Skip to main content
Arctic
Spitsbergen In Depth Big Islands, Big Adventure

Spitsbergen In Depth Big Islands, Big Adventure

Starting From:
$8,492 USD
Duration:
14 days

This 14-day journey offers the most extensive exploration of Spitsbergen in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, including the opportunity to witness iconic Arctic wildlife like walrus, reindeer and polar bears, a glimpse into 16th-century maritime culture at secluded landing sites, and the rare chance to appreciate breathtaking views at the birdwatching utopias 14th of July Glacier and Alkefjellet. If conditions allow, we will also attempt a full circumnavigation of the archipelago during this memorable voyage, including a visit to the remote, uninhabited Arctic desert of Nordaustlandet.

The wildlife-viewing opportunities on this trip will leave you with plenty of memories and photos: the walrus with its long tusks and distinctive whiskers; Arctic birds in all their varied majesty; small herds of reindeer loping across the tundra; and that most iconic of Arctic creatures, the polar bear, as it roams the edges of the pack ice. Shore excursions by Zodiac will enable you to set foot in places few humans have. This voyage truly is the big adventure you’ve been waiting for.

Spitsbergen In Depth: Big Islands, Big Adventure
Expedition in Brief

Encounter iconic Arctic wildlife, such as polar bears, walrus and reindeer

View numerous Arctic bird species, like puffins, Arctic terns and purple sandpipers

Take advantage of continuous daylight

Explore glaciers, fjords, icebergs and more with included Zodiac cruising

Immerse yourself in the icy realm of the Arctic with optional kayaking adventures

Hike the tundra and polar desert

Make Your Polar Dream a Reality

All we need is a little bit of information about your travel preferences and one of our Polar Travel Advisors will be in touch.

Your Ships

When it comes to polar expeditions, you’re only as good as where your ships can take you. And our diverse fleet of small polar vessels, which includes icebreakers and expedition ships, can take you to places larger ships can’t navigate. View All of Our Ships

Ice Class

1A

Cruising Speed

12 knots

in open water

Guests

128

Staff and Crew

87

Ocean Adventurer - Lower Deck
Lower Deck

The Lower Deck Twin cabins feature two lower berths, private facilities (including storage space and heated towel rack), as well as a porthole with exterior views.

  • Lower Deck Twin
Ocean Adventurer - Main Deck
Main Deck

Guests who book the Main Deck Twin Window, Main Deck Twin Porthole and Triple suites have the advantage of easy access to the gym, which is also located on the Main Deck. Guests on the Main Deck also have direct access to the Zodiac Boarding Rooms, their starting point for exciting off-ship Adventure Options.

  • Main Deck Twin Window
  • Main Deck Twin Porthole
  • Triple
Ocean Adventurer - Upper Deck
Upper Deck

Interacting with fellow guests, crew and members of the Expedition Team is integral to life onboard a polar vessel. Lots of socializing takes place on the Upper Deck of Ocean Adventurer. The Main Lounge, a theatre-style auditorium on the Upper Deck, is large enough to accommodate everyone onboard the vessel. It serves as the main lecture hall where you’ll attend expert presentations and films. The Captain’s Welcome and daily briefings also take place in the Main Lounge, which offers a full-service bar. At the opposite end of the ship is the Main Restaurant and the smaller, more intimate Clipper Club dining room. The Polar Boutique—full of lots of souvenirs and outdoor gear—is conveniently located on this floor, near the Reception. Superior Suites are on the Upper Deck.

  • Superior
Ocean Adventurer - Captain's Deck
Captain's Deck

The well-appointed Deluxe Suite (two berths) and Suite (double bed), both of which have exterior-view windows, are located on the Captain’s Deck as is the ever popular Polar Library. Open 24-hours daily, the library contains polar books, reference and general reading materials in multiple languages, covering subjects such as wildlife, history, marine biology, ecology and geology. Guests can also choose from a selection of games. The Clinic is just adjacent to the Polar Library.

  • Suite
  • Deluxe
  • Superior
Ocean Adventurer - Bridge Deck
Bridge Deck

Guests may be granted access to the Bridge, where they can observe how the Captain and officers sail and navigate the vessel. Also on this deck are the Owner's Suites, which are furnished with a double bed and private sitting room, as well as a large panoramic window (facing aft, port or starboard depending on the specific suite).

  • Owner's Suite
Ocean Adventurer - Observation Deck
Observation Deck

For clear views of your polar surroundings, you’ll want to spend time on the Observation Deck. Bring your camera and binoculars. Passing wildlife, as well as ice-laden landscapes, are frequently observed from the Observation Deck.

