encounter even more icebergs, glaciers, and unique wildlife than you ever thought possible on this 11-day expedition. Search for lounging seals, grazing reindeer, and colonies of birds under the midnight sun.

Our Discovery collection draws together the best of our holidays that focus on the culture of a destination, as well as on visiting iconic sights and embracing local traditions. Some of these Discovery holidays will also have an element of activity, combining sightseeing with short walks, for example. Others might have a multi-activity holiday format, including biking and/or rafting, for instance, and these holidays are specifically designed for the adrenaline seeker! Also within our discovery collection are those of our holidays with a wildlife emphasis, photographic workshops, and polar cruise holidays. Never too physically demanding, these are predominantly touring holidays and their grade (usually towards the lower end of our 1 to 12 scale) reflects, in part, the remoteness of the area visited and the conditions likely to be encountered. Our Discovery holidays allow the discerning traveller to get right to the heart of many of the world's most stimulating destinations.

Polar Cruise - The Realm of the Polar Bear

This exciting 8-day cruise to the Arctic waters of the Svalbard archipelago is a once in a life time opportunity to see polar bears and other arctic wildlife in their natural habitat while cruising along some of the most remote coastlines in the world. Our home for this incredible holiday is the very comfortable MS Expedition, a recently refitted and refurbished vessel, uniquely equipped to meet the demands of cruising in polar regions. We board the boat in the world's most northerly town of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen. From here we will make a leisurely circumnavigation of the island investigating the its many fjords and bays. From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region's plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of nonstop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife we will explore Svalbard not only by ship but also up close from small Zodiac boats and on foot. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land which is only accessible for just a couple months of the year. Each day of our cruise there are presentations and informative talks from the expert expedition staff on the wildlife, history and environment of the area and these are followed up with excursions in the Zodiacs guided by the expedition staff. There are also opportunities for exploration on foot in the company of polar experts. Outfitted as a cruise ship, the MS Expedition provides an excellent base for polar exploration. With dining areas, presentation rooms, good sized cabins, and viewing decks, we will have plenty of space and entertainment whilst onboard. After our 8 day cruise through the Arctic waters of Svalbard, we dock at Longyearbyen and disembark with some very special memories.

Great value, reasonable prices, quality experiences. Comfortable and varied tourist-class accommodations chosen for location and character. Mix of public and private transport for the best overall experience. All the top highlights included, plus plenty of time to explore on your own.

Realm of the Polar Bear

Tour Map of Realm of the Polar Bear

From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region’s plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of non-stop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife that live in this polar wilderness, you’ll explore this landscape not only by ship but also on foot and via Zodiac. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer, and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land we dare only to explore a few months of the year.