Arctic round trip in the footsteps of the North Pole explorers
German-language support
From Longyearbyen / Spitsbergen to Longyearbyen / Spitsbergen
14 days (13 nights)
MS Sea Spirit
14 days (13 nights): Polar expedition circumnavigating Spitsbergen (Svalbard) via Kvitøya, Nordaustlandet, Hornsund, and back to Longyearbyen / Spitsbergen
+++ Up to 25% early bird discount for bookings made by September 30, 2026 +++
Circumnavigating the entire Svalbard archipelago takes you into the depths of the Arctic world. Explore the fjords, glaciers, and mountain landscapes of this wilderness. And stand before the most formidable ice cliff in this hemisphere. This voyage has no fixed route, as it follows the laws of weather and ice.
Discover Svalbard and its diverse worlds, from cosmopolitan restaurants to glaciers and blooming tundra. During these two weeks, you will visit Svalbard's national parks, which are home to numerous Arctic wildlife species. Keep an eye out for whales, foxes, and reindeer, and witness the spectacle of millions of seabirds in the sky. Spitsbergen is also the kingdom of polar bears, as there are just as many polar bears here as there are inhabitants.
Before you, it was mainly pioneers, inventors, and explorers who were fascinated by this region. Stand where Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile discovered the North Pole, or where Salomon August Andrée and his companions took off in their balloon . Learn more about the discovery of the Arctic and also about the time when whaling was still booming .
Stephanie Gräf
Travel expert, inventia | Travel beyond the ordinary
Specialist in travel to the Arctic and Antarctic.
I am your contact person for questions and bookings relating to the Arctic and Antarctic, and I am delighted that you are one of the few people who are traveling to the ends of the earth.
You can reach me by phone or email:
+49 (0)201 858 90 960
welcome@inventia.de
Good to know
Arrival and departure: We offer a variety of customized travel packages including flights, hotels, transfers, and activities. We are also happy to suggest pre- and post-programs to extend your trip.
A heart for solo travelers: If you don't want a single cabin, shared cabins are available on board.
Entry requirements: German citizens require a valid passport or identity card. The entry requirements can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
Customs regulations: Norwegian customs regulations are very strict. In particular, the import of alcoholic beverages, but also tobacco products, is subject to strict limitations. Minor violations are severely punished. Further information can be found online.
Insurance: Proof of international health insurance covering medical repatriationmust be provided.
Medical questionnaire:You are required to completea medical questionnaire before departure.
Distance rule for polar bears: From 2025, the Norwegian government will require a minimum distance of 300 meters from polar bears in Svalbard.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience an expedition to a region where weather, ice, and polar bears reign supreme
- Immerse yourself in interesting facts and stories about historic polar expeditions
- Visit to the white island of Kvitøya, where the participants in Salomon August Andrée's balloon expedition perished
- Visit the northernmost settlement in the world and former airship base Ny-Ålesund, from where Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile set off on their expeditions to discover the North Pole.
- Marvel at the longest glacier front in the northern hemisphere, Bråsvellbreen on the Austfonna Glacier.
- Observation of whales, walruses, seals, and polar bears
- Hikes in the national parks with sightings of wildlife such as reindeer, arctic foxes, and many seabirds
- Enhance your days with extremely long daylight hours thanks to the midnight sun.
- Exclusive insights into the work of a captain on the bridge of the MS Sea Spirit
itinerary
A journey through the realm of the great white bears
Day 1 | Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Welcome to Longyearbyen, the capital of the Svalbard archipelago and the starting point of your expedition. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Afterwards, you will have time to explore this charming, compact town.
Start at the Spitsbergen Museum, where you can purchase rare polar books and maps. Afterwards, there are many restaurants waiting to serve you an excellent dinner. The midnight sun will accompany you throughout the evening. It will not set for the entire duration of your stay in Spitsbergen. When the weather is nice, you can sit in the sun late into the night before it's time to draw the curtains and get some sleep for the next exciting day.
