South Spitsbergen traveler in knit hat & blue jacket stands on ship deck & photographs blue iceberg on a misty day.
South Spitsbergen Explorer travelers in colorful jackets take a Zodiac cruise past mossy cliffs as white birds fight in midair nearby.
Line of South Spitsbergen cruise guests in various colorful coats hike over arid tundra near the sea on a sunny day.
A lone polar bear lays & rolls on pack ice, seen during a South Spitsbergen Explorer cruise.
Inlet with glassy water, mossy rocks & blue sky, seen on the South Spitsbergen Explorer cruise in the Arctic.
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Polar Regions Arctic Cruise

South Spitsbergen Explorer

On this 10-day South Spitsbergen Explorer cruise, experience arctic seabird colonies, ancient Pomor ruins and some of the least-visited locations of the high Arctic. Explore multiple key wildlife sites around the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, including such rarely seen spots as Bear Island and Hopen. While viewing all the amazing landscapes and ice formations, you will also get the chance to see polar bears, walrus haul-outs and flourishing seabird nesting areas.

For an all-encompassing route in 2025, combine this itinerary with the North Spitsbergen Basecamp itinerary for the 16-day Extensive North & South Spitsbergen – Bear Island voyage.

Cruise south Spitsbergen aboard 108-guest Ortelius, an ice-strengthened vessel designed for polar expedition with modern renovations. AdventureSmith Explorations’ crew of award-winning Arctic small ship cruise experts have personal experience sailing in the High Arctic. Contact us to discover more about this Arctic cruise and other options to suit your travel interests and timeline.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic cruisesSvalbard & Spitsbergen Cruises and Arctic trips.



Itinerary

South Spitsbergen Explorer - Bear Island - Hopen Itinerary

The South Spitsbergen Explorer cruise operates round-trip from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, exploring the lesser-visited southern end of the archipelago, including a rare visit to Hopen Island for historic remains and Bear Island with its large seabird colonies.

Route map of South Spitsbergen Explorer cruise round-trip from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, with visits along the southern shores, Bear Island & Hopen.
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Day 1
Embark Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening, the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of the voyage.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

dinner

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Day 2
Hornsund

Start the day by quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area in southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of towering mountain peaks. The mountain of Hornsundtind rises to 4,695 feet (1,431 meters), while the peak of Bautaen testifies to why early Dutch explorers gave this island the name Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains.” There are 14 magnificent glaciers in the area, and you have a fair chance of encountering seals and polar bears. The nearby cliffs of Sofiakammen are also home to thousands of pairs of nesting kittiwakes and little auks, and in the evening, you might see thousands of harp seals rutting on ice floes at Sørkapp.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 3
Seabird Colonies of Bear Island

Arrive at the southeastern end of Bear Island, a great place for viewing large seabird colonies. The nearby nesting cliffs are part of an extensive nature reserve where large ships are not allowed to bring passengers on shore. Afterward, sail northeast into Sorhamna, where you can get closer to the seabird cliffs. Chiefly Brünnichs guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars nest here. Just north of this, in Kvalrossbukta, land and see the remains of a whaling station from early in the previous century. You might also make a landing in a shallow valley, such as Rendalen, and look for (at a safe distance) great skuas, large seabirds known to be fiercely territorial. As you continue north along the east side of Bear Island, you may still encounter dazzling shoals of drift ice.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 4
Rarely Visited Hopen Island

On the way to Hopen, you may encounter sea ice with rutting harp seals. Land at the southern end of Hopen Island, at Koefoetodden, where you can see the remains of 17th-century whaling sites. Through nearby Bekkeskaret is an easy route to Kvasstoppen (620 feet, 190 meters) and the remains of a plane from World War II. Hopen Radio station is the most remote manned weather station in all of Svalbard.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 5
Along & Through the Pack Ice

The ship may still encounter heavy sea ice in the Barentsz Current, where you have a good chance of spotting polar bears as well as various species of seal and seabird.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 6
Kittiwakes, Canyons & South Edgeoya

Sailing along the western side of the Tusenöyane (where travelers are not allowed to land in summer), you may see polar bears and walruses as you approach Risetreppen. This beautiful canyon features an accessible kittiwake colony, and during a walk you may encounter reindeer on the lush tundra.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 7
Pomor Trappers at Russebukta

