The Wild North: Svalbard

Next Departure:
20 -31 July 2027

Experience Svalbard beneath the midnight sun

July’s a wonderful time to explore Svalbard. As the winter sea ice retreats, a window opens into the remote eastern reaches of the archipelago. Arctic wildflowers bring the tundra to life, whales move through the open water, and the midnight sun gives us endless daylight to explore this spectacular landscape.

We’ll spend ten nights aboard M/S Quest, a small expedition ship carrying no more than 50 guests. You’ll be travelling with me, Matt Cheok, a naturalist and polar photography guide with a passion for Arctic wildlife and wild places. I regularly work with PolarQuest, the expedition company operating our voyage, and I’ve partnered with them to bring you this opportunity to explore Svalbard together. Along the way, I’ll share my knowledge of the polar environment, help you make the most of wildlife encounters and offer photography tips.

With a small ship and a flexible itinerary, we can adapt to changing conditions, explore by Zodiac and make landings whenever opportunities arise. From scanning the sea ice for polar bears to watching whales surface in the open water, we’ll make the most of each day and discover this remarkable part of the Arctic together.

Trip details

12 days / 11 nights

  • From US$9,790 per person, subject to availability

    • Pricing varies by cabin type and occupancy.

    • 25% deposit to secure your place

    Get in touch for current cabin availability and full booking details.

    All bookings are subject to PolarQuest’s booking conditions and terms of travel.

Voyage Dates
20 -31 July 2027

Embracing the unexpected

No two days in the Arctic are quite the same. Our route will be shaped by sea ice, weather, wildlife activity and the opportunities we encounter along the way.

Aboard M/S Quest, we’ll explore Svalbard’s remote coastlines, islands and fjords, using Zodiacs to get closer to the landscape and, when conditions allow, going ashore to explore on foot. We’ll keep watch for polar bears, whales, seabirds and other Arctic wildlife, while taking time to appreciate the immense glaciers, rugged mountains and tundra of this extraordinary region.

The itinerary provides a guide to the places we hope to explore, but flexibility is an essential part of travelling in the Arctic. The final route and landing opportunities will depend on the conditions and the expedition team’s judgement.

Travel Itinerary

What makes joining this expedition so unique?

No penguins in Svalbard, I’m afraid… but you will have me, Matt, along for the adventure as your polar and photography specialist.

I’m Matt Cheok, a naturalist and polar photography guide with a passion for Arctic wildlife and wild places. I regularly work with PolarQuest, guiding guests through the polar regions and sharing my knowledge of the wildlife and landscapes we encounter.

On this trip, you’ll be joining me for an adventure in Svalbard. While the ship’s five expedition guides will lead our excursions and shore landings, I’ll be there to share the experience with you, point out interesting wildlife, answer questions and offer photography tips along the way.

Whether you’re a keen photographer or simply love being out in nature, I hope to help you get even more out of our time in the Arctic. I’ll also be taking photographs throughout the journey and sharing a gallery with you afterwards, so you can look back on the wildlife encounters, landscapes and moments we experience together.

Inclusions

  • 1 x night in a hotel in Longyearbyen including breakfast

  • 10 x nights on board M/S Quest

  • Visit to Svalbard Museum on Day 2

  • Lunch on Day 2

  • All meals on board, incl. coffee and tea

  • Expedition Leader and guides

  • All excursions with Zodiacs

  • Voyage slideshow, including individual voyage memories and photos from the trip

  • Full carbon offset

  • Naturalist insight and photography guidance from Matt Cheok.

Exclusions

  • Flight to/from Longyearbyen

  • Travel and cancellation insurance

  • Gratuity to the ship’s crew

  • Personal expenses such as bar and shop charges

  • Any meals, accommodation, transfers or other services not expressly included in the final itinerary.

Where We’ll Be Staying

Your home at sea

M/S Quest is a small expedition ship by design. Originally built in Denmark in 1992 as a ferry for Greenland’s west coast, she was converted into an expedition vessel in 2004–05, and the passenger areas were renovated again in 2018.

Admire the Arctic from the lounge and observation decks

Between landings, there’s plenty of space to relax and take in the views. Meals are served in the dining room, while the panorama lounge is a great place to watch the landscape go by and listen to talks about the region’s wildlife, history and environment.

There are spacious outdoor decks for wildlife spotting and taking in the scenery, and you’re welcome on the bridge throughout the voyage. With an international crew and a relaxed atmosphere on board, M/S Quest feels more like a shared expedition than a traditional cruise.

Want to learn more about M/S Quest?

If you’d like to take a closer look at the ship, cabins and full expedition details, you’ll find more information on PolarQuest’s website.

FAQ


Images taken from my recent expeditions to Svalbard

Ready to explore the Wild North?

Interested in joining us? Get in touch, and we’ll help you with the pricing, cabin availability and everything you need to know before booking your place.

What type of trip is this?

This is a small-ship Arctic expedition focused on exploring Svalbard, its wildlife, landscapes and remote coastline. We’ll travel aboard M/S Quest, using Zodiacs to explore places that larger ships can’t reach.

Days will involve wildlife watching, Zodiac excursions, shore landings, walks and time on board taking in the scenery. The itinerary is flexible, with weather, sea ice and wildlife helping to shape where we go and what we do each day

Who is this trip for?

This trip is for anyone who’s curious about the Arctic and wants to experience Svalbard beyond the usual tourist routes. It’s a great fit if you’re interested in wildlife, remote landscapes, photography, adventure or simply exploring somewhere different.

You don’t need to be an experienced photographer, hiker or polar traveller. A sense of curiosity, a willingness to get outdoors, and an appreciation for the unpredictable nature of an Arctic expedition are all you need.

Why go with us?

We’re not just selling you a cabin on an expedition ship. We’re putting together a trip we’d genuinely want to go on ourselves, with a small group aboard M/S Quest and five experienced expedition guides on board.

I’ll also be travelling with our group, bringing five years of Arctic guiding experience, local knowledge and a passion for wildlife and photography. I’ll be photographing the voyage too, so you’ll come home with a gallery of images from the trip.