Spitsbergen - Realm of the Polar Bear

A an amazing 9 night cruise/expedition to Svalbard in the High Arctic to enjoy wildlife and beautiful flora and scenery. This was a 9 day voyage of over 2000 Km from Longyearbyen in the west to Edgeoya and Barentsoya in the east of the archipelago travelling through incredible fjords, open sea and pack ice. We went ashore accompanied by expedition leaders in zodiacs on most days and got close to incredible mammals including Polar Bear, Walrus and Arctic Fox as well as several bird species and many species of plants. The tour was accompanied by excellent lectures from the expedition team and was well supervised by Naturetrek leaders and Expedition staff. The ship's accommodation was excellent and the cabins were very comfortable, the cleanliness and dining on the ship (the MV Quest) was excellent. The crew were polite and helpful.

H.L. Hertfordshire, June 19

Fantastic and extraordinary wildlife break sailing around Spitsbergen (Svalbard) - all guests landed for guided viewing at a huge variety of sites, seeing polar bears (from boats), walrus, arctic foxes, svalbard reindeer, king eider, little auk etc etc.super accommodation on our ice-strengthened ship, superbly handled outings on zodiacs. The Naturetrek guides, and the boat expedition leaders were enthusiastic, informative, and always available with answers. The food was great, the accommodation comfortable. Brilliant, memorable trip! Naturetrek described the trip accurately and comprehensively beforehand, guided us helpfully without removing the sense of adventure, and saw everything through to a great finish.

I.H. Tyne & Wear, June 19

Thoroughly enjoyed this trip from start to finish. Everything was perfect. Enjoyed the scenery, mammals and birds. The Naturetrek tour leaders and other members of staff on this cruise had so much knowledge and were great fun. The Ortelius was a very clean and comfortable boat to be on and the food was delicious. Well done and thank you once again Naturetrek for a fantastic experience.

D.H. Middlesex

Although it is hyperbole to say so, this has been the best holiday ever. We were blessed with a huge amount of sunshine which enabled us to see almost every species on the Naturetrek list. The fellow travellers were equally keen and of great company. Led by a most knowledgeable Malcolm Scott whose enthusiasm is infectious and whose dancing has to be witnessed! The only downsides were only 3 polar bears and that we must re-join the civilised world. But thank you Naturetrek for another excellent holiday.

A.A. Scotland

It was a unique and amazing experience in every way and we both feel privileged to have had the opportunity of exploring this very special part of our planet.

Mr & Mrs. McC.

Seeing Polar Bears in such wonderful surroundings was certainly a magical moment and brought tears to my eyes. A trip of a lifetime.

L.F. London

Even superlatives cant do justice to this trip. Simple outstanding. Superbly organised, led, executed and serviced. The ships crew were magnificent. For anyone with a sense of adventure and average agility it is hard to imagine a better trip. As for photographic opportunities, they were boundless. A truly memorable experience. Thank you Naturetrek.

C. & R.S. London

This was an excellent trip thanks to the commitment and expertise of Rini, the Expedition Leader and the Captain and crew of the Proff. Molcanov. They worked very hard to make the most of every opportunity enabling us to experience as much as possible. The Naturetrek leader, Paul, was efficient, pleasant and helped everything to run smoothly. We were also very lucky to have Adam, the geologist, with us and Chris the historian - both added greatly to the trip...I cannot fault the trip in anyway - it was one of the best ever.

E.F. Co. Durham

The trip was a wonderful experience, which exceeded my expectations in all its aspects - the scenery, the wildlife, the ship, the food - everything. All the naturalists/leaders/guides, both Naturetrek and local, were friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable and experienced. The ship's captain and crew and the catering/cabin staff were tremendous. They adapted and responded wonderfully to the constantly changing conditions and we were able to enjoy some fantastic wildlife viewing whilst cruising through magnificent scenery. The ship itself was perfectly suited to the expedition with the restaurant/viewing area allowing everyone to relax and watch the outside world in comfort. An enormous thank you to all concerned.

V.K. Nottinghamshire

Spitsbergen was never on my list of to do's as I like hot climates. However my friend said it was a life time ambition to go to the Arctic…. I now owe her big time, I loved every minute of the trip, mammals and birds of course but I was bewitched by the scenery, I never dreamt that I would be so happy doing nothing just watching the ever changing ice flows. As ever the Naturetrek leaders were first rate.

