Lofoten Bear Island & Svalbard

We arrive in Tromsø located 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, beautifully framed by fjords and mountains peaks. The city has been the starting point for many polar expeditions and was referred to as “the Gateway to the Arctic” in the 1800s. The high mountain peaks, offer marvellous sceneries together with the small picturesque houses. In Tromsø we board our expedition ship, M/S Quest, where we are welcomed by the guides and crew. Once we have set sail, our journey takes us towards the dramatic Lofoten Islands. 

We make a stop on the island of Senja, Norway’s second-largest island, often referred to as “Norway in miniature” thanks to its dramatic variety of jagged peaks, deep fjords and small fishing communities clinging to the narrow strip between sea and mountains. Here, mountains rise steeply from the ocean and scenic routes wind through a landscape shaped by wind, water and ice.

Further south lies the Vesterålen archipelago — a tranquil Arctic island group defined by wide horizons and abundant wildlife. The region is particularly renowned for its whale-rich waters, where whales can be observed for much of the year, as well as for hiking opportunities and coastal scenery offering the same dramatic beauty as Lofoten, but at a gentler pace.

Our journey continues along the southern side of what is colloquially known as the Lofoten Wall, a vast collection of rugged islands that majestically rise from the sea.

We go ashore and explore the small fishing village of Reine, which quietly gazes out over Kirkefjorden. With its characteristic wooden houses framed by dramatic mountain peaks, Reine has been voted the most beautiful place in Norway. Here, we also venture out in our Zodicas to explore the surroundings.

We continue our voyage along the Lofoten Wall and onwards through Trollfjorden, which is as magical as its name suggests. A little later, we head out to sea and set course for Bear Island. After just a few hours at sea, we reach well-known whale-watching areas that extend along the continental shelf. During our journey, we have the chance to see whales, and we are constantly on the lookout from the deck.

We continue at sea towards higher northern latitudes. During interesting lectures on board, we receive an introduction to Bear Island’s intriguing history. Naturally, we keep watching for whales!

With solid Zodiacs, we explore this fascinating rocky island in the middle of the Barents Sea. Its remoteness means that only a few ships each year have the opportunity to stop for a visit. On the 400-metre vertical cliffs, we find one of the North Atlantic’s largest seabird colonies. Here, tens of thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots nest, along with puffins, razorbills, black guillemots, kittiwakes, and glaucous gulls. If the weather and winds are favourable, we will attempt a landing on this rarely visited island.

We then continue our journey into the Arctic waters. We sail overnight and, by the following afternoon, we sight the Svalbard archipelago – one of the world’s most magnificent wilderness areas.

In May, Svalbard offers visitors a wondrous purity, beautiful pastel colours, and breathtaking views. The midnight sun’s rays fall on glistening ice formations, the fjord ice is thick, and the mountain peaks are snow-covered. It is spring in the Arctic, and being there as Svalbard awakens to life is a powerful experience. In this Arctic archipelago, we naturally keep an eye out for polar bears, walruses, and other iconic wildlife, but above all, we enjoy the magical nature that surrounds us. It is early in the season, and our exact itinerary over the coming days will be influenced by weather and ice conditions. With our Zodiacs, we explore the enchanting winter landscape in some of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords, making landings whenever possible.

Storfjorden

In the vast Storfjorden, between Edgeøya and Spitsbergen, drift ice is often present at this time of year, and only then will we know how far north we can go. On the southern part of Spitsbergen lies Isbukta. In this spectacular bay, we enjoy magnificent views of snow-covered mountain peaks and the mighty glacier front of Vasil’evbreen. The bay is also a popular spot for ivory gulls, skuas, and bearded seals.

Hornsund & Bellsund

Majestic Hornsund consists of several magnificent fjords on the southwest coast of Spitsbergen, where glaciers calve magically blue-tinged icebergs. On the mountain slopes at beautiful Vårsolbukta in Bellsund, tens of thousands of little auks nest. We go ashore and hike across the tundra towards the bird cliff, where we can enjoy the charming birds circling around us up close.

Isfjorden

At the entrance to Isfjorden lies the distinctive bird cliff Alkhornet, a pointed rock several hundred metres high. Here, we go ashore to enjoy the snow-covered tundra and birdlife, including barnacle geese, Brünnich’s guillemots, glaucous gulls, snow buntings, and tens of thousands of kittiwakes. In the crevices around the bird cliff, several Arctic foxes have their dens, and if we are lucky, we will see these cute, small animals frenetically searching for food.

In the morning, we disembark in Longyearbyen, the main settlement of Svalbard, and begin our journey home.