Included Activities

Passengers Hiking in Svalbard
Hiking

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... Read more
Passenger getting ready for a polar plunge in the Arctic

Polar Plunge

The Polar Plunge is scheduled once during each voyage. Throughout the journey, the Expedition Leader and Captain constantly monitor conditions in order to choose the optimal time and location. The Polar Plunge sometimes takes plac... Read more
Zodiac cruising in the Arctic
Zodiac

Zodiac Cruising

Zodiacs are used for transferring you ashore, transporting your luggage when necessary and for taking you ocean-level cruising among icebergs, whales and seabirds. During the expedition, you will visit remote and isolated sites th... Read more

Adventure Options

Paddling excursion in the Arctic
Paddling

Paddling Excursion

Every sweep of the paddle as your craft glides through the pristine polar waters creates an incredible soundtrack: the jostle of glacial ice, the lapping of waves against the rocky shore, the perpetual drip from your paddle, the c... Read more
Passengers kayaking in Arctic Landscape

Sea Kayaking

Positioning yourself in the seat of a kayak is one of the most intimate ways travelers can connect with the polar regions—at water level, up close, where you can touch and feel every polar sensation imaginable. The Sea Kayak Progr... Read more

Possible Excursions

When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. The following sites are a sample of what you may experience on your expedition, whether by ship, Zodiac cruise, helicopter, or shore landing.

Hornsund

The most southerly fjord in Svalbard offers some of the most spectacular scenery, with dramatic calving glaciers, drifting pack ice and majestic peaks (the highest of which are often shrouded in mist). A Polish research station has operated on the northern shore of Hornsund since 1957. Part of Sør-Spitsbergen National Park, this pristine area is rich in wildlife— reindeer, Arctic fox and polar bears can be spotted hunting for food, while seals bask on floating ice.

Alkefjellet

This cliff is a seabird colony, where Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres) raise their young. An estimated 100,000 breeding pairs reside on the basalt cliffs. The birds do not build nests; rather, they lay eggs on the bare ledges of the cliff. Witness the spectacle of thousands of birds flying to and from their cliff edge, speckling the sky and water, like a beehive on a much grander scale.

Diskobukta

This bay on the west shore of Edgeøya affords a landing site with a box canyon where black-legged kittiwakes raise their young. Arctic foxes have been seen combing the canyon floor to feed on scraps that have fallen from the nests above. Watch for the bones of ancient bowhead whales—evidence that the land is rebounding since the last major glaciation.

Isbukta

On the eastern shore of the southern tip of Svalbard is Isbukta, which means ‘Ice Bay.’ Sabine’s gulls, skuas and bearded seals inhabit the bay. Polar bears are known to patrol the area as well.
 

Kvitøya

The western part of this island is only 39 miles (62 km) from Victoria Island in Franz Josef Land, which is part of the Russian Arctic. This remote outpost is actually closer to the Russian Arctic than it is to Nordaustlandet (50 miles/81 km).

Moffen Island

This island is designated as a protected sanctuary for walrus, which are best viewed from the water—have your cameras ready!

Nordaustlandet Island

This is the second-largest island in the entire Svalbard archipelago, and home to the polar desert. Featured here is Bråsvellbreen, an ice cap connected to the larger Austfonna, which together form a 112-mile- (180 km) long ice cliff. Bråsvellbreen’s glacier face makes for an impressive sight during a Zodiac cruise, stretching all the way to the horizon.

Phippsøya and Martensøya, Seven Islands

This small archipelago is the northernmost land in Svalbard. Englishmen left their mark during a survey of the islands in the 1780s. The party named the islands after themselves, with the smallest and least significant island being named Nelsonøya, after the lowly midshipman who was promoted over the years to the rank and title of Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson! Featuring austere polar desert landscapes, and often shrouded in pack ice, these islands are closer to the North Pole than anywhere else in Svalbard.

Lilliehöök Glacier

In 2005, nearly 100 years after his great- great-grandfather conducted scientific investigations here, Prince Albert II of Monaco returned to Lilliehöök Glacier to further our understanding of the Arctic clam, a species that lives for more than a century. Here, you can take a Zodiac cruise amid labyrinths of sparkling icebergs, and witness breathtaking panoramas of ice. You may even spot bearded seals hauled out on the floes.

Longyearbyen

Home to 2,400 people, the administrative capital of Svalbard is situated on the southern side of Adventfjord.The settlement was founded in 1905 by John Munroe Longyear, the majority owner of the Arctic Coal Company of Boston. Today as much as ever, this is a true frontier town.

Monaco Glacier

Prince Albert I of Monaco, a pioneer of oceanography, led an expedition to Svalbard in 1906. His team used sophisticated photographic techniques to understand the shape and position of several glacier fronts. Monaco Glacier honors the expedition, the prince and the principality over which he reigned. While touring the glacier front by Zodiac cruise, listen to the crackle and pop of the brash ice, search for seals and have a chance to admire a natural sculpture gallery.

Departure Dates and Cabins

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 Departures
Make Your Polar Dream a Reality

All we need is a little bit of information about your travel preferences and one of our Polar Travel Advisors will be in touch.

Extend Your Trip

Getting to the Arctic can be just as much fun as being there. Quark Expeditions offers multiple travel packages that enable you to see more of the world before and after your Arctic adventure. Contact Us
Helsinki Cathedral (Helsinki, Finland)

Helsinki, Finland

The city of Helsinki is actually an archipelago of 315 islands that contains scores of lush green parks and what seems like an endless string of dark blue lakes. Often called the “Daughter of the Baltic,” Finland’s capital sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. The architecture of Scandinavia is a startling mix of traditional wooden and stone houses mixed in with tall glass towers and office blocks that reflect contemporary Scandinavian minimalism and art-nouveau modern.

Passenger Reviews