W.S. Essex

This trip has been one of the great experiences of our lives. Extraordinary wildlife encounters, mind blowing scenery and a full sun barbecue at midnight.

R.H. Devon

The trip was well up to expectations with a bonus of good weather. Animal sightings, plus the help from onboard experts certainly made the holiday - not forgetting the birds. It was also very pleasing to note that all staff seemed genuinely interested in all their clients. We will certainly recommend Naturetrek to our friends.

G.H. Cambridgeshire

For me, the fact that the catering staff made no fuss about providing gluten-free food and in fact knew within 25 hours my name and requirements was such a bonus. All the Naturetrek leaders were approachable and helpful, Ed in particular. He didn't mind a complete novice 'birder' asking very basic questions and always ensured we all saw what was being pointed out. Well done Ed. All the Ortelius guides were also helpful and very knowledgeable. I enjoyed the whole polar experience, but particularly the flowers, glaciers and Polar Bears.

P.C. Devon

The amazing wildlife sightings and scenery, very much aided by good weather and the enthusiasm and knowledge of the expedition staff and Naturetrek guides.

C.F. Hertfordshire

The leader, the guides, and all the staff of the ship worked wonders. The food on board was very good indeed, the cabin much roomier than I expected. Everyone did there utmost to give us a great holiday. Every day was a wonderful adventure, we saw so much and I shall never forget it.

S.P. Northamptonshire

Enjoyed the whole experience on the boat, the staff were excellent especially the guides. Well organised and very knowledgeable. Great food and service. Wonderful wildlife viewing and scenery.

J.H. South Yorkshire

A wonderful holiday in the high Arctic aboard a Naturetrek chartered vessel (MV Ortelius). Expectations were high but the wildlife and scenery easily exceeded our wildest dreams! Polar Bears, Walrus, huge sea bird colonies, Blue, Humpback and Minke Whales were amongst the many wildlife highlights. All this with spectacular scenery throughout. The boat, an ice-strengthened expedition vessel, was crewed by a professional and friendly team and Naturetrek also sent 3 of their own tour leaders. Needless to say there was a wealth of knowledge aboard which proved invaluable for the exciting daily land excursions and absorbing evening lectures. This holiday comes highly recommended!

T.S. London

It was absolutely amazing. We boarded the 'Ortelius', a converted ice breaker, at Longyearbyen and spent the next 8 days exploring the west side, sometimes on the ship and sometimes being transported to land by zodiacs so that we could see the lovely alpine flowers and some of the history of the area. When we got into the ice we were all looking for Polar Bears, and certainly one of the highlights for me was seeing 3 adult males eating a seal. We managed to achieve 80 degrees 50.6 minutes before thick pack ice stopped us. Other highlights were seeing Blue Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox and the seabird colonies. The ship was very comfortable and the staff and leaders couldn't have been more helpful. It was without doubt, the holiday of a lifetime.

T.W. Merseyside

Everything ran like clockwork. We were kept well informed including any necessary changes brought about by the weather. Our accommodation on the MV Ortelius was perfectly adequate and comfortable. The food was excellent, matched by the range on offer. All the support staff were efficient, obliging and cheerful and made us feel valued. The expedition leaders were all experts in their own field and went out of their way to be helpful and pass on their knowledge and experience in a practical manner. Great emphasis was placed on safety, both on board ship and the zodiac craft used every day. All of the expedition staff were properly equipped to deal with intruding polar bears (of which there turned out to be none, fortunately) and sentries posted when required. The captain and expedition leaders worked very hard to give us good sightings of elusive creatures such as polar bears, walruses and arctic foxes; along with a good range of the native birdlife. A wonderful adventure, indeed.

H.H. Suffolk

We travelled into the pack-ice and saw four polar bears feeding on a ringed seal. We were able to watch the bears form the ship for over four hours. We also saw reindeer, an arctic fox with a dead guillemot, walruses on the ice and on land, thousands of Brunnich's guillemots nesting on cliffs, large numbers of little auks, and many more birds, seals and some whales. The scenery was truly stunning and the walks enabled us to experience the arctic tundra, flora and overall environment, with plenty of time to take photographs and enjoy the experience. The staff and experts on board were excellent, providing informative lectures and photographs, and always ready to answer our questions. The ship was comfortable, the food excellent and the staff friendly and efficient.

