Spitsbergen Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway (2025)
Spitsbergen Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway (2025)
Spitsbergen Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway (2025)
10 Days Starting and ending in Helsinki, Finland
Visiting: Helsinki, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen
Tour operator:
Tour code:
POW10
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 199
Age range:
18-99
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the Spitsbergen Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway tour in 2025 for an unforgettable adventure beyond the Arctic Circle. This expedition takes you to 80° north, where you'll explore the icy wilderness of Spitsbergen and the Svalbard Archipelago aboard small, ice-rated vessels. Enjoy Zodiac and shore excursions led by highly qualified Expedition Staff, offering opportunities to witness Arctic foxes, whales, walruses, and vast colonies of Little auks. Keep an eye out for polar bears hunting on ice floes. The journey begins and ends in Helsinki, with a mandatory transfer package including return flights to Longyearbyen. Experience the stunning landscapes, from polar deserts to immense glaciers, and capture incredible wildlife photography. With full board accommodation and all meals included, this intimate adventure promises flexible itineraries and a chance to explore areas that larger ships cannot access.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start In Helsinki, Finland
Location: Helsinki
Accommodation Name: hotel
Your Arctic adventure begins in Helsinki, renowned for its extraordinary architecture and intriguing mix of eastern and western influences. If you arrive early, explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District before retiring at your included hotel.
Day 2 : Embarkation Day In Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Location: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Accommodation Name: ship
Meals Included: Dinner
This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement, where you’ll have some time to explore before embarkation. As theship sets sail, enjoy your first view of the island’s rugged, glacier-topped mountains rising majestically from icy waters.
Day 3 - 9 : Exploring Spitsbergen And The Svalbard Archipelago
Location: Spitsbergen
Accommodation Name: ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore western Spitsbergen as well as stunning fjords and outlying islands to the north. From polar deserts to immense glaciers, the natural landscape here is just as varied as the wildlife. As we cruise around this magical island located above the Arctic Circle, the Expedition Team will constantly be searching for wildlife. Each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice, so we have no fixed itinerary; however, some of the places we may visit include the 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Phippsøya, Alkhornet and the Hinlopen Strait. The destinations visited will be selected for optimum wildlife viewing with an appreciation of the history and geology of Spitsbergen. The island offers multiple opportunities for wildlife photography. Spotting Polar bears is more likely here than almost anywhere else, as the Svalbard archipelago is one of their preferred hunting areas. The towering cliffs of Alkefjellet provide homes to thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Coming across a walrus haul-out is a moment you won’t soon forget. These giant pinnipeds of the Arctic create quite a noisy scene as each walrus vies for a choice spot of coastline. In Spitsbergen, there is no shortage of natural beauty. The tundra can be surprisingly colourful in summer, with wildflowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Each day, you’ll see something interesting, whether it is unique Arctic wildlife, a Polar bear resting between hunts, or abandoned sites from centuries ago.
Day 10 : Disembark In Longyearbyen And Fly To Helsinki
Location: Longyearbyen
Meals Included: Breakfast
The time to say goodbye to your Expedition Team and shipmates has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the historic frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your included return group charter flight to Helsinki.
What's Included
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Meals
2 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 2 dinners. -
All meals while on the ship
All meals are included while on the ship, offering a variety of international menus including vegetarian options.
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Beer and house wine during dinner
Beer and house wine are provided during dinner.
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All accommodation
All accommodation is included, with one night in a standard hotel in Helsinki and full board accommodation on the ship.
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All transport and listed activities
All transport and listed activities are included in the tour.
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Tour leader throughout and qualified Expedition Staff
A tour leader and qualified Expedition Staff will accompany you throughout the journey.
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Mandatory transfer package including return flights between Helsinki and Longyearbyen
The tour includes a mandatory transfer package with return flights between Helsinki and Longyearbyen.
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Flights from the UK
Flights from the UK can be included upon request.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
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Single accommodation
Single accommodation is not included but is available on request.
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Visas or vaccinations
Visas or vaccinations are not included and must be arranged separately.
Food
All meals while on the ship included. Typical Meals The ships galley offers good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide variety of drinks from around the world on sale. Breakfast: Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal. Lunch: Three course set meal or buffet, or the occasional BBQ. Dinner: Three or four courses with a starter of soup and/or salad, a choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a dessert, with tea and coffee. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
Accommodation
The Spitsbergen Explorer voyage is offered on the Ocean Adventurer, Ocean Explorer, and Ultramarine, which are Polar Adventure Ships. One night in a standard hotel in Helsinki is included. Full board accommodation on the ship, generally on a twin share basis in a variety of cabin types, all with en suite facilities.
Mode of Transport
The tour includes a mandatory transfer package with return flights between Helsinki and Longyearbyen. The journey is conducted on small ice-rated vessels, ideal for polar waters, ensuring an intimate adventure with flexible itineraries and frequent Zodiac excursions.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see on the Spitsbergen Explorer tour?
During the Spitsbergen Explorer tour, you can expect to see a variety of Arctic wildlife including polar bears, Arctic foxes, whales, walruses, and large colonies of Little auks. The Svalbard archipelago is a preferred hunting area for polar bears, making sightings more likely.
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What activities are included in the Spitsbergen Explorer tour?
The tour includes a range of activities such as Zodiac excursions, trekking, kayaking, and wildlife photography opportunities. The itinerary is flexible to maximize wildlife viewing and to appreciate the history and geology of Spitsbergen.
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What type of accommodation is provided on the Spitsbergen Explorer tour?
Accommodation is provided on Polar Adventure Ships, which are small ice-rated vessels suitable for polar waters. The ships offer full board accommodation, generally on a twin share basis with en suite facilities. One night in a standard hotel in Helsinki is also included.
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Are meals included during the Spitsbergen Explorer tour?
Yes, all meals while on the ship are included. The ship's galley offers a variety of international menus, including vegetarian options. Meals include buffet-style breakfasts, three-course lunches or buffets, and three or four-course dinners.
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Is there a transfer package included in the Spitsbergen Explorer tour?
Yes, the tour includes a mandatory transfer package with return flights between Helsinki and Longyearbyen.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.