Spitsbergen Highlights

Expedition in Brief

Map

Spitsbergen Highlights Expedition in Brief

Destination

Arctic Destinations

The rugged, remote Arctic remains one of the most unexplored domains on the planet. This ice-laden region encompasses the Canadian High Arctic; Greenland; the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which includes Spitsbergen; Russia; and at the very top of the planet, of course, the North Pole. It’s inhabited by polar bears, muskoxen, arctic foxes, beluga whales, reindeer, seals, walruses and migratory birds, among other wildlife species.

Destination

Destination Highlights

Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost city, is located on Spitsbergen and is the capital of the Svalbard archipelago. It started as a mining operation in1906 but much of the original town was burned down during the Second World War and the coal mines are gone. 

When to go

Best Time to See Polar Bears is May to August. The ice melts sufficiently during this period for ships to navigate the still icy waters. Polar bear sightings are common as the majestic creatures follow the pack ice on the hunt for food. The round-the-clock natural lighting is ideal for photography.

Date & departure point

Departure from Oslo, Norway

Departure on May 3 – 9, 2021. 7 days

On this extraordinary journey, you will pack all the excitement of an epic Arctic cruise into just seven days, cruising through pack ice along the west coast of Spitsbergen, retracing the steps of explorers from centuries past. Though this rocky island is covered in mountains and glaciers, the towering cliffs and fjords play host to a thriving and diverse ecosystem. 

Date & departure point

Expedition Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Oslo, Norway

Rates above include the following:

  • Leadership throughout your voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities

Activities

Included Activities

Hiking

Hiking in the polar regions differs from your typical trail experience. Here, in a tree-less terrain, you are the tallest figure on the landscape as you walk over spongy tundra, crusty snow or sandy beaches in remotes parts of the Arctic and Antarctica. 

Ship

The newest ship in our fleet, Ultramarine, is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to discover new places, and to immerse you in the best the region has to offer. Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, Ultramarine offers the most robust portfolio of adventure activities in the industry, the most spacious suites in its category, breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size. 

Cabins

Explorer Triple

Located on Deck 3, and approximately 285 sq. ft. (26.5 m2). This suite is perfect for guests traveling solo who want to share their experience with other like-minded travelers of the same gender, or for groups of three traveling together. Featuring three separate single beds, and amenities for each of the three guests.

SPA

Offering a variety of treatments exclusively crafted for our guests, the spa and adjacent steam room allow passengers & nbsp; to fully relax and unwind before their next off-ship adventure.

Cruise company & history

Cruise company & history of Quark Expeditions

Our History. Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell, the cofounders of Quark Expeditions, took the first group of commercial travelers to the North Pole In 1991. That inaugural, game-changing expedition—the first-ever tourism transit of the Northeast Passage—set Quark Expeditions on a course that would put us at the forefront of polar exploration. 

Sustainability

Our Polar Promise: Polar Exploration and Sustainability

  • Quark Expeditions is profoundly committed to environmentally responsible tourism. Protecting the places we visit is necessary to ensure we can continue to introduce travelers to the spectacular beauty of the polar wilderness. Through Polar Promise, our comprehensive sustainability strategy framework, we’ve incorporated existing sustainability initiatives into a cohesive plan so we can identify where we can do better or do more.