Day 2 | Embarkation in Longyearbyen
You start the day with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. While your luggage is being taken to the ship, you have until the afternoon to immerse yourself in Longyearbyen and the culture of Spitsbergen. For example, visit the North Pole Expeditions Museum and get a first taste of the places you will visit in the coming days. Try the world's northernmost pizza or go shopping if you still need something for the expedition. By the way, you don't need to worry about a parka, as one will be waiting for you on board as a gift, and waterproof boots can be borrowed.
Then it's finally time to board the MS Sea Spirit. Settle into your suite and take a tour of the expedition ship. It will be your home for the next two extraordinary weeks. After dinner, enjoy the brightly lit evening on the open decks and get to know the other guests. The first lectures, prepared by the expedition team, will also begin.
Days 3 to 5 | Planned route
The goal of the expedition is to circumnavigate the Svalbard archipelago. Weather and ice conditions permitting, we will head north until we reach the "white" island of Kvitøya in the far northeast. Then we will head back south, always along the coast.
Days 3 to 5 | The facets of Arctic nature
Along the way, you will experience the untouched nature of Spitsbergen, most of which is protected by national parks. The first on your route is Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, an absolute natural paradise. It is known for its deep fjords, mountain ranges, and huge glaciers. Millions of kittiwakes, thick-billed murres, and other seabirds circle in the sky, their chicks hatching in breeding colonies on small islands. You will also have the chance to observe marine life such as beluga whales and Arctic seals. The Blomstrand Peninsula and the Kongsbreen Glacier ("King's Glacier") are other impressive places you will see.
Days 3 to 5 | The Ny-Ålesund airship base
Ny-Ålesund is one of the northernmost settlements in the world and one of the few places on your journey where you will encounter other people. The former mining town and airship base is now home to a small international community of Arctic researchers and boasts a museum, a souvenir shop, and a post office. It was from here that Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile set off on their famous flight over the roof of the world in 1926. The airship mast of the Norge still towers over Ny-Ålesund today, telling this story.
Day 6 | Virgohamna Bay & the Pioneers
Further north, Virgohamna awaits you. This is the bay from which Salomon August Andrée took off in a balloon to reach the North Pole. Walter Wellman also launched his unsuccessful flight attempts from here.
The Svalbard archipelago lies halfway between Norway's North Cape and the North Pole. The captain's plan is to advance along the ice edge towards Nordaustlandet and on to Kvitøya. Depending on the season, weather, and currents, the sea is covered with pack ice, making it impossible to determine a route in advance.
Days 7 and 8 | The paths of the Arctic explorers
This part of the journey takes you to the eastern and northern regions of the Svalbard archipelago, which are rarely visited by expedition ships. Here you can experience the beautiful solitude of the Arctic.
Kvitøya is the island closest to Franz Josef Land and is completely covered in ice. It is the final resting place of Salomon August Andrée's expedition team. The men had only been traveling toward the North Pole in their hydrogen balloon for three days. After making an emergency landing, they attempted to reach the nearest supply depot on foot, but were forced to set up camp on a large ice floe. They ultimately became stranded on this island.
Kvitøya is not always accessible to expedition ships. However, this increases the chance of seeing polar bears in their natural habitat.
Days 9 and 10 | The high walls of Austfonna
The vast Northeast Spitsbergen Nature Reserve and the region around Nordaustlandet are sometimes referred to as the "end of the world." Sea ice often remains until summer. The mighty Austfonna ice cap rises above the landscapes of the High Arctic. Where the glacier meets the sea, a mighty 24-meter-high ice cliff, the Bråsvellbreen, is formed. Austfonna means "eastern ice cap." Brå means "sudden," svell means "advance." Consequently, Bråsvellbreen got its name from a sudden advance in 1937-38, a so-called surge. Austfonna covers an area of 8,100 square kilometers, and the ice wall of Bråsvellbreen/Austfonna is about 180 km long. This makes it the longest glacier front in the northern hemisphere.
The polar desert landscape of Nordaustlandet has very little vegetation, but is nevertheless populated by many seabirds. The cliffs of Alkefjellet are home to thick-billed murres and glaucous gulls, among others. This makes the rock formation not only a good place to watch birds, but also foxes.
