Scotland to Spitsbergen

Arrive any time on Day 1 and make your way to the group hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. The Scottish city of Aberdeen, your gateway for this adventure, is known as the Granite City, as it was once the granite capital of the world. You’ll understand as soon as you see the grey Victorian buildings—that sparkle in the sunlight. A bustling cultural hub, Aberdeen also offers a range of museums, galleries, theaters, shops, cafés and restaurants to explore.

Situated just north of mainland Scotland, Orkney is an archipelago of islands steeped in history. Some of Europe’s most intact Neolithic ruins are found here, dating back 5,000 to 8,000 years. Chief among them is Skara Brae, a small community of ten stone homes, situated within earthen dams, that dates to 3180 BCE. Skara Brae is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, and is considered one of the most important Neolithic sites in all of Europe. Walking among these ancient homes and looking out toward the sea in the Bay of Skaill provides a sense of connection to humans who lived before the Egyptian pyramids were constructed. Papa Westray, a more remote island just north of Skara Brae—and more difficult to access—is also home to an ancient farmstead dating back to 3700 BCE.

Birders will find Orkney an excellent place to spot species like Atlantic puffins, northern gannets, razorbills, kittiwakes, Arctic terns, Arctic skuas, and many others. Guests can explore off-ship—as conditions allow—by joining Zodiac, kayak, and paddling excursions, as well as guided and self-guided walks.

While at sea, be sure to spend time on the outer decks to watch for resident seabirds and migrating birds, or enjoy the views through the floor-to-ceiling windows. We will ride the relatively warm current north—the same current that helps keep the Norwegian coast and west coast of Svalbard relatively temperate. While onboard, your Expedition Team will share their knowledge and expertise through scheduled presentations on ornithology, biology, history, and geology, as well as through informal interactions throughout the voyage. Your at-sea days provide ample opportunity to enjoy the amenities onboard Ultramarine: the Tundra Spa & Sauna, the fitness centre, the library, or one of several lounges where you can enjoy a drink with fellow travelers.

Our introduction to Svalbard begins in Storfjorden, a wide fjord in southern Svalbard that is often dense with sea ice in May. How far we travel will depend on current ice conditions. Sea ice is dynamic, capable of shifting dozens of kilometers in a day, and we’ll adapt accordingly to f ind the best opportunities to explore this keystone feature of the Arctic. We may spend considerable time here, navigating by ship and Zodiac along the ice edge in search of iconic wildlife such as polar bears and walrus, both drawn to the life-giving sea ice. Wildlife movements are unpredictable, so keep your binoculars close—you never know when something may appear. Your Expedition Team will share insights into the region’s features and history as we explore. If conditions allow, we may even step onto the sea ice itself. Whether on foot or by Zodiac, encountering Your Expedition Team will share insights into the region’s features and history as we explore. If conditions allow, we may even step onto the sea ice itself. Whether on foot or by Zodiac, encountering

After excitedly exploring the open sea ice, we’ll continue toward Svalbard’s west coast for a closer, more intimate encounter with the wilderness of the archipelago. Our first day will be spent in and around Hornsund, a region of striking landscapes, mountains, glaciers and icebergs. Sea ice may still be present, and if so, we’ll watch for wildlife whose lives depend on it for food and survival. Our aim is to explore the fjord by Zodiac and on foot, though you should expect plenty of snow underfoot. Hornsund is home to several tidewater glaciers, which we hope to approach by Zodiac. Icebergs mix with brash and sea ice, creating a unique crackling soundscape that echoes the rhythm of the Arctic. Surrounding us, 800 to 1,400-meter (2,625 to 4,593 feet) peaks rise beneath Midnight Sun skies, the kind of scene many envision when dreaming of the High Arctic. Watch for Arctic fox, often seen in the area. Seabird colonies thrive here too, a reminder of the epic migrations these species undertake each spring to reach Svalbard—and again each fall as they return south.

