Set sail on Svalbard – Last Stop Before the North Pole, an 8-day expedition into the high Arctic where wilderness still rules and nature’s extremes define every moment. As you leave civilization behind, the pack ice north of Svalbard becomes your frontier—and perhaps home to one of the Arctic’s greatest icons: the polar bear.
Your journey begins in Longyearbyen, where the Arctic’s edge feels immediate. From there you sail north and west along Svalbard’s rugged coasts, passing soaring mountains, glaciers that pinch fjords, and cliffs alive with nesting seabirds. Drift in Zodiac boats, stand on silent shores, and watch for reindeer, polar foxes, and the walrus hauled out on rocky beaches.
As you push toward pack ice, the world simplifies: sky, ice, sea. Here you may glimpse seals lounging on floes, whales surfacing near the ice edge, and – with luck – polar bears roaming across a frozen landscape, their realm of ice and cold.
On shore, explore the quiet contrasts of the Arctic’s high latitudes. Hiking across tundra sprouting a brief burst of summer life; navigating glacial shorelines where the sound of ice calves echoes in still air. Every moment became about being present—at the edge of land, at the edge of ice, and witness to nature unfettered.
Not sure if this is your ideal Arctic adventure? Our Destination Arctic overview gives you advice on timing, wildlife seasons, route styles, and how to find your perfect match.
And why stop there? Extend your exploration with pre- or post-voyage escapes through Mexico, Panama, or the legendary Cuba. Browse North South Journeys to turn this trip into a chapter of something truly epic.