Day 11 | The islands east of Spitsbergen
The nature reserve in the southeast encompasses hundreds of uninhabited islands. The Svalbard reindeer find plenty of food in the vast tundra valleys of the islands of Edgeøya and Barentsøya, and the plains are important breeding grounds for geese, eider ducks, and sandpipers. Arctic foxes roam the vast landscape in search of food for their young, who are venturing out of their dens for the first time. Shallow bays are ideal feeding grounds for walruses resting on the beaches. Historical remains give you an insight into the time when animals were still caught or hunted.
South Spitsbergen National Park is a vast area of polar deserts and mountain ranges. At its heart is the Hornsund fjord, where glaciers flow into icy bays. Throughout the park, there is a very high probability of seeing wildlife. On the southern shore of the long Bellsund inlet, you can visit historic whaling stations. Wooden boats, huts, and vast quantities of whale bones create a scene where time seems to have stood still.
On a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, you will experience the history of aviation pioneers and the many facets of the Arctic up close. Every day brings new and moving moments.
Days 12 and 13 | Isfjord on the west coast of Spitsbergen
You are back in Isfjord, where the arc of the circumnavigation slowly closes again. Before the ship takes you back to Longyearbyen, Mount Alkhornet and Skansbukta Bay are waiting to be explored. Enjoy your last dinner together on board as you reflect on the impressions of the last few days.
Day 14: Disembarkation & Return Home
After breakfast, you will disembark and make your way to the airport if you are returning home. If you wish to stay longer in Spitsbergen, a transfer to the city center will be arranged for you. No matter where your journey takes you, the memories of the polar world will stay with you for a long time to come! You have become a part of it.
The daily programs described here are for your guidance. The itinerary may vary considerably due to local ice and weather conditions, last-minute permit procedures, and local authorities, but also to respond to current conditions regarding wildlife viewing.Theexpedition leader on board will determine the final itinerary and daily program. Flexibility is of utmost importance during our expedition-style voyages.
activities
Photography
Inclusive
The polar regions are among the most photogenic places in the world, offering countless beautiful landscapes every day. Wildlife, landscapes in the midnight sun, glaciers, and the hustle and bustle of Spitsbergen—all of these provide fantastic photo opportunities. To ensure that you return from your trip with truly successful pictures, you have the opportunity to learn more about the theory and practice of photography alongside an experienced photographer.
The photography expert will answer your questions and give practical tips – both in the form of lectures on board and during workshops on land. Learn the most important elements of photography in an entertaining way, against a dreamlike backdrop and with plenty of opportunities for questions and feedback. Discover how to perceive light in a whole new way in the polar region and what new image compositions can be created here.
Sea Kayak Club
The islands and fjords of the Arctic offer some of the most unique and interesting kayaking areas in the world. Join a kayaking tour and discover the Arctic on professionally guided tours! This optional activity is not just a one-time kayaking tour, but membership in an exclusive club for the duration of your trip. The kayaking experts will take you out on the water as often as possible, depending on weather and ice conditions. With your membership in the Sea Kayak Club, you have the opportunity to kayak as often as possible during your trip.
Before your first tour, you will receive detailed instructions, and a safety boat will always be standing by near the paddlers, just in case. Qualified instructors ensure safety during the kayak tours and assist you in getting in and out of the kayak.
- Basic kayaking and paddling experience required
- Paddling suit, spray skirt, personal flotation device/life jacket, booties, and neoprene mittens are provided.
DATES & PRICES
Request your trip here!
