Around Spitsbergen
In the Icy Realm of the Polar Bear – a longer Arctic wildlife voyage aboard Hondius.
Personal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Book with experienced expedition guides. Independent advice, personal support and no EA service fee.
Why we picked it
A strong step up from a short Svalbard introduction: more expedition time, a wider range of landscapes and room for the team to follow conditions.
We would consider this for travellers who want their Arctic holiday centred on wildlife and time outside. The intended circuit offers variety, but the quality of the expedition matters more than completing a line on a map.
Eight full days between embarkation and disembarkation.
Bird cliffs, glaciers, tundra and a possible encounter with the sea ice.
Early-season ice can restrict the circuit. We help balance route ambitions with wildlife interests.
Considering this voyage? Ask our team how its cabins, activities and overall trip compare with other Arctic options.
Enquire about this voyagePersonal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
The Expedition Advisory difference
Why book this voyage with us?
Choose your voyage and cabin with confidence. We’ll help with the rest of your journey.
Operator Pricing
You pay the expedition operator’s fare. We check applicable offers and promotions for your voyage. Our advice and booking support cost you nothing extra.
Independent Advice
Compare this voyage with other Arctic options. We match the ship, season and cabin to your priorities. We search all available itineraries from our partner operators, including voyages not listed on our website.
Field Experience
Our polar guiding experience helps you understand sea conditions, time ashore and daily expedition life before you choose.
Beyond the Cruise
Get practical flight, packing and preparation guidance, plus a pre-departure call with a regional guide. We can book your hotels and transfers with no extra booking fee.
Personal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Voyage overview
From Longyearbyen, the intended route follows the west and north coasts before continuing through Hinlopen Strait and around southern Spitsbergen when conditions allow.
Oceanwide publishes days 2-9 as a flexible exploration block. The places below are possible highlights within that block, not a promise of a particular landing on a particular day. A full circumnavigation is not guaranteed.
Day-by-day plan
Longyearbyen and departure
Board Hondius in Longyearbyen and settle into your cabin. Safety briefings introduce expedition life before the ship heads out through Isfjorden. Arriving with a sensible flight buffer gives you time to start the voyage without a rushed connection.
Exploring around Spitsbergen
The expedition team chooses the sequence to suit ice, weather and wildlife. These are possible regions within one eight-day exploration period, not fixed daily stops.
Northwest coast and Ny-Ålesund
Explore a coast shaped by glaciers, whaling and polar research. Ny-Ålesund may offer a walk among historic buildings and the airship mast associated with Amundsen and Nobile. Birds and tundra plants add another layer to time ashore.
Liefdefjorden and Monaco Glacier
If access allows, cruise into Liefdefjorden for the glacier front and seabirds feeding along the ice. Alternative fjords and west-coast sites are available when ice prevents entry. Zodiac outings and walks depend on local conditions.
The northern islands and sea ice
The route may reach the Seven Islands near 80° north. The team watches for bears, seals and birds while assessing the position of the pack ice. Sorgfjord and its whaling history offer another possible focus.
Hinlopen Strait and the eastern shores
When the strait is open, the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet and the shores of Nordaustlandet offer a different side of Svalbard. Possible landings bring tundra, raised beaches and walrus habitat into view.
Storfjorden, Hornsund and Bellsund
The southern part of a successful circuit may include glacier-lined waterways, the pointed peaks of Hornsund and the vegetation of Bellsund. Walks can reveal reindeer, seabirds and traces of earlier hunting activity.
Back to Longyearbyen
Disembark in Longyearbyen after breakfast. We help coordinate onward flights and accommodation with the operator’s timing and transfer arrangements.
Indicative operator programme. Weather, ice, permissions, community arrangements and wildlife determine the final route. Images illustrate the region and experience; sightings and individual landings cannot be guaranteed.
Dates & departures
Selected published departures are shown below. Ask us to confirm the current schedule, ship and cabin availability for your preferred dates.
2027 sailings
| Starts | Ends | Ship |
|---|---|---|
| 29 June | 8 July | Hondius |
| 8 July | 17 July | Hondius |
Plan your voyage
Ask about this voyage, check availability or request a quote. We’ll confirm the complete trip cost, inclusions and any applicable operator offers for your chosen departure.
Enquire about this voyagePersonal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Life aboard Hondius
Hondius carries up to 170 guests in 80 cabins. Its observation lounge, lecture room and open decks support an informal expedition atmosphere, with Zodiac access designed for trips ashore.
Hondius: operator ship tour
An introduction from Oceanwide Expeditions.
The Arctic with Oceanwide
Regional footage; wildlife and landings vary by voyage.
Choose your cabin
Compare the categories below, then ask us about the best location and layout for you. Images are representative; individual cabins can vary. Availability and sole-use options depend on the departure.
Quadruple Porthole
15.3-16 m² · four berths
Two portholes and upper and lower berths. A practical choice for a family or a shared berth.
Triple Porthole
15.9-16 m² · three berths
Two lower beds and one upper berth, with two portholes.
Twin Porthole
13.3-16 m² · twin beds
Two single beds and portholes, with private shower and toilet.
Twin Window
12.1-14.3 m² · twin beds
A window cabin for two; some views may be partly obstructed.
More photos and layout
Superior
20.7-21.3 m² · double bed
A double bed, sofa and two windows, with tea and coffee facilities.
More photos and layout
Junior Suite
19.2-20 m² · double bed
A double bed and large window, with a private bathroom and additional comforts.
More photos and layout
Grand Suite
26.7 m² · private balcony
The largest category, with a sofa and its own balcony.
More photos and layout
What the voyage includes
See what your voyage fare covers and what to allow for beyond the ship.
Included in your fare
- Your stay aboardNine nights in your chosen cabin, plus onboard meals, snacks, tea and coffee.
- Expedition programmeZodiac excursions, expedition staff and onboard lectures.
- Equipment on loanBoots and snowshoes for the voyage.
- Programme feesPort and service charges, AECO fees and programme governmental taxes.
- Useful extrasPre-departure material, a reusable water bottle and 1.5 GB of Wi-Fi data per guest, per day.
Budget separately
- Travel to LongyearbyenFlights and any travel outside the confirmed transfer arrangements.
- Time ashoreHotels and meals before or after your voyage.
- Travel insuranceArrange suitable cover for your trip.
- Personal spendingBar purchases, other personal expenses and customary gratuities.
- Arrival and departure taxesGovernment arrival and departure taxes are excluded.
Selected Longyearbyen flight transfers and baggage handling are included only when confirmed by Oceanwide. We’ll check your flight plans against those arrangements before you book.
Svalbard wildlife rules require a minimum distance of 500 metres from polar bears from 1 March to 30 June, and 300 metres from 1 July. This seasonal change does not relax other landing restrictions or guarantee closer encounters. The expedition team follows current rules, permissions and safe operating conditions. AECO polar bear guidance.
Let’s find your expedition
Tell us your wishes, dates and questions. We’ll help you choose with confidence.
Personal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Voyage information
Details checked 2 October 2026 against the official operator itinerary. Photographs and films are credited to their respective operators and photographers. Ask Expedition Advisory for the current programme and booking terms.