K.S. Kent

After boarding the ice-breaking ship Ortelius at Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen, we had daily doses of snow-capped mountains and glaciers, many up close and personal, even being allowed to touch one of the Hornsund area icebergs! One of the zodiac leisure landings was dedicated to the exploration of the many delicate tundra wildflowers. This educational exercise caused me to find more species later on my own. A slow walk on the Polar Desert revealed small arctic insect life, as well as an education about the multitude of mosses and lichens in this area. Of course the bird cliffs were overwhelming with the teaming avian colonies; we seemed like ants in the zodiacs slowing gliding below the towering rocky mountain sides. We viewed 8 Polar Bears, a number greater than I had imagined. But even more exciting were the 2 bears (each on different days) that suddenly appeared as dots in the distant surrounding pack ice, then gradually becoming larger as they slowly strolled right up to our anchored ship, circled around the vessel for half an hour, then continued on their way into the whiteness to resume their roaming life of solitude. This experience truly gave me a sense of the isolationist existence of these magnificent creatures. We also were able to enjoy a small herd of Walruses lazing on an isolated beach. Although this critter was my most wanted animal on the trip, even more satisfying was our 2-hour time spent on a bluff overlooking the Walruses, immersed in a landscape of water, snow-capped mountains, brilliantly blue skies, quiet, later topped with a small pod of Belugas gliding by! Except for the last 2 days, the weather was perfect! Thanks to Naturetrek's professional guidance, and of course all the scenery and wildlife, we came home with a lifetime of memories.

A.W. USA

Amazing holiday, exceeded our expectations. The journey out to the pack ice was an incredible experience, we went much further north than we expected to. The scenery and the wildlife in Svalbard was incredible, one of the highlights was the polar bears on a kill on an iceberg. The guides both Naturetrek and the ships were first class, helpful and very knowledgeable.

J.P. South Yorkshire, June 18

The Realm of the Polar Bear was an 8 day Naturetrek cruise aboard the Ortelius. The Naturetrek experts in birds, mammals and plants were supplemented by the expedition crew with their own expertise in Arctic wildlife, ice and polar bears. The itinerary was flexible according to weather and ice conditions and we went as far north as possible in search of polar bears, seeing 11, with wonderful views over drift ice, the third largest ice sheet in the world and stunning views of the Svalbard coast. Many glaciers are in retreat with global warming and the threat to wildlife and the planet was clear to all. With the expert help of our leaders we saw Blue whale, Humpback whale, walrus, arctic fox and numerous seabirds scarcely seen in the UK, and most days had at least one expedition ashore in zodiacs to search for wildlife and see the habitation left by hunters in the past. The food and comfort aboard the Ortelius was excellent, adding to a truly memorable experience. The information supplied in advance lived up to expectations in every way. The leaders were on hand at the airports to sort out ticketing and luggage issues, as well as providing daily briefings about wildlife seen and on hand on deck and on shore to help identify plants and birds and provide assistance when needed eg with life jackets etc. Expedition leaders in charge of the zodiacs ensured we were safe on shore as well as providing talks on board ship. Everything was well organised and smoothly run.

L.B. West Sussex

This Arctic expedition surpassed my expectations. This was in part due to the wonderful organisation and leadership of the expedition team. I felt completely confident in the team which allowed me to enjoy the wonderful and captivating scenery as well as the wildlife, which was a joy. The guides - both groups were helpful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I was so impressed with the whole venture. Thanks too to the wonderful crew and staff of the Ortelius. 

B.D. Monmouthshire, June 18

Outings on the zodiacs were brilliant. It had a definite expedition feel about it - isolated from TV, mobile phone signal. Just alone in the Arctic. The expedition leaders were great, and the Naturetrek leaders complemented them by bringing expertise to the plant identification (Martin), bird finding (Peter), and Ed making sure that everyone saw everything that was found.

B.S. Cambridgeshire

The leaders were well organised, knowledgeable and extremely helpful.

C.S. Cheshire

The Ortelius crew were quite outstanding in every aspect. The meals were excellent. Zodiac trips were expertly managed. Very high level of commitment from all concerned. We particularly appreciated the lecture programmes by the on-board experts.

