Overview

Islands at the end of the Earth

Halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, some 1500km inside the Arctic Circle is the Svalbard archipelago – one the world's most spectacular wilderness and wildlife areas.

For this incredible adventure your home will be the intimate M/S Stockholm, a small expedition ship built specifically for Arctic waters. A smaller ship like this offers you an entirely different experience than the one you will get on a larger, more conventional cruise ship. Nimble and flexible, they allow us to make regular landfalls using sturdy RIBs to explore the polar wilderness and its spectacular wildlife.

The exact route and activities will be determined by weather and ice conditions and wildlife sightings.

As a member of this Svalbard Wilderness Expedition you will be on standby for nature and photographic action at all times. Sometimes you may be woken in the early hours of the morning as we sail past a glorious iceberg on a smooth sea – a sight not to be missed. Other times you will be woken the middle of a bright night because a polar bear has been spotted in its amazing white domain. This is the land of the midnight sun.

May is characterised by a lot of snow and a wonderful purity. It is still spring in the Arctic and Polar Bear cubs and seals can sometimes be seen on the ice of the fjords and in front of the glaciers. The mighty pack is also not far away.

 

Itinerary

14 May
Depart London Heathrow at 1535 and land in Oslo at 1845. Overnight at a leading airport hotel.

15 May
Breakfast at your hotel.

Flights to Svalbard departing at 1015 landing 1305.

Warm welcome at the airport and transfer to Longyearbyen. Short time in Longyearbyen.

4pm transfer to the M/S Stockholm moored in the harbour and the expedition begins!

16 May to 24 May
The nine days of your Svalbard Polar Bear and Nature Safari will be spent on the M/S Stockholm exploring the fjords, glaciers and other incredible landscapes of the Svalbard Archipelago. The exact day‐to‐day itinerary is very flexible and will be determined by photographic and nature opportunities, weather conditions and the density of the pack ice in the North.

All meals will be served on board. The Stockholm makes for great photography – and there will be quite a bit of photography from the boat along with numerous RIB excursions and island landings. The daily itinerary will be discussed each night over dinner and again at breakfast which, with the help of the captain and ship staff, will give you the ability to focus on photography, scenery and wildlife. During the cruise there will be times when you travel at sea just to get to the next location but this makes for great time to work on your image catalogue, relax in your cabin or take landscape images of the incredible landscapes that Svalbard is so well known for.

25 May
Arrival in Longyearbyen
Breakfast on board
Time to explore Longyearbyen before an afternoon transfer to the airport.
Flights back to the UK as detailed.

Accommodation

M/S Stockholm

The M/S Stockholm is a classic vessel built in 1953 for the Swedish National Maritime Administration and now a small & personal expedition vessel refitted in 1999 with space for 12 guests.

All the cabins are outside twins with upper and lower berths, and en-suite facilities. On board the ship you will enjoy the company of likeminded travelers who appreciate the natural world, and are fascinated by the remote regions. With such a small party on board, this is like travelling on a private yacht, and offers an entirely different experience to that of a larger cruise vessel.

The owner, Captain and crew have vast experience in the area, and are actively involved in making expeditions in harmony with nature and conservation. The crew are also great enthusiasts of the unique wildlife, so do not be surprised if you see the chef ashore taking photographs or studying birds, as time permits. The genuine interest of the crew is a necessity for expedition cruises of this kind.

Please click on the photo for more images.

Some basic information
Year built: 1953
Conversion: 1999
Flag: Sweden
Length: 40m
Beam: 8.8m
Draft: 3.5m
Tonnage: 361gt
Main Engines: 700 hp
Speed: 10.5 knots
Passengers: 12
Crew: 6

 

 

 

Activities & Excursions

Please refer to the itinerary

Dates

The only date available for 2015 is 14th to 25th May

Prices

Price from £7195 per person

This Svalbard Expedition Includes:
Flights as detailed
1 night B&B at an Oslo airport hotel
10 nights cruising around Svalbard on the M/S Stockholm
All activities and excursions on the M/S Stockholm
All meals and all drinks on board the M/S Stockholm
Specialist arctic guide and polar bear expert
All specialist safety equipment
Memories to last a lifetime
There is no single supplement however a single traveller may have to share a cabin on board.

 

Gallery

Svalbard Wilderness and M/S Stockholm

Information

Your guide

Rupert Pilkington - Specialist Arctic Guide

Rupert is one of the world’s leading polar bear specialists. He is a wildlife management conservationist and expedition guide with a particular interest in large mammals and the preservation of their wild habitats. Rupert has worked with many species including red deer, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, wolves, and bears. He has lectured and taught courses and programs on bear biology, wildlife management and safety, and ecology, for a variety of universities, companies, and vocational study facilities. Rupert spends part of the summers working as a guide and lecturer for Zegrahm Expeditions in Svalbard, Greenland and the eastern Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic. He has also done extensive guiding and lecturing work in Alaska, British Columbia, Norway and the Russian Far East, and each autumn, he teaches courses on polar bear biology and conservation at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, at Churchill, Manitoba.

 

Other useful information / packing list
Standard European plug sockets on board 220V
You will need to provide camera, tripod, batteries
Don’t forget your laptop for editing your photographs
Binoculars
There is no wifi onboard, and much of this expedition is too far north for normal satellite communications. Emergency communications both to and from the ship are of course possible.
Please ensure you have personal holiday insurance to cover illness, accidents and any other unforeseen circumstances.

This is the arctic – dress accordingly!
Base layer - base layer of woollen underwear next to your skin
Mid-layer - keeps you warm.
Outer layer - jacket and pants. Usually wind and water proof
Gloves and hats
Good shoes / boots Comfortable / casual indoor clothing
Small rucksack - waterproof or water resistant bag for personal items.

Passport and Visa
Please remember that to travel to Svalbard all visitors need to go through the passport control. The identity of all travellers between Spitsbergen and the Norwegian mainland will be checked upon both arrival and departure. Please note that if you need a visa to arrive to Norway (not relveant to British passport holders) you will need another visa (double entry) to enter Norway again after your visit to Svalbard.