Moving north up the coast, we enter another large fjord with many smaller branches, each worth exploring. Bellsund, much like Hornsund, features several tidewater glaciers, which we aim to visit as conditions allow. It’s also home to a remarkable little auk colony, which we’ll approach by Zodiac to observe the early summer activity. Birder or not, it’s hard not to admire these small, resilient birds, perfectly adapted to this seemingly harsh environment. By late spring, skies over the colony are thick with birds, and we hope to witness the start of this seasonal spectacle. Reindeer are often spotted here too, and we’ll be watching for them. The landscape is iconic—snowcapped peaks layered in all directions, jagged rocky outcrops, and soft, snow-covered plains. If conditions allow, we’ll go ashore, though even in May, snow is likely.

Overnight, we’ll push far up the coast to Krossfjorden, just 660 nautical miles from the North Pole. We aim to explore as much of the west coast as possible, as this dramatic fjord lies along a stretch of coastline shaped by a relatively warm current flowing from south to north—creating a surprisingly temperate environment compared to the harsher conditions farther north and east. Depending on ice and weather conditions, we hope to venture deep into the fjord to iconic sites such as Lilliehookbreen—a stunning tidewater glacier where seals often haul out on floating ice. The landscapes here blend the gentle and the dramatic—a picture-perfect scene of northern wilderness. To add variety to your photographs, consider experimenting with black and white photography, as the textures of mountains, valleys, snow, ice, and clouds can create striking images. You may also spot Arctic foxes, whether out on the ice or along the hillsides above, and seabird colonies occupy several of the cliffs deeper in the fjord. Avid birders should keep an eye out for king eiders. While Longyearbyen holds the title of northernmost city in the world, the northernmost settlement—Ny-Ålesund— lies in Kongsfjorden, a southern offshoot of Krossfjorden. Originally a coal mining outpost over a century ago, it now serves as an important year-round research station. Take a moment to soak in the surroundings and imagine what life must be like when the sun doesn’t set for months. Conversely, consider the challenges of staffing a research station through the long polar night, when the sun doesn’t rise for months.

Today marks the northernmost point of our journey—just over 1300 kilometers (800 miles) from the North Pole. That’s comparable to a day-long road trip from St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington, (or Berlin to Milan or Brisbane to Canberra, Australia) yet here, it leads straight into the heart of the Arctic. As we look north from Smeerenburgfjorden, a striking fjord in northwest Svalbard, we can envision a wilderness covered in sea ice, stretching across the cap of the northern hemisphere all the way to Alaska. It’s theoretically possible to travel in a straight line to Greenland, Canada, Siberia or Alaska without encountering any land in between. Sea ice may lie just north of the coastline—or dozens of nautical miles offshore—depending on the currents and how the ice is moving at the time. Deeper into the fjord, we hope to land at a known walrus haulout: a sandy beach often covered in snow but used by walruses throughout the year. Arctic terns, among the world’s most impressive migratory species, nest in the fjord, and we may see them flying overhead as we travel by foot or Zodiac. From the walrus haulout, mountain ranges stretch across the f jord, evoking a sense of standing at—or beyond—the frontier. Evidence of human activity remains: relics of whaling and sealing industries dating back to the 1600s are still visible onshore. Not full-scale factories, but trypots—used to render whale blubber into oil—remain scattered about the area.

Our final expedition day will likely be spent in or around Isfjorden, the fjord system where Longyearbyen is located. The mountainous, glaciated scenery continues here, and we’ll spend much of the day exploring the coastlines—likely among seabirds. Isfjorden can also be an excellent place to spot whales, some of which may have arrived at their summer feeding grounds by now. Spend time on the outer decks taking in the scenery— you may spot various species of marine life. Our main goal today is to visit Alkhornet, the iconic seabird colony and also a good place to look for reindeer and Arctic fox. If conditions allow, we’ll make landfall, giving ourselves one last chance to set foot in this far northern wilderness. As we prepare to leave, we can appreciate the little auks, perfectly at home beneath the horn-shaped mountain overlooking the fjord, and the reindeer patiently awaiting summer’s abundant vegetation. They’ll remain here for a while, going about their daily lives in a vast wilderness that stretches in all directions for hundreds—if not thousands—of nautical miles.

The moment has come to say farewell. Time permitting, you may be able to explore the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen before the group transfer to the airport for the charter flight to Helsinki. Upon arrival in Helsinki, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for the night. Both are included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package.