Polar Regions Arctic Cruise

Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic

The 12-day Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic expedition offers so many chances to connect with unique Arctic wildlife. The archipelago is home to the iconic polar bear, as well as whales, walrus, Svalbard reindeer and tens of thousands of seabirds.

Begin and end in Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki is renowned for its extraordinary architecture and intriguing mix of eastern and western influences. The bulk of this expedition-style voyage is spent exploring, observing and taking in the beauty of the High Arctic. With no set agenda other than to see wildlife and glacial beauty, nine whole days are dedicated to exploring south, west and north Spitsbergen, with no rush and no agenda. Expert guides and naturalist leaders are enthusiastic about spotting polar bears on the hunt, walruses hauling out, reindeer foraging and incredible bird species nesting, which means they are constantly searching for Arctic wildlife.

Only the most interesting stops might interrupt the wildlife search, including the 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Phippsøya, Alkhornet and the Hinlopen Strait. With or without animal sightings, exploring the tundra is a breathtaking experience—the natural beauty of the landscape is exhilarating, surprisingly colorful and striking. See the best that Spitsbergen has to offer via the western edge of the island, plus a few outlying northern regions. The Arctic has been inspiring explorers for centuries, and now you can discover why.

The Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic expedition begins and ends in Helsinki, Finland with round-trip charter flights to and from Longyearbyen, Svalbard and is aboard the 128-guest Ocean Adventurer or 200-guest Ultramarine, both ice-stable ships equipped for personal and intimate Arctic exploration.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic cruises, Svalbard polar bear cruises and Arctic trips.