The Norwegian fjords, Bear Island & Svalbard

Day 1: Bergen

The great journey begins in the city of Bergen, beautifully surrounded by high mountains and deep fjords. We stay the night at a centrally located hotel.

Day 2-9: Northern Norway

We embark the beautiful M/S Stockholm and head towards the beautiful passage of Alversund. During our adventure along the Norwegian coast we hope to visit some of the following places:

Ålesund

Upon reaching Ålesund we explore this small town, built in a true Art Nouveau style, enjoying its delightfully decorated facades, towers and pinnacles.

Geirangerfjorden

We get to know the majestic Storfjorden and pay a visit to the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjorden, which is characterised by deep blue water and lush mountain plains with beautiful waterfalls.

Grip

This deserted fishing village is now popular with summer guests. Its original and colourful wooden buildings are well preserved. We visit the beautiful church and we also pass by the small and very dramatically situated lighthouse.

Torghatten

On our way north we sail past famous natural attractions like the mountain peaks known as the Seven Sisters, followed by Torghatten – a rock with a big hole, that the ice sheet once created, or according to the legend; the hole a giant created in despair from a broken heart.

Kerringøy

Kjerringøy is a real gem on the Norwegian coast. Here we encounter a diverse landscape of mountains, white sandy beaches and small farming communities, but the island is most famous for its old trading post. This is a unique heritage consisting of 15 well-preserved houses, which gives the visitor a great insight into what it was like to live in this northern trading town in the 1800s.

Reine

We hope to visit the picturesque fishing village of Reine. This charming village, with characteristic wooden houses overlook Kirkefjord with high mountain tops in the background. It is not difficult to see why it was once voted Norway’s most beautiful place.

Nusfjord

Nusfjord is a well-preserved and authentic fishing community with focus on cod fishing. The village is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list of unique wooden houses with a charming old fashioned shop well worth a visit. We sail further along what is known as the Lofoten wall. In the evening we enter magical Trollfjorden and later set course towards Tromsø.

Tromsø

In Tromsø we visit the prestigious Polar Museum and learn more about the first polar explorers, who went north to seek fame and fortune. The city is known as Paris of the North, which derives from its vast cultural offerings.

Day 10: At sea

We set sail towards the remote Bear Island, situated in the middle of the Barents Sea. (The exact day of the crossing can change and is depending on the weather.)

Day 11 - 16: Bear Island & Svalbard

On the 400-meter high cliffs of Bear Island, hundreds of thousands of seabirds are nesting – puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes among others. If wind and weather allows, we aim to do a spectacular Zodiac cruise along the impressive bird cliffs and set foot on this rarely visited island.

We then continue our journey and sail over night. Our next destination is Svalbard – one of the world’s most magnificent wildernesses. It is spring in the Arctic and it is a powerful experience to witness the archipelago spring to life. We enjoy the stunning nature that surrounds us – sparkling ice formations, snow covered mountains and glistering glaciers. Where we can travel depends on the drift ice that often accumulates here at this time of year. We may explore the majestic Hornsund, which consists of several fjords where glaciers calve out shimmering blue icebergs. In Bellsund, we hope to reach Vårsolbukta, where tens of thousands of little auks nest.

Day 17: Longyearbyen

We disembark in Longyearbyen and begin our journey home.

Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Our exact route will depend on the ice, weather conditions, wildlife and government regulations. The places mentioned are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. We always strive to maximise your experience. Please remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

Important!

To ensure responsible tourism and protection of the environment, new regulations come into force in Svalbard on 1 January 2025. Read more about the regulations and PolarQuest's comments about these changes.