Svalbard- Last stop before the North Pole - Antarctic Cruise

Arrive in Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Norway by plane. It's the northernmost... anything! The world's most northern airport, school, bank, and supermarket are all located in this remarkable city. This rugged edge of the town hides a heart full of warmth and comfort - or hyggligt as they say in Denmark - that is typified by Nordic hospitality.

You are immediately immersed in another world after arriving in Longyearbyen. As soon as the plane touches down, you can feel the cold Arctic air. The famous signpost at the airport reminds passengers how far they are from home and to be on the lookout for bears. Hjorthfjellet, a snow-capped peak on the other side of Adventfjorden that towers above the airport and the languid glaciers in northern Spitzbergen can be seen off to the distance.

The expedition ship will be waiting for you when you arrive. You will receive a mandatory safety briefing, followed by a lifeboat exercise. Then head to the outer decks for a champagne toast as you watch your vessel depart civilisation and set course for adventure.

North West Svalbard, one of Europe's largest wilderness protected areas, was designated a National Park in 1973. This area has a rich history that documents the first human settlements in Svalbard. William Barents' expedition, named after the Dutch legend who discovered the Barents Sea, was the first to arrive on the icy coasts of Svalbard. Barents noted that the sea was now safe from humans, but when he arrived in 1596 he saw the large number of seals and whales. Within a decade, English and Dutch whaling ships arrived to plunder the wildlife. This area was located at the intersection of land, water and ice and therefore, it made the ideal location to capture the gentle giants. The Dutch settlement Smeerenburg is one of the sites where whales were dismembered and rendered for the oil. You can still see the foundations of buildings and the remains of blubber-ovens from the 16th century. Other sites, such as Ytre Norskoya in the nearby area, show the dark side of industrialised slaughter. Hundreds of men who hoped for their fortunes were buried many miles away from home.

All that is left of this time period are the bones of humans and the few remnants. The region has been slowly reclaimed and transformed into a paradise for nature lovers. The Arctic poppy and the purple saxifrage flower despite the harsh conditions in summer. Geese and eider ducks, as well as other seabirds, return to the islands to rear their young. We can see walruses hauled on the beaches and watch out for polar bears roaming in this once wild area.

We cruise in the morning into the vast, icy wilderness that is northeastern Svalbard. The environment in this region is very different. It has a rocky, polar desert terrain. The mountains are flooded with glaciers that flow into the ocean, which can be choked by ice even during summer.

It may look barren but it's anything but. Arctic foxes and other hardy creatures like them, who are always on the hunt for food, make a meager living along these cold shores. In the cliffs that rise above the ocean, seabirds carefully care for their eggs. The cold waters along the coast are also incredibly productive. Shellfish are abundant and are eaten by the walruses that are commonly found in this area.

We will visit the exact places we want to go depending on sea, wind, and ice conditions, all of which can vary from year to year and even change quickly in summer. This is what polar exploration means - moving according Mother Nature's rhythms and exploring the possibilities she offers!

We now reach the most northern parts of Earth, the coast of Svalbard. Here we find barren landscapes that are almost always covered in ice. We may be able to reach Nordaustlandet, and perhaps the smaller islands (or seven, depending on the count), of Sjuoyane at the very north of Svalbard. These rocky, almost devoid of vegetation islands are around 1,000 km further north than the famous Nordkapp on mainland Norway.

We will walk on these northernmost landmasses, if the weather permits. Only moss or lichen covers the stone surfaces of these high Arctic islands. Birdlife in the area is abundant, and flocks of rare gulls as well as grazing goose are often seen. Bring your binoculars with you!

We will cruise towards the Arctic Ice Pack, which extends from Svalbard up to the North Pole.

A cold breeze kisses your cheeks. Your nostrils are filled with the scent of sea and snow. The clouds are illuminated by the sun reflected off of the ice. The vast, ever-changing realm of floating water ice that crowns the planet is an experience like none other. Svalbard is surrounded by a vast ice sheet that stretches northwards from the archipelago, to the North Pole and across the Arctic Ocean to Alaska and Chukotka.

Arctic ice is the largest habitat on Earth, but unlike other habitats it changes dramatically from year to year. It expands in winter, and recedes in summer. Sea ice can be found in many different places around Svalbard. Your Expedition Leader is working hard to maximize our chance of discovering and exploring this remote area. This stark, white, lifeless wilderness appears barren and empty at first. The icy landscape is full of mysteries and wildlife can only be seen at Mother Nature's whim.

We can be seen pushing through narrow channels of ice. In the water, you will see tiny fish that look like cod silhouetted on the ice. Kittiwakes, Gloucous Gulls and other birds follow the boat as it moves through the water. Black dots are visible further out on ice. As they get closer, the seals basking in the sun appear. The sun is reflected in a plume of water, perhaps a group of belugas or a bowhead whale whose massive body surfaced from beneath the ice. The King of the Arctic is on a never-ending hunt for food, just beyond the banks. The vast, icy wastelands at the top are the home of the polar-bear kingdom.

What is the night when the sun doesn't set? The expedition ship has repositioned itself past Prins Karls Forland's saw-toothed mountain ranges and will arrive in the magnificent Kongsfjord. This is one of the world's most tranquil and beautiful corners. Surrounded by mountains and bordered by magnificent Kongsbreen Glaciers and the Three Crowns.

The small town of Ny Alesund will be our first landing. Ny-Alesund, located further north than Longyearbyen is Earth's most northern settlement, but only if you consider a collection of scientific stations and one shop that are open for just a few short hours.

The islands have been the starting point for scientific and exploratory expeditions since centuries. This proud tradition continues today. It is a spectacular setting, with scientific projects as interesting as its history. The town has been home to the Nobile and the Norge as well as Amundsen Nansen Nordenskiold. These expeditions are still visible today, including the Norge's mooring mast.

The expedition ship returns to Longyearbyen in the evening. After days in isolation, this tiny town will seem like a city!

Return to Svalbard Airport to catch your flight to Norway. You will have many fond memories of the time you spent in Longyearbyen.