Wed 03rd June
Fly to Oslo airport and stay here overnight. We arrive early for our boat departure in Longyearbyen on Tuesday to account for possible flight delays due to Arctic fog and weather conditions.
Thur 04th June
Today we fly into Svalbard Airport and stay in comfortable accommodation in Longyearbyen. Upon arrival in this snowy region, you will be captivated by its quaint charm and beautiful mountainous landscape.
Once you’re settled in, we’d like to take some time to discover Longyearbyen’s fascinating history, you’ll have the chance to explore the world’s northernmost inhabited town with just over 1,000 residents. We’ll take a leisurely stroll through the town, known for its charming mix of Nordic buildings and Arctic character. We may visit the Svalbard Museum, which offers insights into the region’s cultural and natural heritage.
There may be time to join an optional wildlife safari on land to spot reindeer, Arctic foxes, or perhaps even a polar bear from a safe distance.
Fri 05 June
Take a restful morning to enjoy breakfast and soak up the views of this picturesque landscape as later today, we board our beautiful ship which will be our home for the next 7 days.
We will head to the floating pier for embarkation after 4 o’clock. Once on board, we will meet the captain and crew, who will give a tour of the ship. The crew will also provide a safety briefing and an introduction to the operational aspects of your journey.
The crew will show us to our cabins, where we can unpack and settle in. As our tall ship sets sail, relax and enjoy the serene Arctic waters. Afterward, enjoy a delicious dinner as the boat heads north into the vast Arctic landscape. There’s no formal watch system aboard, so after dinner, we’re free to relax as we wish.
The boat will continue its voyage into the night as we try to get as far north as possible, dropping anchor in the early hours of the morning.
Sat 06th June
After a hearty breakfast and morning briefings with Claudia, we prepare for our first zodiac landing at Trygghamna. Here, we’ll explore the remains of a 17th-century English whaling station and an 18th century Pomor hunting station, both rich in historical significance. The site offers a fascinating glimpse into the harsh yet resilient past of Arctic exploration, quite literally frozen in time.
We then take a guided hike to the Alkhornet cliffs that are more than a billion years old. These towering peaks are home to approximately 10,000 seabirds, providing an incredible birdwatching experience. For those who may not be feeling up to the whole hike, the surrounding tundra at the base of the cliffs is teeming with Arctic wildlife to fill our skechbook pages, including local reindeer, geese, and sleek Arctic foxes.
Claudia will encourage us to capture snippets of the environment in our sketchbooks, including the landscape, the ship and our fellow explorers. This will create a visual string of stories filled with the region's natural beauty, depicted in both sketches and descriptive words.
After our land exploration, we return to the ship for a warm meal while sailing northward, taking in the serene, icy landscape. If weather conditions allow, we may venture into the stunning St. John Fjord at night, known for its dramatic scenery and breath taking glaciers, made even more magical in the Arctic light.
After dinner, we’ll reflect on today’s rich history, wildlife encounters, and stunning landscapes, and then enjoy a restful night’s sleep to prepare for tomorrow’s adventure.
Sun 07th June
We begin the day with a briefing from our expedition leader to discuss the best landing spot, carefully considering the ice conditions, as a long walk may prove challenging in such terrain. Once we've made our decision, we’ll set out to explore the stunning landscape, keeping a keen eye out for wildlife along the way.
In these conditions, it’s best to carry minimal materials. By keeping our kit light, we can sketch quickly, without the need to make too many decisions. The clear Arctic light will illuminate everything in brilliant detail, and we'll be following in the footsteps of the great explorer-artists who once visited this region during the golden era of Arctic exploration, before the advent of photography. Here, we seek out the colours in the landscape, capturing the subtle tones of ice, snow, and sky. We may even spot bearded seals, with their splendid moustaches and natural curiosity, adding to the experience.
After our morning exploration, we enjoy a hearty lunch onboard, prepared by our ship’s cook. This is a perfect opportunity to warm up and reflect on the paintings we’ve created so far.
If the weather permits and the wind is in our favour, we’ll sail out of the fjord toward Forlandsundet, an area rich in wildlife where we may spot seals basking in the sun. As we navigate past the Forland Srevet sandbank, the Noorderlicht will skillfully guide us through the waters into the next fjord, Fuglefjorden, ringed by sculpted peaks and magnificent glaciers. If we're lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of a polar bear through our binoculars, walking beneath the towering icy cliffs.
Keep a lookout for walrus groups at Sarstangen and Poolepynten, where they often haul out on the shore. The bull walruses make excellent models, as they tend to remain relatively still, giving us plenty of time to sketch their impressive rolls of blubber and distinctive features, while listening to the echoing sounds of their bellows.
Mon 08th June
After waking up in the stunning Kongsfjord, we’ll set sail towards the majestic 14th July Glacier, which rises more than 30 metres above sea level. We’ll be captivated by its icy blue and white hues, set against the dark mountains that tower on either side.
We may even be fortunate enough to spot a polar bear on a smaller floating chunk of ice, an experience we’ll certainly hope for! There will be plenty of opportunities to sketch, and Claudia will provide painting demonstrations on how to depict ice in watercolour, giving us the confidence to capture this stunning glacier on paper.
This area is teeming with birdlife, and as we approach, we’ll visit an accessible breeding site for Brünnich’s guillemots, auks, and puffins. The guano-rich environment of these colonies creates surprisingly lush vegetation, with many flowering plants thriving in the sheltered surroundings.