Submit questions via email Arrange a callback Call now: +49 201 85890960
or please select your preferred date
July 14, 2026 – July 27, 2026
from $11,495 per person
14 days/13 nights
MS Sea Spirit (Maximum occupancy: 114)
Longyearbyen (Svalbard) Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
Travel with German-speaking support*
Optional extra, subject to a fee: lake kayaking
July 7, 2027 – July 20, 2027
From €13,395 €11,386 per person
14 days/13 nights
MS Sea Spirit (Maximum occupancy: 114)
Longyearbyen (Svalbard) Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
Travel with German-speaking support*
Up to 25% early bird discount for bookings made by September 30, 2026
Optional extra, subject to a fee: lake kayaking
July 19, 2027 – August 1, 2027
From €13,395 €11,386 per person
14 days/13 nights
MS Sea Spirit (Maximum occupancy: 114)
Longyearbyen (Svalbard) Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
Travel with German-speaking support*
Up to 25% early bird discount for bookings made by September 30, 2026
Optional extra, subject to a fee: lake kayaking
Selected date
July 14, 2026 – July 27, 2026 (14 days/13 nights)
MS Sea Spirit | German-speaking | Arctic Expedition Intensive: In the Land of Polar Bears
Classic Triple Suite
Main Deck Suite
Classic Suite
Superior Suite
Deluxe Suite
Premium Suite
single suite
Owner Suite
cabin
options
| Sea kayaking (price per person) | ||
| Person(s) | 695,00 € | |
personal data
By clicking on the "Request now" button, you agree to the Processing of your personal data to complete the reservation.
Summary
optionally bookable
Selected date
July 7, 2027 – July 20, 2027 (14 days/13 nights)
MS Sea Spirit | German-speaking | Arctic Expedition Intensive: In the Land of Polar Bears
Classic Triple Suite
Main Deck Suite
Classic Suite
Superior Suite
Deluxe Suite
Premium Suite
single suite
Owner Suite
cabin
options
| Sea kayaking (price per person) | ||
| Person(s) | 795,00 € | |
personal data
By clicking on the "Request now" button, you agree to the Processing of your personal data to complete the reservation.
Summary
optionally bookable
Selected date
July 19, 2027 – August 1, 2027 (14 days/13 nights)
MS Sea Spirit | German-speaking | Arctic Expedition Intensive: In the Land of Polar Bears
Classic Triple Suite
Main Deck Suite
Classic Suite
Superior Suite
Deluxe Suite
Premium Suite
single suite
Owner Suite
cabin
options
| Sea kayaking (price per person) | ||
| Person(s) | 795,00 € | |
personal data
By clicking on the "Request now" button, you agree to the Processing of your personal data to complete the reservation.
Summary
optionally bookable
Included services:
- One night's accommodation on day 1 in Longyearbyen at the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (subject to change)
- Group transfer from the airport to the hotel (Day 1)
- Group transfer to the ship on the day of embarkation (Day 2)
- Group transfer to the airport or city center after disembarkation
- 13-night stay on the MS Sea Spirit, including full board during the trip (B/L/D)
- 24-hour water, tea, and coffee station on board
- All-inclusive beverage package with non-alcoholic beverages, house wine and beer, and house spirits in the onboard restaurant and bar
- All planned shore excursions, Zodiac trips, and excursions as per the program
- Experienced expedition leaders and lecturers
- Expedition parka specially designed for polar regions (you may keep it as a souvenir)
- Drinking bottle, to reduce plastic waste on board (you may keep it as a souvenir)
- Original "Artic Muck Boots" (or similar) available on loan, comfortable and high-quality thermal rubber boots, waterproof, lined and with padded midsole, for shore excursions
- Welcome and farewell cocktail
- Information material before the trip
- Digital logbook of the trip
- Wi-Fi on board
- AECO fees and government taxes
Not included in the price:
- Flights to and from Longyearbyen
- Costs for medical tests or vaccinations required by either a government agency or Poseidon Expeditions before, during, or after the cruise
- Visa or passport fees (if required)
- Luggage, trip cancellation, and trip interruption insurance (recommended)
- Personal expenses, for example for laundry or communication services (telephone, fax, email)
- Health insurance with emergency repatriation (required)
- tips
Important:
- Onboard language: English/German
- Expedition leaders and lecturers who speak English/German
- Means of payment on board: US dollars, euros, and major credit cards
- Filling out a medical questionnaire is mandatory.
- Free rubber boots available on board
- Open bridge
- There is a doctor on board.
- Proof of international health insurance with medical repatriation must be provided.
- The trip is not suitable for people with limited mobility.
*German language support
On board the expedition ships, the expedition team speaksEnglish and Germanduring the cruises.
