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Walrus colony hauled out on a Svalbard beach with a glacier behind, photographed on a Quark Expeditions cruise

Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine and Ocean Explorer · 11 days

Svalbard in Spring: Sea Ice, Pristine Snow and Wildlife

Helsinki to Helsinki, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and hotel nights included. Eleven sailings between April 2027 and June 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$10,371 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Group of passengers hiking towards a glacier beneath jagged peaks in Svalbard on a Quark Expeditions cruise

11 days, Helsinki to Helsinki

Svalbard before the summer arrives

In May the archipelago is still white. Snow lies on the tundra, the fjords of the west coast hold their winter ice, and the sun has only just stopped setting. This is Svalbard as the first explorers found it, and Quark sails it earlier than almost anyone, from late April. The journey begins with a night in Helsinki and the charter flight to Longyearbyen; seven days then follow the ice, with landings on snow, Zodiac outings along the floe and the bird cliffs filling week by week. Ringed and bearded seals rest on the ice, walrus and Arctic fox share the shores, and the ice edge is the season’s best ground for polar bears, with no promise made. Ultramarine and Ocean Explorer both sail the route.

Spring is the Svalbard we recommend to guests who want sea ice and snow rather than open water, and who like a quieter ship. We shape the rest around you, the cabin, flights from Australia with the Helsinki charter, a night in Helsinki either side, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • 2 ports
  • 7 days on the ice
  • 11 days

Signature sites

Five places in the spring ice

The route is set each day by the ice, which in spring still fills many of the bays. The team works the places below and others like them.

Passenger on a hike looking out over an Arctic fjord dotted with icebergs on a Quark Expeditions cruise

Isfjorden

The great fjord of Longyearbyen, with the first landings on snow-covered tundra.

Day by day

Eleven days, in outline

Spring ice sets the route. The outline below is the shape of the journey; the full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

Arrive in Helsinki and settle into the included hotel at the airport.

Aboard Ultramarine and Ocean Explorer

Ultramarine is Quark Expeditions’ flagship: 199 guests, two twin-engine helicopters for flightseeing and heli-landings where the itinerary allows, twenty quick-launch Zodiacs and a ready room for every guest. Quark has sailed the polar regions since 1991 and runs its ships as expedition platforms first: the expedition team leads every outing, kayaking and the polar plunge are on offer, and the dining is one open seating with wine and beer at dinner.

Ultramarine
Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine ship with a helicopter on its helipad

Zodiacs, twenty of them

Quark Expeditions' Ocean Explorer ship, which cruises to Antarctica

The bow deck in the ice

The Panorama Lounge aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine

Kayaking, for those who book it

The atrium of the Quark Expeditions' Ocean Explorer ship, which cruises to Antarctica

Landings with the expedition team

A Balcony Suite Double Bed Cabin aboard Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine

Lectures between outings

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Eight nights aboard Ultramarine or Ocean Explorer, hotel nights in Helsinki before and after with breakfast, return charter flights between Helsinki and Longyearbyen, all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board, beer and wine at dinner, coffee and tea around the clock, all Zodiac outings, shore landings and guided walks led by the expedition team, lectures and presentations, a Quark expedition parka to keep and the use of boots on board, group transfers listed in the programme, port fees and a photographic journal of the voyage

Flights from Australia and home, meals beyond those listed, kayaking, the polar plunge and other adventure options booked in advance, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, gratuities to the ship’s crew

Quark includes the hotel nights in Helsinki before and after the voyage and the charter flights between Helsinki and Longyearbyen in both directions. We arrange your flights from Australia to Helsinki, so the journey north is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Svalbard in summer is sailed by Quark, Swan Hellenic and Aurora from June onward. Each voyage shows its from price in the currency its operator publishes, Australian or US dollars; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

All expeditions
14 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$17,131

Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: A Rite of Passage

Helsinki to Helsinki, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and hotel nights included. Sailings in June 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$17,131 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

16 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$11,751

Scotland to Spitsbergen: Puffins, Sea Ice and Wildlife

Aberdeen to Longyearbyen, with hotel nights and the charter flight home to Helsinki included. One sailing in May 2027, one in May 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$11,751 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$22,525

Sailing North to Svalbard

Tromsø or Reykjavík to Longyearbyen. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$22,525 per person, charter flight home from Longyearbyen included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,725

Ultimate Svalbard

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen, Copenhagen charter flights included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,725 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$29,205

Svalbard Odyssey

Oslo to Oslo, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and a hotel night in Oslo included. Three sailings in 2027, three in 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$29,205 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

16 Nights
Ponant
From A$53,550

In the Ice of the Arctic: Svalbard and Greenland

Reykjavík to Longyearbyen in June, or Longyearbyen to Reykjavík. Sailings in 2027, with 2028 to follow. Paris charter flight included. From A$53,550 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Seal resting on sea ice in front of a blue iceberg, photographed on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Eleven days aboard Ultramarine or Ocean Explorer, Helsinki to Helsinki. The 2029 season is yet to be announced. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

Four spring sailings aboard Ocean Explorer, from the very start of the season. Helsinki hotel nights and charter flights included.

The Ultramarine spring sailing, with helicopter flightseeing where conditions allow.

Quark lists eleven sailings on this route between April 2027 and June 2028; we come back to you with the 2028 dates and the Australian fare.

Tell us the month and the cabin you have in mind and we hold your place on our list, then come back to you with dates and Australian fares the day they open.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right cabin and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.