Keep an eye out for bearded seals lounging on ice floes and large colonies of black-billed guillemots, kittiwakes, and puffins!
After a warm lunch onboard, we head out again. Depending on the weather and sea conditions, we’ll either make our way towards Krossfjord or return to Poolepynten for more wildlife encounters.
If the entrance to St. Johns Fjord is ice-free, we will venture into this serene area in the evening. Here, we’ll pause to listen for the haunting calls of bearded seals echoing among the glaciers, adding a truly magical touch to our Arctic adventure.
Tues 09th June
This morning, as we enjoy breakfast with views of the frozen wilderness, we’ll head south to Grimaldibukta, aiming to land at Murraypynten. Here we can observe walruses and take in the stunning vistas of rugged alpine mountains and glaciers that form the island's spine, alongside the expansive coastal plain. On the south side of Murraypynten, you'll find the ruins of a hut, believed to have been built in 1963 by a German expedition. We’ll explore the area, immersing ourselves in its history while taking time to photograph and sketch the ethereal beauty of the Arctic landscape.
In the afternoon, we may visit the Blomstrandhalvøya Peninsula, home to the historic marble mine at Ny London. From here, we enjoy breathtaking views of the Tre Kroner peaks. Capturing these peaks in our sketchbooks will be a special moment as we witness the three mountains rising dramatically above the coastline, with endless fjords stretching below.
We’ll always be on the lookout for polar bears, as sightings can happen when least expected. We hope to experience that rush of adrenaline when capturing a sequence of polar bear sketches, ready to paint later. If the weather becomes unsettled, we’ll head to Ny-Ålesund, the northernmost settlement in the world, and a polar research centre linked to legendary Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, whose statue stands in the town. There will be plenty of natural beauty to paint and photograph, and you’ll find yourself inspired by this special region.
The local bird life has adapted to the human presence and is exceptionally tame. barnacle geese, pink footed geese, common eiders, Arctic terns and several species of wader can often be seen at close quarters here which we will enjoy painting.
Wed 10th June
We begin our day with a morning landing at Ymerbukta Bay, where the Esmarkbreen glacier flows into the sea. This dramatic location offers a wealth of inspiration for landscape paintings, with rugged, textured mountains and a truly wild, untouched environment. The pristine wilderness here is home to polar bears, walruses and seals, providing unique opportunities to capture the raw beauty of the Arctic in our artwork.
Depending on berth availability in Barentsburg, we’ll set sail in the afternoon towards this distinctive Russian mining settlement. As we sail through the cold waters, we’ll have our sketchbooks at the ready to capture the icy blues, muted purples, and stark whites of the landscape. Upon arrival, we’ll climb 140 wooden steps to the heart of the settlement where Soviet-era buildings and relics of the past await us. Founded by the Dutch Spitsbergen Company in 1924, Barentsburg was taken over by the Russians in 1926, growing into a thriving mining community with over 1,000 residents. Today, about 400 people of Russian and Ukrainian descent still call it home.
Barentsburg offers the perfect mix of manmade and natural subjects for our sketches. A life-sized bust of Lenin and distinctive Soviet architecture provide striking contrasts against the brilliant white snow and clear blue skies. The faded murals, billboards, and industrial structures are rich in character, presenting unique painting opportunities that reflect the town’s history and atmosphere.
We’ll also visit the world’s northernmost brewery and the Pomor Museum, where we can soak in the solitude and beauty of the far north. As evening falls, we’ll enjoy locally brewed beers and Russian snacks while mingling with the ship’s crew.
Thur 11th June
In the morning, we’ll set course for Colesbukta, once a bustling coal mining settlement and transport station for Grumantbyen, a Soviet-era company town that was abandoned in 1965. What makes Colesbukta truly captivating is its remarkable preservation. Despite nearly five decades of abandonment, the harsh Arctic climate has spared much of the town from decay, leaving behind a haunting yet preserved landscape, where the remnants of the crumbling buildings stand as silent witnesses to a forgotten past.
Our exploration will take us through the haunting remains of the coal industry, as well as a visit to the desolate hut once belonging to Russian geologist Vladimir Rusanov, now a small self-guided museum. Standing in these abandoned structures, one can’t help but reflect on how people endured such extreme conditions, offering a powerful reminder of human resilience and survival in the most inhospitable corners of the Earth.
If the weather permits, we’ll sail back to Longyearbyen after lunch, where we’ll have some free time to stroll the charming streets, shop for unique souvenirs, or simply enjoy the serene beauty of the town. We’ll return to the ship around dinner time and enjoy a relaxed evening with the crew and fellow travellers, sharing stories and experiences from this unforgettable journey.
By this point in our Arctic adventure, our sketchbooks should be filled with exciting work inspired by our time sailing through the frozen wilderness. Even if half of the pages are filled with scribbles and watercolour splodges, the new work will feel exhilarating and serve as raw evidence of our time here. With so many overwhelmingly spectacular Arctic scenes, many of which stretch well beyond our imaginations, we will have memories to last a lifetime.
We will arrive in Longyearbyen port this evening from 5pm onwards.
Fri 12th June
Our Arctic voyage comes to an end today. After breakfast, we will exchange heartfelt goodbyes to our Captain and crew before disembarking from our floating home. We will disembark the ship at 8am ready to transfer to the airport in good time for our onward flights home.
