We are delighted to announce the first safari that combines both land and sea exploration of Svalbard! Journey by snowmobile through the remote wilderness of Spitsbergen to Isfjord Radio on a three-day expedition, before embarking on the R/V Kinfish and navigating the Svalbard Archipelago, seeking out epic Arctic landscapes and potential wildlife encounters.
Day 1: Arrive Longyearbyen
Arrive into Longyearbyen and transfer to Basecamp Hotel. After time to settle in, meet your guides for a full expedition briefing ahead of your journey. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 2: Longyearbyen - Isfjord Radio
Today your guide will meet you for a chat about the coming trip, possible routes and the safety briefing, before heading to the snowmobiles. After a lesson in snowmobile driving and safety, you will head out to the wilderness towards Kapp Line and Isfjord Radio, stopping on route for an expedition lunch. We’ll spend the day snowmobiling through the vast white landscape, making plenty of stops to take in your beautiful surroundings and have a chance to witness Arctic wildlife in the remote Svalbard wilderness.
Arrive at Isfjord Radio, a remote boutique hotel and the last frontier accommodation before Greenland. This evening try a warm sauna and quick swim like a true Polar Adventurer, before a delicious Arctic inspired dinner.
Day 3: Snowmobiling
Spend the day exploring the beautiful landscape of Spitsbergen. Head toward Fritjovsbreen and Van Mijenfjorden glaciers, driving past vast mountain ranges, over glaciers, taking in the remote wilderness and experience true Arctic silence once everyone’s turned off their snowmobiles.
Day 4: Return to Longyearbyen / Embark Kinfish
Return to Longyearbyen by snowmobile, stopping for lunch en route. In the afternoon, transfer to the harbour and board R/V Kinfish.
Set sail into the fjords as your journey transitions from land to sea.
Day 5 – 8: Svalbard Exploration (Kinfish
Spend four full days exploring the Svalbard Archipelago. Your route will remain flexible, shaped by weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.
Cruise through glacier-lined fjords and along ice-filled coastlines, with regular zodiac excursions and shore landings. Keep watch for walrus, seals, Arctic fox and reindeer, with the chance of encountering polar bears.
Each day offers something different, with ever-changing light and ice conditions creating a dynamic and immersive Arctic experience.
Navigate deep into fjord systems rarely accessed by larger vessels, edging through broken sea ice and along vast glacier fronts. Step ashore in remote locations to explore on foot, gaining a closer perspective of the scale and stillness of the landscape.
Time on deck is equally rewarding, whether scanning the ice for movement, watching glaciers calve into the sea, or simply absorbing the silence of the high Arctic. Evenings are spent on board reflecting on the day’s sightings, with the shifting light often providing some of the most memorable moments of the journey.
Day 9: Departure
Disembark in Longyearbyen after breakfast and transfer to the airport for onward travel.
Day 8, 12 April 2025: Departure
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred either direct to the airport for your onward flights home, or back to the centre of town depending on the time of your departure.
Pricing per person:
"I’m truly excited about this pioneering expedition as we combine for the first time a snowmobiling and sailing adventure. One of my favourite highlights of any trip to Svalbard is embracing the silence of the frozen north and waiting to see what can be seen. Driving your own snowmobiles over the Arctic tundra and on-board the expedition ship, you will be on the lookout for wildlife, hoping to see polar bears, walrus, seals and reindeer alongside the epic Arctic landscape in some of the best light conditions. Svalbard is always an extraordinary adventure!"
Small Ship Size
Thanks to the smaller size of the R/V Kinfish, we are able to enter some of the more untouched and inaccessible areas of Svalbard. Combined with smaller Zodiac boats, you can gain closer access to the area’s best natural attractions.
Wealth of Experience
We work with some of the best guides in the business; from polar researchers to expert naturalists. All of our expedition leaders have been carefully selected for their experience, personality and in-depth wildlife knowledge.
Onboard Lectures
Your expedition leaders will host informative lectures on various local topics. These informal lectures will range from the history of the region, to the effects of climate change on the habitats of Arctic wildlife, offering you a greater understanding of the areas you will visit throughout your trip.
I had the most amazing time with NWS in Svalbard; the expedition leaders Mats and Hadleigh were great and got us really close to the wildlife and landscapes - the bear encounters were incredible (close and were able to watch them for literal hours demonstrating all sorts of behaviours), as were the opportunities to see walruses, seals, foxes and all sorts of birdlife. The ship was awesome, the open bridge policy was great and the crew were all lovely to chat to. The regular app updates on flight information, being able to see the travel docs etc. whilst on the boat (i.e. with no wifi) was also really useful.
The guides and Kinfish crew made the trip perfect as much as the wildlife sightings we had. The Kinfish is so unique and the crew are very special which makes this trip stand out miles above other trips. We had such amazing, interesting and down to earth wildlife guides who went above and beyond for everyone. The bespoke combination of exclusivity and uniqueness of this is what makes the trip really stand out from the rest. The access to the wildlife is second to none and you do really feel like you are having the same access as the professional documentary makers receive.
Gemma and Chloe were both excellent for helping me to book this trip! Our guides, Hadleigh and Mats, were knowledgeable, kind, and engaged throughout our trip. Their expertise was the key to our incredible wildlife encounters which made for a truly once in a lifetime trip. We'd love to travel again, the combination of pre-trip planning, great communication right before and during the trip, fantastic expedition accommodation, wildlife, wildlife and more wildlife was great!
The whole experience and NWS team have been absolutely amazing, no question too big or small (or stupid)! Having the ability to talk to people who have been on the same trip was a game changer. Having Hannah and Erika on the trip with us was just the best, the energy they brought matched each of the guests where they were, it was incredible to have them with us. It was helpful to have everyone spotting and the guides were amazing. I have discovered a love of walruses and birds I never knew I had! I found the service, support and experience absolutely amazing.
What an amazing company to travel with. The communication was great from start to finish, with all our queries promptly answered. Our expectations were met with high standards of accommodation on board the boat, excellent home cooking, with the added advantage of a member of staff present throughout the trip.
