Summer Svalbard Exploration in Style

Day by day itinerary

• Day 1 » UK/Svalbard

  Fly out to Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost settlement with over 1,000 inhabitants. Here, an included transfer will see you to Basecamp Hotel – a cosy timber lodge, roofed in slate, its driftwood walls a museum to the island's explorer past. Take some time to explore Longyearbyen’s frontier-town charm, exemplified across its clapboard architecture, superb museum and magnificent fjord setting. You'll also experience the thrill of dog sledding on wheels, as you glide across the Arctic tundra in the company of a team of energetic huskies – a wonderful introduction to Svalbard's polar wilderness. 

  Dog sledding on wheels can be moved to the following morning, depending on when your flight time on arrival day. 

  Stay: Basecamp Hotel, Longyearbyen

• Day 2 » Fjord safari to Isfjord Radio

  Today, an expert guide will bring you down to the harbour, where your fjord cruise will whisk you through dramatic waterways and around the coast. You can expect to spot the likes of whales and polar bears, pausing at the abandoned settlement of Grumant and its teeming bird cliffs. You’ll continue to your lodge – a 1930s telecommunications post turned boutique wilderness retreat. Here, you’ll begin your included full-board dining, enjoying the best in Arctic-inspired dining, complemented by wine pairings with dinner. You’ll also be able to explore your remote wilderness setting on coastal hikes and soaks in the sea-cliff sauna.
  

  Stay: Isfjord Radio, Spitsbergen, Norway

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 3 » RIB boat safari

  Wake up to a hearty breakfast and soak up the view of Kapp Linné’s bird sanctuary. After which you will have a full day to explore the Svalbard wilds. Between your gourmet meals, we’ve included a RIB boat excursion that takes you past towering bird cliffs and majestic glaciers. Keep your eyes out for seals, whales and walruses as you explore Svalbard's untouched wilderness from the sea. Then, come the evening, guests often gather around the bonfire for a refreshment before the fine-dining dinner. Think multiple courses, ranging from catch-of-the-day specialities to cured reindeer delicacies – each worthy of a world-class restaurant.
  

  Stay: Isfjord Radio, Spitsbergen, Norway

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 4 » Wilderness Hike and fjord cruise back to Longyearbyen

  Start your day with a morning coffee and cooked-to-order eggs before enjoying some final time to explore. Look out for Arctic fox and don’t miss out on your chance to be counted as an Arctic swimmer, with a dip in the fjord’s cold waters. On your hike your guide will share insights into wildlife, flora, local stories and the unique surroundings that make this place so extraordinary. A fjord cruise will then see you back for a final night in Basecamp Hotel and Longyearbyen, where you might want to toast your trip with a glass of champagne at the historic Nordpolet liquor store.
  

  Stay: Basecamp Hotel, Longyearbyen

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 5 » Depart for UK

  You’ll have some further time in Longyearbyen, perhaps tracing the islands’ unique history through the Svalbard Museum’s range of exhibits on geology, wildlife, mining and hunting. Then, take your included transfer to the airport for your flight home.
  

  Meals: Breakfast