P.T. Devon

The zodiac trips and walks were particularly enjoyable. We were very lucky with the weather! The lectures about ice formation and glaciation were very interesting.

K.T. Devon

A fantastic trip. It was a real privilege to spend time in such a unique environment. Thanks are due to the tour leaders who organised everything so professionally, were eager to share their knowledge and created a really good atmosphere. A special mention also for the trip report - I don't think I've ever seen one as detailed and comprehensive.

D.J. Norfolk

Special mention goes to Sarah who made a special effort to make sure that everyone was seeing everything. But they were all very helpful and very pleasant people. The Captain of the ship needs a special mention too as he was so passionate about wildlife and also so welcoming on the bridge. I think that we went at the right time of year to see the nesting birds and of course the Polar Bears and the fact that so many travellers seemed to be doing this trip for a second time speaks volumes.

K.L. Fife

This is the second time we have been on this trip which in itself indicates how much we enjoyed it. Once again the Expedition guides were world class and blend perfectly with Naturetrek's own very experienced tour guides. Dr Ian Stirling is a leading expert in Polar Bears and along with tour leader Rinnie van Meurs, we were treated to a master-class in Polar Bear behaviour. As before, the organisation of the trip was carried out in a professional and efficient manner with Naturetrek staff ensuring thongs ran seamlessly. Well done!

T.M. Wiltshire

The leaders were very professional, knowledgeable and very approachable. Nothing was ever too much trouble. They worked tirelessly to find the animals. The Captain of the ship was so skilled at edging slowly towards the animal which enabled us to watch images of the Polar Bears devouring a Bearded Seal, the Arctic Fox eating a Guillemot, and the stunning scenery will stay with me forever.

K.M. Norfolk

Anyone, especially on a first trip to the polar regions, should be prepared to have their mind blown away with the experience! The stunning scenery, the light, the superb wildlife living at the edge of existence, all fabulous. I especially enjoyed the hours of interaction between the four bears on a seal kill, how they managed to 'share' rather than squabble, one crossing over a mile of pack ice and open leads to join the feast - absolutely fabulous. As a birder, the Phalaropes spinning in the water, the Ivory Gulls taking every opportunity to join in the 'Bear Feast' and the buzz of visiting the two big Auk colonies will live long in my memory.

S.M. Northumberland

The trip was brilliant overall. We got to see a large amount of wildlife thanks to great efforts from the crew. We saw 6 different Polar Bears; 5 on the same day. The tour leaders showed great knowledge of the wildlife and plant life in Spitsbergen. The food was also excellent.

D.P. South Wales

The whole tour was well planned. Accommodation in Oslo and Longyearbyen was very good. The ship was well appointed and very comfortable. The standard of food on board the ship could not be faulted. The same said about the staff and crew. The itinerary was well thought out. Flexibility was the key. The wildlife, the scenery and just being there is something that most people will never experience. It will stay with us forever.

D.R. Cheshire

The guides and all the staff on board were excellent! The organisation and content of the trip was first rate. The nature we encountered along the way was spectacular, particularly watching four Polar Bears at one site.

D.H. Surrey

It was extremely well organised and both the Naturetrek staff and the expedition staff were excellent. Everyone was well looked after and the way activities and meals ran meant that the entire group gelled really well. The expert knowledge displayed by all the staff was outstanding and really helped us to appreciate all the wildlife and the environment.

M.H. Surrey

The standard of accommodation and service on the MV Ortelius was outstanding, the devotion to searching out wildlife was excellent and the crew, staff and wildlife guides did everything possible to make our trip a success. The sightings were particularly good. One of the unexpected highlights was having the Polar Bear authority Ian Stirling on board. A memorable trip in every way.

Mr & Mrs B. Cumbria

Good mix of activities and lectures that broadened my knowledge. The combination of Naturetrek and the boat guides worked very well. The boat experts were excellent and I was blown away to be on the same boat as Ian Stirling - THE expert on Polar Bears!

D.C. Essex

I enjoyed seeing the Polar Bears and other wild animals and birds in their own environment. The fantastic colours and formations of the ice, is wonderful scenery. The 24 hours of daylight is an experience, not to miss a minute of it. This was my second visit to Spitsbergen, I look forward to visiting this magical, spectacular place again.

B.G. Glamorgan