For you, this means that all publications, such as ourin-flight magazine, daily programs, and notices, are also available in German. Menusare multilingual, so you can be sure you're always choosing the right thing. This also applies to announcements on board: to ensure you don't miss anything, these are always made in German as well. Do you have any specific questions or personal requests? Feel free to contact the German-speaking members of the expedition team at any time.
Your individual needs will also be taken into account during the diverse activities on the expedition cruises: for example, whenever possible, you will be divided into language groups for trips on Zodiac inflatable boats, and lectures will be held in German. You can always count on simultaneous translation.
Your ship during the voyage
Your ship: The MS Sea Spirit
Click here for deck plans, cabin categories, facts & figures
> View here
Total Solar Eclipse and the Three Pearls MS Sea Spirit Arctic©Page Chichister Poseidon Expeditions
MS Sea Spirit in the Arctic | © Page Chichister
Total Solar Eclipse and the Three Pearls Deck Restaurant©Page Chichester_Poseidon Expeditions
Deck restaurant on the MS Sea Spirit | © Page Chichester
Total Solar Eclipse and the Three Pearls _Zodiac Excursion Ice Bear©John Bozinov_Poseidon Expeditions
Zodiac trip | © John Bozinov
Total Solar Eclipse and the Three Pearls _Zodiac Trip©Anthony Smith_Poseidon Expeditions
Zodiac trip | © Anthony Smith
Total Solar Eclipse and the Three Pearls _Whale Kayaking©Sergey Dolya_Poseidon Expeditions
Whale near kayakers | © Sergey Dolya
Total Solar Eclipse and the Three Pearls_Spitsbergen@Page Chichester_Poseidon Expeditions
Spitsbergen landscape | @ Page Chichester
Total solar eclipse and the three-pearl coastal tern©Page Chichester_Poseidon Expeditions
Coastal terns | © Page Chichester
Total Solar Eclipse and the Three Pearls_Spitsbergen Glacier©Page Chichester_Poseidon Expeditions
Spitsbergen Glacier | © Page Chichester
Sounds interesting?
You can book your trip here
Do you have any questions?
just call
More Arctic trips
, starting at€9,135
Bird islands & glacier ice in the Norwegian Arctic
, starting at€12,789
Spitsbergen exclusively between pack ice and midnight sun
, starting at€5,408
Orcas & Northern Lights in the Norwegian Fjords | MS Stockholm
, starting at€7,550
Spitsbergen – Northeast Greenland – Iceland: Northern lights, Inuit, and long hikes |...
43.346 €
Crossing the entire Northwest Passage
, starting at€7,550
Northeast Greenland Extreme
, starting at€29,695
The Arctic during the solar eclipse
, starting at€24,295
To the solar eclipse in East Greenland
, starting at€7,150
Fly & Sail East Greenland's majestic fjords & glaciers | SY Rembrandt...
Group trip inventia: Fly & Sail East Greenland's majestic fjords & glaciers |...
21.191 €
Northwest Passage – From Canada to Greenland | MS Ocean Explorer
15.063 €
Northwest Passage – Legendary Arctic Sea Route | MS Ocean Explorer | Ultramarine
, starting at€9,135
Bird islands & glacier ice in the Norwegian Arctic
, starting at€12,789
Spitsbergen exclusively between pack ice and midnight sun
, starting at€5,408
Orcas & Northern Lights in the Norwegian Fjords | MS Stockholm
, starting at€7,550
Spitsbergen – Northeast Greenland – Iceland: Northern lights, Inuit, and long hikes |...
43.346 €
Crossing the entire Northwest Passage
, starting at€7,550
Northeast Greenland Extreme
, starting at€29,695
The Arctic during the solar eclipse
, starting at€24,295
To the solar eclipse in East Greenland
, starting at€7,150
Fly & Sail East Greenland's majestic fjords & glaciers | SY Rembrandt...
Group trip inventia: Fly & Sail East Greenland's majestic fjords & glaciers |...
21.191 €
Northwest Passage – From Canada to Greenland | MS Ocean Explorer
15.063 €
