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Itinerary Summary

Duration
11 Days
Price
£8095
When
Apr - Aug
Destination
Svalbard
Type
Small Group Safari
Duration Price When Destination Type
11 Days £8095 Apr - Aug Svalbard Small Group Safari
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Svalbard Polar Bear Explorer

Explore the stunning Spitsbergen Archipelago aboard the M/V Kinfish - intimate ship charters focusing on sightings of the amazing polar bear and other Arctic wildlife of Svalbard.

The best time to see polar bears in Svalbard is during the summer months, when you can explore the wildlife capital of the Arctic aboard one of our small ship expeditions. You will sail north from Longyearbyen exploring the western coast of Spitsbergen in search of colonies of walrus as well as other resident marine mammals. Setting sail during the heart of the Arctic summer, the sea ice will be fragmented, sending ice floes along the eastern part of the Archipelago. Searching these principle hunting grounds for the polar bear, the M/V Kinfish provides an unique opportunity to observe this majestic creature. 

 

What makes this trip extraordinary

  • Navigate far into the icy north to observe polar bears.
  • Stay aboard an intimate expedition ship with as few as 11 other passengers.
  • Enjoy walking and sailing through incredible landscapes and breath-taking fjords and waterfalls.
  • Witness other Arctic wildlife including walrus, whales, Svalbard reindeer and more.

Embedded Video Overview

A 9-, 10- or 11-day wildlife-focused specialist-led set departure aboard the M/V Kinfish  
from £8,095 per person, excluding international flights

Svalbard Photo Safari - Shannon Wild
Kate Humble, Natural World Safaris Specialist Guide

Kate Humble & Natural World Safaris

Veteran BBC presenter Kate Humble has joined us as specialist leader on two of our Svalbard Polar Bear Explorer expeditions thus far. Kate’s passion for wildlife and the natural world has seen her feature in a cavalcade of much-loved television programmes like Springwatch and Animal Park, while she also involves herself in charity work for a number of conservation organisations, from the RSPB to the Marine Conservation Society.

Upon returning from her first trip to Svalbard with NWS, Kate shared the following words with us:

”As you know, the beauty of great wildlife encounters is that they are unpredictable, and although knowledge and experience of a place can up your chances, there are no guarantees. The first talk I did for the guests was absolutely about that – that even with a BBC Natural History team, cameras, specialist guides and equipment, there is no certainty that you are going to find what you are looking for, and even if you do, see it doing something that is interesting enough to film. But the combination of knowledge of both the landscape, and the ice, with some luck, and a flexible itinerary, meant we not only saw many polar bears throughout the trip, we also witnessed some really wonderful behaviour.

It was this that made our Svalbard safari a completely stand-out wildlife-watching experience.

Day by day

Day by day

Day 1

Arrive Longyearbyen

Today you will arrive in Longyearbyen ready to board your expedition ship in the afternoon and start your Arctic adventure. Meet your fellow passengers and sail through the spectacular icy fjords of the Svalbard Archipelago.

Days 2-10

Exploring Svalbard

Your time aboard the M/V Kinfish will be spent exploring the Svalbard Archipelago in search of Arctic wildlife and frozen landscapes. The exact itinerary will depend upon the weather conditions, the density of the pack ice in the north and wildlife opportunities; as well as the chosen length of your trip. During your Arctic safari you can expect to visit ice-filled fjords framed by breath-taking snow-capped peaks, towering bird cliffs with colonies of seabirds numbering in their thousands and see gigantic glaciers crashing into the icy seas. Alongside stunning landscapes go in search of polar bears as they hunt for seals, seek out of walrus basking in the sun and spot whales breaching in the icy seas. On shore you may come across Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer and, of course, the impressive Arctic flora.

Natural World Safaris Svalbard Photography Safari 2018
Day 11

Depart Longyearbyen

You will arrive back into Longyearbyen in the early morning, disembark and then time to say your final farewells and begin your journey home.

Trip Details

Our Svalbard Polar Bear Explorer trip is a small group wildlife expedition. The M/V Kinfish is a small, intimate ship perfect for exploring the icy shores of the Svalbard Archipelago, ensuring your proximity to wildlife-rich areas of interest. Carrying 12 passengers, it creates unique and enchanting wildlife experiences with unrivalled up-close encounters of Arctic wildlife, including the mighty polar bear.

Please note that pricing is subject to exchange rate fluctuations. 

Trip date Duration Prices from Specialist guide(s) Accom. highlights
May 12 - May 20 2024 9 Days £9995 Specialist Leader M/V Kinfish
May 20 - May 28 2024 9 Days £8395   M/V Kinfish
May 28 - Jun 05 2024 9 Days £9995 Karim Iliya M/V Kinfish
Jun 05 - Jun 13 2024 9 Days £8695   M/V Kinfish
Jun 13 - Jun 22 2024 10 Days £10895 Pie Aerts M/V Kinfish
Jun 22 - Jul 01 2024 10 Days £9295   M/V Kinfish
Jul 01 - Jul 10 2024 10 Days £9295   M/V Kinfish
Jul 10 - Jul 20 2024 11 Days £9795   M/V Kinfish
Jul 20 - Jul 30 2024 11 Days £11395 Specialist Leader M/V Kinfish
Jul 30 - Aug 09 2024 11 Days £9795   M/V Kinfish
Trip date Duration Prices from Specialist guide(s) Accom. highlights
May 23 - May 31 2023 9 Days £8095   M/V Kinfish
May 22 - Jun 01 2023 11 Days £11820 Will Bolsover Polarfront
Jun 08 - Jun 17 2023 10 Days £9895 Drew Doggett M/V Kinfish
Jun 17 - Jun 27 2023 11 Days £8795   M/V Kinfish
Jun 27 - Jul 07 2023 11 Days £8995   M/V Kinfish
Jul 07 - Jul 17 2023 11 Days £8995   M/V Kinfish
Jul 17 - Jul 27 2023 11 Days £9895 Andrew James M/V Kinfish
Trip Logs

M/V Kinfish Log 2022 | Aug 2022 M/V Kinfish Log 2022 | Jul 2022 M/V Kinfish Log 2022 | Jun 2022 M/V Kinfish Log 2022 | May 2022 M/V Kinfish Log 2022 | May 2022

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