Svalbard, Arctic Circle & Tromso - 13 Day Cruise

Description

Combining the highlights of our 7- and 5-night expeditions, this 12-night Arctic journey is a comprehensive exploration of Svalbard and the Arctic Circle. Venture deep into fjords such as Kongsfjorden and Raudfjord, where towering glaciers rise above the sea. Follow the drifting pack ice in search of polar bears, seals, and walruses. Islands in the Svalbarg archipelago such as Alkehornet, Bear Island, and Gjesværstappan erupt with seabirds in summer, while tundra walks reveal reindeer, Arctic foxes, and traces of historic whaling outposts. From remote islands once used by Sami herders to lively coastal villages at the edge of Europe, this itinerary offers the full spectrum of Arctic wilderness and culture.

Trip Name

Svalbard, Arctic Circle & Tromso - 13 Day Cruise

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Superyacht Passenger Capacity: 30 Length: 77 meters Aqua Lares is a 77-metre superyacht offering an exclusive way to explore the Seychelles and Tanzania, available for both full charters and individual cabin bookings. With just 15 bespoke suites and a one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, it provides an intimate small-ship experience that blends five-star comfort with adventurous discovery. Purpose-built for exploration, the yacht visits biodiversity hotspots such as Aldabra and La Digue, as well as remote islands like the African Banks that are normally out of reach for larger vessels. Its interiors combine European sophistication with African craftsmanship, creating a relaxed yet refined atmosphere across six decks. On board, guests can enjoy fine dining, a spa, a jacuzzi, and inviting lounges while watching the Indian Ocean drift by. Days can be spent snorkelling pristine reefs, paddling secluded lagoons, or tracing the spice routes that once connected these shores. Evenings invite sunset cocktails on the Sun Deck or stargazing from a daybed on the Heli Deck. Whether seeking adventure or tranquillity, Aqua Lares delivers a world-class floating safari through East Africa’s most captivating seascapes.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 The Arctic Circle Longyearbyen & Alkehornet

Board Aqua Lares in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world, and settle into your luxurious cabin. In the afternoon, we visit Alkehornet, a dramatic bird cliff where thousands of guillemots and kittiwakes nest. The tundra below often attracts grazing reindeer and, with luck, Arctic foxes on the prowl.

Day 2 - Day 2 The Arctic Circle Gravneset & Smeerenburg

We begin the day at Gravneset, a headland surrounded by glaciers and mountains, where a historic whaling cemetery tells tales of early Arctic explorers. In the afternoon, our adventure continues to Smeerenburg Fjord and Sorgattet, once the center of 17th-century Dutch whaling. Step ashore at the historic site, surrounded by Arctic terns, geese, and the stark beauty of the high Arctic coast.

Day 3 - Day 3 The Arctic Circle Pack Ice

After an overnight voyage from Smeerenburg, we venture into the drifting pack ice, a silent expanse stretching toward the horizon. Head out on a tender excursion in search of polar bears, bearded seals, and ivory gulls in their natural habitat — some of the rarest wildlife encounters on the planet. In the afternoon, take part in a polar plunge and immerse yourself in the frigid Arctic waters.

Day 4 - Day 4 The Arctic Circle Alkefjellet & Bråsvellbreen

Start the day exploring one of Svalbard’s most famous bird cliffs. Its basalt walls rise steeply from the sea and are home to over 60,000 pairs of Brünnich’s guillemots during the summer breeding season. The cliffs provide nesting ledges for the birds, while Arctic foxes and glaucous gulls are often seen below, preying on eggs or chicks. Later in the day, sail along the Bråsvellbreen glacier front, an outlet of the Austfonna ice cap. Stretching nearly 180 kilometers, this is one of the longest glacier fronts of the northern hemisphere. During summer, meltwater streams pour down its face in striking seasonal waterfalls, a distinctive feature of this vast ice wall.

