Itinerary

DAY 1 | LONGYEARBYEN & ISFJORD RADIO
After a late arrival to the high Arctic, we welcome you to a good night’s sleep at Basecamp Hotel in Longyearbyen. The history of Svalbard is embodied in this unique and rustic hotel. Each room has its own distinctiveness and tells stories of the Trappers' life in the north.
We recommend enjoying a slow morning, followed by some urban Arctic city life - exploring Longyearbyen prior to your departure to Isfjord Radio Adventure hotel later in the afternoon.
Isfjord Radio a solitude outpost located far from civilization, at the beautiful west coast of Isfjorden. A former radio station that has been transformed to a boutique hotel.
There are no roads leading here, and you stay as close to the Arctic Sea, the sky and the magnificent mountains as you possibly can.

14:00hrs: Pick Up at Basecamp Hotel in Longyearbyen.
15:00hrs: Boat departure to Isfjord Radio. We welcome you onboard Isfjord Ekpressen, and travel westwards on Isfjorden with a steady course towards Kapp Linné. Your hosts from Basecamp Explorer will be ready to welcome you upon your arrival at Isfjord Radio.
17:00-18:30hrs: Your hosts will take you on a station walk to tell more about the fascinating history of this unique destination. Spend the last hours of the day in the warm sauna situated on the sea cliff and enjoy a view that makes you forget about time and place. Who knows what kind of wildlife will swim by the sauna tonight?
20:00hrs: A 5-course dinner is served in the dining room.

Please note: In Spitsbergen, weather conditions can change quickly. This means we might need to make changes to the planned route, and this might lead us not arriving to the planned destination. It can also mean that we need to use a different transportation style or accommodation than described in the program.

DAY 2 | ISFJORDEN
After a good night’s sleep, you will wake up to a view you will remember forever. Enjoy your morning coffee or tea with a panoramic view of Kapp Linné bird sanctuary.

08:00-10:00hrs: Breakfast is served in the dining room.
10:00-16:00hrs: Whole day hike into the Arctic wilderness.

The different seasons with its flora and fauna define our trip, and the route of today follows the coast south towards Båtodden. We will walk by the beautiful Grieg mountain, facing the ocean view towards Greenland. Our knowledgeable guides will tell you more about the geology, history and wildlife in this area. Many of us have the Big Five of Svalbard on our bucket list, and Isfjord Radio Adventure Hotel is the perfect location to come across several of the animal species on this list. Keep your eyes open for walrus, polar bear, seal, arctic fox and the curious Svalbard reindeer. You will enjoy your lunch in the field.
Once back in the hotel, it is time to relax in one of the hotel's libraries or go for an Arctic swim.

20:00hrs: A 5-course dinner is served in the dining room, always with a touch of the Arctic.

DAY 3 | FJORD EXPLORATION
We challenge the toughest for a morning swim!

08:00-10:00hrs: Breakfast is served in the dining room.
10:00-15:00hrs: Today's adventure is a rib boat exploration in the fjords
18:00hrs: Embark MV Villa for your Svalbard Adventure!

From Isfjord Radio Adventure Hotel we take to the fjord in an open rib boat, for an adventure further afield in the local vicinity, this normally would include a call to Barentsburg which at the time of posting, March 2022, is closed. We will explore Grønfjorden and Isfjorden, experiencing majestic mountains, a rich wildlife and the view over the open Arctic Ocean with a scenic lunch ashore.
After returning to Isfjord Radio, we often gather around the bonfire for a refreshment when the wind is favourable. A real gem of the Isfjord experience!

18:00hrs: Embark MV Villa by boat transfer from Isfjord Radio - exclusive to the expedition company. Meet your dedicated expedition team and crew as they welcome you onboard , where you will embark MV Villa and make yourself at home. After you are settled in your cabin, we will conduct the mandatory safety briefing before we sail out into Isfjorden. Enjoy the open decks before a welcome dinner is served in the dining room.

Expedition mode begins as soon as we depart Isfjord – your Expedition Leader and Captain will determine the route based on wildlife, weather, and ice conditions. MV Villa is an excellent platform for photographing the stunning scenery as we sail towards the pack ice in search of seabirds, seals, whales, and, of course, the King of the Arctic… the polar bear.

Join your Expedition Guides on Zodiac cruises and on shore landings to explore, view wildlife and visit historic sites. With a maximum group size of 12 guests, we can mobilise quickly and easily take advantage of any wildlife-viewing opportunities that present themselves ashore or in the Zodiacs. This enables us to easily maximise your Svalbard experience!

DAY 4-9 | EXPLORE THE ARCHIPELAGO
We will be in full expedition mode, exploring the archipelago and taking advantage of all that Svalbard has to offer. Weather and ice conditions will determine the route and your Expedition Leader will keep you updated on the plan throughout your days onboard. On the final day we return to Longyearbyen to celebrate our shared adventures and dock for the night.

Below is an example of what an expedition can look like.
Northwest Corner: Sail through the northwest corner of Spitsbergen and explore with Zodiacs and landings.
Explore the Pack Ice: Search for wildlife and find that perfect spot for a polar plunge!
Hinlopen Strait: The strait that separates east from west of the Svalbard archipelago offers an abundance of hikes, bird cliffs, and spectacular scenery.
Liefdefjorden: We will explore deep into the fjord of love and might reach the mighty Monaco glacier.
Kongsfjorden: Hiking, glacier cruising, wildlife watching or visiting some of the historic sites of Svalbard are all possibilities here.
Isfjorden: Explore the fjord delta throughout the day and arrive at Longyearbyen in the evening.

DAY 10 | LONGYEARBYEN
Enjoy a final breakfast together as we arrive at Longyearbyen, our final destination where we bid you farewell for disembarkation.

@ Shutterstock

@ Shutterstock

@ Shutterstock