EXPLORING A POLAR WILDERNESS ABOARD A LUXURY EXPEDITION SHIP
Svalbard Odyssey
Booking Discount
10% off all cabins on 2024 departures 15% off all cabins on 2025 departures
Available on new bookings - Capacity is limited, please call for availability
Overview
On this exploration of the Svalbard archipelago, enjoy the best of this magical region, a world of near-endless daylight, where polar bear sightings quicken your pulse, guillemot cries echo from towering cliffs, and beluga whales rise from the sea. From a luxury expedition vessel, you will explore tundra adorned with wildflowers and look out for arctic fox, discover historic camps of explorers and hunters, push through pack ice to find walrus and bearded seals, and enjoy breathtakingly beautiful Norwegian fjords. The ships are specifically designed for active expeditions, with special platforms that allow for faster disembarkation from the ship so you can get out on your adventure quicker, whether by Zodiac or kayak. On board, enjoy supreme comfort in indoor lounge areas with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views and multiple open decks with expansive 270- to 360-degree views. Additional amenities include a gym or sauna, Jacuzzis on the top deck, and optional massages. This is expedition cruising at its finest!
Arrive: Longyearbyen, Norway
Depart: Longyearbyen, Norway
Highlights
- Venture close to 80° north looking for polar bears on the pack ice
- Chance to discover other arctic wildlife including walrus, guillemots, puffins, seals, reindeer, arctic fox, seabirds, and whales
- Zodiac past blue glaciers and through stunning fjords
- Enjoy hikes surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful scenery
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
Arrive in Longyearbyen, where you are met and transferred to the group hotel. This evening, enjoy a light refreshment as you meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and pre-embarkation briefing. Afterwards, dine at your leisure (dinner not included). Overnight at Radisson Blu Polar Hotel.
Enjoy a sightseeing excursion of Longyearbyen before transferring to the pier for embarkation in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we set sail. This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and the friendly Expedition Team and crew at the Captain's Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure.
Sail out of the beautiful Isfjorden, escorted by gliding fulmars and perhaps the occasional puffin. Find a spot in one of the observation areas to watch seabirds, including graceful ivory gulls, kittiwakes and guillemots. They rise and fall skilfully, using the air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.
Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design the day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions, and wildlife encounters.
Phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains ranges and a polar desert rich in fossils set the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. See walrus hauled-out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, stretch your legs on walks across tundra emerging in brightly-colored wildflowers. Visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard's largest little auk colonies. Most memorable are encounters with the majestic polar bear on pack ice. Your expedition team is just as keen as you to find them—they will be on constant watch to spot these inspiring creatures. If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you'll have the option to enjoy the activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you'll hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating plunge, a memory you'll savor for years to come.
During the early morning you will cruise back into Longyearbyen. Bid farewell your expedition team upon disembarkation and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport to continue your journey.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 1+, Easy. For most activities, a relatively moderate level of exertion is required. You will need to climb in and out of Zodiacs for excursions ashore and walk one to three miles over sometimes rough terrain such as uneven, rocky beaches.
Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.