DAY 1 – ARRIVE IN HELSINKI, FINLAND
Arrive in the Finnish capital and make your way to the group hotel located right at Helsinki airport, included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. You will have the rest of the day to explore explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District. If you do plan to visit Helsinki city center, take advantage of the convenient 40-minute rail service from the airport.
DAY 2 – FLY TO LONGYEARBYEN, SVALBARD & EMBARK
After breakfast, the group will transfer to the Helsinki airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. Our journey to the High Arctic now truly begins. You will see the coastal and birch forests of southern Scandinavia give way to taiga and tundra environments, the mountains of Norway and northern Sweden, and the convergence of the Norwegian and Barents seas. Approaching Svalbard, you may get your first views of a pure, snowcapped wilderness, complete with ridgelines, glaciers, and perhaps even sea ice in the distance. We land in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s largest settlement, and transfer to the harbor where we will embark on our ship.
DAYS 3 to 9 – SPRINGTIME IN THE SVALBARD WILDERNESS
Spring in Svalbard is characterized by a beautiful combination of snow, ice and Midnight Sun. A fascinating contrast unfolds with the arrival of spring: majestic polar landscapes illuminated by continuous daylight. Sea ice is at or near its annual maximum, drawing visitors north. If experiencing Arctic sea ice is on the bucket list, this is the perfect time to visit.
The Expedition Team and Bridge Officers will consult the latest ice charts daily—sea ice is incredibly dynamic and can drift dozens of kilometers in a day. The route will depend on where sea ice offers the best opportunities for exploration and wildlife encounters. Sea ice is the primary hunting, resting, and travelling platform for iconic Arctic species—and spring offers the best chance to see it all.
As the vessel navigates the ice edge—or even through it—spend time on deck with binoculars at the ready. Somewhere in the maze of marooned icebergs and pressure ridges, wildlife may be present—perhaps even polar bears who are lured to the ice edge by the presence of seals, a primary food source. Watch for clues, shapes, and shadows that could signal something special. And while polar bears may be the main goal, walruses, Arctic foxes, and ivory gulls may also be spotted—in addition to ringed and bearded seals.
On shore, spring landscapes remain blanketed in snow, with many bays still filled with ice—habitat crucial to Arctic wildlife for food and survival. It’s the kind of scenery that embodies the word “pristine.” On sunny days, snowcapped ridges against cobalt skies are electric in their beauty. On cloudy days, the Arctic’s muted palette of whites, greys, and blues creates moody, powerful vistas.
Photography tip: try switching the camera to black-and-white mode—textures become dramatic, and light behaves differently. Alongside drifting sea ice, icebergs and bergy bits may be seen—fragments of glacial ice whose origins lie deep in mountain valleys.
Spring in the Arctic is also a time of awakening. As the journey unfolds, this seasonal transformation becomes apparent firsthand. Some slopes, beaches, and valleys begin to melt faster than others, revealing bare ground untouched for months. Grasses and mosses emerge, seizing every opportunity to photosynthesize in the returning sunlight. Meltwater trickles grow into fast-flowing runoff, adding sound and motion to the awakening landscape.
Yet spring remains cold. In fact, these areas may go through multiple freeze-thaw cycles, especially farther north and east. In Svalbard, this mesmerizing transition is vivid and inspiring—a reminder of the powerful rhythms of Arctic life.
Spring also welcomes migratory birds and whales. As the season unfolds, cliffsides become busy with seabirds, such as little auks, guillemots and kittiwakes, returning to breed. Each day brings new arrivals. Nest-building, courting, and bird calls fill the air in a sensory-rich spectacle.
When encountering these colonies, take time to pause. Put down the camera. Simply observe the vibrant pulse of life and imagine the sheer abundance of food required to feed so many birds—and the chicks that will soon arrive.
Whales, too, may appear. While sightings can never be guaranteed, some large migrators—such as blue whales—begin arriving in coastal waters by late spring. Others, like belugas, live here year-round and may be spotted threading through sea ice. Each encounter, however brief, serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of Arctic ecosystems.
With seven full expedition days in Svalbard, the aim is to explore a wide range of locations. The order of the journey will be shaped by sea ice conditions, which vary daily. Potential destinations include the spectacular fjord systems of Hornsund, Bellsund, Isfjorden, Krossfjorden, Smeerenburgfjorden, Raudfjorden, Woodfjorden, Sorgfjorden, and others.
These fjords feature dramatic mountains rising directly from the sea, folding into endless layers. Glaciers spill from the highlands, many reaching the water’s edge where they calve into the sea.
Throughout Svalbard, opportunities will be sought to visit thriving seabird colonies, with hopes of making regular landings along the coasts and within fjords. Some outings may take place on exposed rocky terrain, but most will involve walking on snow.
And if conditions are safe and suitable, there may even be an opportunity to set foot on the sea ice itself—an unforgettable moment that truly feels like walking on water.
DAY 10 – DISEMBARK IN LONGYEARBYEN AND FLY TO HELSINKI
The time to say goodbye has come. This adventure ends as it began, in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, guests will be transferred to the airport for the return group charter flight to Helsinki, followed by an overnight hotel stay. Both are included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package.
DAY 11 – ONWARD FLIGHT HOME
After breakfast, you can make your way to the airport for your onward f light home, or stay to explore Finland’s culturally-rich capital on your own if you’ve made prior arrangements.