Day 5 - Day 5 The Arctic Circle Hinlopenstretet & Torellneset

In the morning, we navigate Hinlopenstretet, the strait separating Spitsbergen from Nordaustlandet. The passage is bordered by steep cliffs and several tidewater glaciers, an important summer habitat for Brünnich’s guillemots, which nest on the cliffs, and the waters may hold bearded seals and drifting pack ice. Polar bears are often sighted in this region, particularly along the ice edge. In the afternoon we land at Torellneset, this gravel spit is a well-known walrus haul-out site, where groups of Atlantic walrus rest on the beach between feeding bouts in the surrounding shallow waters.

Day 6 - Day 6 The Arctic Circle Sorgfjorden

We arrive at Sorgfjorden, located at the northwestern tip of Spitsbergen. The fjord is famous for its dramatic historical events, most notably the naval battle of 1693, when French warships clashed with Dutch whalers. Along its shores, traces of the whaling era remain visible, including graves and blubber ovens from the 17th century. Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes are sometimes spotted along the shoreline, while walrus may gather at haul-outs near the fjord entrance. In summer, Arctic terns, geese, and other migratory birds add to the seasonal life of the high Arctic coast.

Day 7 - Day 7 The Arctic Circle Krossfjorden & Kongsfjorden

In the morning, we explore Krossfjorden, where the immense Lilliehöökbreen Glacier stretches for more than 12 kilometers. Seals often haul out on the drifting ice, and flocks of kittiwakes soar above. Later in the day, we head onwards to Kongsfjorden, one of the most beautiful fjords in Svalbard. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks and sweeping glaciers, the fjord has long drawn explorers and scientists, its dramatic landscapes offering some of the most striking scenery in the archipelago.

Day 8 - Day 8 The Arctic Circle Longyearbyen

We return to Longyearbyen as the ship replenishes itself for the next leg of the journey. Take the day to unwind on board Aqua Lares. Enjoy the social spaces at your leisure, whether it be sipping cocktails in the lounge, a workout in the open air, or a soothing spa treatment. Later in the day, we greet the new guests joining the expeditions onwards.

Day 9 - Day 9 The Arctic Circle Samarinvågen

Begin the day exploring Samarinvågen, where a calving glacier fills the bay with ice floes that serve as haul-out sites for bearded seals. Watch seabirds such as little auks, Brünnich’s guillemots, and king eiders, and with luck, glimpse a beluga.

Day 10 - Day 10 The Arctic Circle Bear Island

Today, we head out on excursions along the remote cliffs of Bear Island, home to vast colonies of puffins, guillemots, and fulmars. Enjoy close encounters with the destination's remarkable population of seabirds while out on a tender exploration. Learn more about the island’s unique ecology from our naturalist guides.

Day 11 - Day 11 The Arctic Circle Rantalabukta (Reinøya)

Step ashore on Reinøya, a secluded island once used by Sami herders for reindeer grazing. Join our expert naturalist guides on walks across raised beaches to witness remarkable geological formations.

Day 12 - Day 12 The Arctic Circle Skarsvåg (Nordkapp) & Gjesvær

The day begins with an exploration of Skarsvåg, one of Europe’s northernmost villages, where wild reindeer wander past clusters of colorful houses. In the afternoon, we continue to Gjesvær and set out by tender to Gjesværstappan, where puffins, gannets, and kittiwakes gather in one of Europe’s largest seabird colonies.

Day 13 - Day 13 The Arctic Circle Tromsø

Savor a final breakfast on board before bidding farewell to Aqua Lares and the crew in Tromsø.

Day 14 - Please note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Pack-ice navigation maximises chances for polar bears, walruses, and seals in their prime habitat.
Alkefjellet, Bear Island, and Gjesværstappan deliver the Arctic’s most intense seabird cliffs at the height of summer.
Fjords such as Kongsfjorden, Raudfjord, and Bråsvellbreen offer glacier front exploration paired with tundra walks for reindeer and Arctic fox.