Today go to shore at Ardalstangen, a ruggedly scenic area with lakes and different species of waterfowl. Later in nearby Habenichtbukta, look from some distance to a wintering site of 18th-century Pomor trappers, who often stayed for years in the same place. Later in the afternoon, aim to land at the south side of Russebukta, near a tundra with reindeer and great walking opportunities.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 8
Guillemot Colony & South Spitsbergen

The goal for the first part of the day is a landing at the mountain of Stellingfjellet, near the largest colony of Brünnich’s guillemots in Spitsbergen. Later on, make landings at the rarely visited coast of south Spitsbergen, at the bay of Isbukta.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 9
Bell Sund's Flora, Fauna & Haunting History

Continue your voyage in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in Svalbard. The ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other areas in Spitsbergen.

Accommodations

Ortelius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 10
Disembark Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Even the greatest journeys must eventually come to an end. Disembark today in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever the next adventure lies.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel in the itinerary; all meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; all shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac; program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; free use of rubber boots and snow shoes; transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotel and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen; all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; AECO fees and governmental taxes; comprehensive pre-departure material; basic WiFi up to 1.5GB per 24 hours (additional data available for purchase on board).

Exclusions

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post-cruise land arrangements; transfers to/from the vessel outside Spitsbergen; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage and cancellation insurance; personal insurance (mandatory); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 90 days – 100% of deposit
89 to 60 days – 50% of total trip cost
59 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The South Spitsbergen Explorer – Bear Island – Hopen voyage begins and ends in Longyearbyen, Norway (LYR). Longyearbyen is only accessed via flights from Oslo, Norway (OSL). Some flights arrive very early in the morning, before standard hotel check-in; in these cases, we recommend booking an extra hotel night or arranging a day room option. We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. 

Plan flights to arrive to Longyearbyen by 3:00pm on Day 1 of the itinerary. Embarkation time is between 4:00 and 5:00pm on day of departure, with a 6:00pm departure. Transfers in Longyearbyen are provided on specified group flights. Travelers arriving on independently arranged flights should make their own way to the port on day of embarkation and to the airport upon disembarkation. Disembarkation is after breakfast on Day 10 of the itinerary. Plan flights to depart Longyearbyen no earlier than 2:30am on Day 10. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Activities

Various optional activities may be available on your South Spitsbergen voyage. Guided shore excursions, walks, wildlife spotting and Zodiac cruises are included in the fare and will be offered to all passengers during each voyage. Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting. The landings will take 3 to 6 hours per day over untracked area. According to circumstances (the weather, the ice-situation or the passengers’ wishes) the program can sometimes be adjusted. Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at 1.7x the per-person Twin or Superior listed rates. Single travelers wishing to book on a “sharing basis” may do so at no additional cost in Twin, Triple or Quadruple categories upon availability.

Families & Children

Upon request (some voyages may be excluded), children under 16 years old with parents may receive a 40% discount in the following cabins: Grand Suite, Superior, Triple (1 child sharing with 2 parents/adults) and Quadruple (1 child sharing with 3 parents/adults, or 2 children sharing with 2 parents/adults). Parents are entirely responsible for their children at all times, on land and on board; there is no onboard day care or nursery facility.

Travel Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $100,000 per person. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditionswildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition.

Rates & Dates

Cruise Rates & Dates

Jul 03 - Jul 12, 2025
Ortelius • 10 days
From $5650USD
Per Person
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Accommodation

Learn About the Small Ship on Your Itinerary

Expedition Ship
Ortelius

The 108-guest M/V Ortelius is an ice-strengthened small ship designed for polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica. She offers passengers a quality exploratory wildlife program to spend as much time ashore as possible.

Expert Review

Reviews from Our Experts So You Know What to Expect

Arielle Lightcap • January 7th, 2020
Expert Review: What to Expect on a Polar Bear Cruise

A travel expert lends her Arctic cruise insight on what you can expect aboard a small ship polar bear cruise in the Arctic Svalbard region.

Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

Extend Your Trip

Additional Travel Options Before or After Your Cruise

In 2025, the South Spitsbergen Explorer itinerary can be combined with the North Spitsbergen Basecamp itinerary for the 16-day Extensive North & South Spitsbergen – Bear Island operating round-trip from Longyearbyen with no repeated landing sites. Please inquire with an Adventure Specialist for further details.

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