Join our exclusive Svalbard expedition, a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to one of Earth’s last true frontiers, where towering glaciers meet the profound silence of the High Arctic. Sail through ice-filled fjords as light dances across sculpted snow and drifting pack ice, in quiet search of Polar Bears, Walrus, Seals, and seabirds. Each encounter introduces you to the raw, elemental power of mother Earth. Guided by expert photographers and naturalists, this intimate small-ship journey offers rare access to the jewels of the Arctic, revealing the planet at its most pristine, powerful, and humbling accents, a living marvel few will ever witness.
On board MS Virgo (9 Nights)
Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago set between mainland Norway and the North Pole, stands among the planet’s most spectacular Arctic frontiers. Discovered by Willem Barentsz in 1596, it lies approximately 965 km from the Pole and 644 km north of Norway. With nearly 60% of its 39,784 km² landmass blanketed in ice, Svalbard remains Europe’s largest true wilderness, vast, elemental, and profoundly untouched.
Our expedition begins in Longyearbyen aboard M/V Virgo, a nimble vessel purpose-built for navigating pack ice and the pristine fjords of the High Arctic. The route is shaped by ice conditions, weather, and wildlife activity, ensuring that no two journeys are ever the same. As we sail northward, we search for seabirds, Seals, Walrus, Whales, and the undisputed King of the Arctic, the Polar Bear.
Each day unfolds with Zodiac cruises and carefully planned shore excursions, led by seasoned Arctic experts. With an intimate group of just 12 guests, we are able to respond swiftly to wildlife sightings, thread narrow channels, and fully capitalise on fleeting moments of perfect Arctic light. This is true expedition travel, immersive, adaptive, and deeply attuned to the rhythms of one of Earth’s last great wildernesses.
Meet your expedition team and crew at the dock in Longyearbyen at 16:00 hrs and embark M/V Virgo. Once settled into your cabin, attend a mandatory safety briefing before sailing through Adventfjorden and into Isfjorden. Spend time on deck as the Arctic landscape unfolds, glaciers, mountains, and open water setting the tone for the days ahead, followed by a welcome dinner on board. Your adventure begins as we head north into the wilderness.
For the next eight days, we travel in full expedition mode, allowing ice conditions, weather, and wildlife activity to shape our route. With M/V Virgo’s small size and shallow draft, we are able to reach remote fjords, narrow channels, and hidden bays inaccessible to larger vessels. Each day offers a flexible blend of Zodiac cruises, shore excursions, and photography sessions, always adapting to take advantage of changing light and unexpected encounters.
Throughout the voyage, your expedition leader and guides keep you informed and ready for every photographic opportunity, whether it is a Polar Bear on the ice, a breaching Whale, or the soft glow of the midnight sun illuminating a glacier face.
Enjoy a final breakfast on board as M/V Virgo docks back in Longyearbyen. Say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers before disembarking, taking with you unforgettable memories and photographs from the heart of the Arctic.
At Safari Crafters, we are children of nature first. Years spent immersed in forests and wild habitats across the world have shaped our understanding of landscapes, seasons, and the subtle rhythms that govern life in the wild. Awed continually by nature’s grandeur, we bring together this depth of experience to create one of the most versatile and thoughtfully led safari companies from the Indian subcontinent.
Our tour leaders, naturalists, and guides are among the finest allies one can have on a journey into the wild. We work in close partnership with the most trusted and respected names in the industry, ensuring every experience is guided with integrity, expertise, and care.
