Realm of the Polar Bear In Depth - M/V Ocean Albatros

Arrive in Longyearbyen (LYR) airport. The town's rugged frontier edge belies a core of warm Nordic hospitality and coziness. When you land in Longyearbyen, you find yourself in a different world. The chilly Arctic breeze can be felt as soon as you step onto the tarmac, and the famous signpost outside the terminal reminds visitors how far north they really are; as well as to keep watch for bears! The snow-capped mountain Hjorthfjellet looms over the airport on the far side of Adventfjorden and the saw-toothed peaks and languid glaciers of northern Spitsbergen, can be seen in the distance. After boarding the Ocean Albatros and after the mandatory safety briefing and lifeboat drill, head onto the outer decks to enjoy a glass of champagne while watching your expedition vessel leave civilisation behind...as we set on our Arctic adventure !

During the 'night' (what is night, when the sun never sets?), Ocean Albatros will have repositioned past the saw-toothed mountains of Prins Karls Forland and arrived in magnificent Kongsfjord. Surrounded by craggy mountains, bounded by the magnificent Kongsbreen and Kongvegen Glaciers, and crowned by the Three Crowns (a set of pyramidal mountains said to represent the monarchies of Norway, Sweden and Denmark), this is surely one of the most beautiful and tranquil corners anywhere in the world. Our first landing will be at the small settlement of Ny Ålesund. Situated further north than Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund is the Earth's northernmost settlement, comprising of scientific stations, a post office and a single shop, open for a few hours when visitors arrive. These islands' geographical location have made them the staging post for exploratory and scientific expeditions for centuries - a proud legacy which continues to this day. The setting is spectacular, and the scientific projects are as fascinating as the history of the town, which has hosted the Nobile, the Norge and the Fram, Amundsen, Nansen and Nordenskiöld, all legends of polar exploration, who passed this lonely outpost, seeking to push the boundaries of humanity. The remnants of these expeditions, such as the mooring mast of the Norge, can still be seen today.

One of the largest protected wilderness areas in Europe, North West Svalbard was declared a national park in 1973. The area is famed for its history, which documents some of the earliest human arrivals on Svalbard. While Norse explorers may have sighted these icy shores during the Viking Age, the first definite arrival was the expedition of William Barents, the legendary Dutch explorer after whom the Barents Sea is named. While now protected from human distruption, when Barents arrived in 1596, he noted the vast numbers of whales and seals which were soon prey to English and Dutch whalers, who arrived within a decade of Barents to pillage the area's wildlife. The area occupies the triple point between land, sea and ice and as such, was the perfect location from which to harvest these gentle giants of the oceans. Remnants from this era can still be seen at various sites, including the Dutch settlement of Smeerenburg, where the remains of 16th Century blubber ovens and building foundations can still be seen.

An icy breeze touches your exposed cheeks. The scent of snow and sea fills your nostrils. Sunlight reflects off the floating ice, illuminating the clouds overhead. Enter an environment like no other, the vast shape-shifting realm of floating ice which crowns our planet. The vast ever-changing ice pack to the north of Svalbard stretches from this already isolated archipelago to the North Pole, and onwards across the Arctic Ocean towards the northern shores of Chukotka and Alaska. The Arctic ice pack is one of Earth's largest habitats, although unlike most, it varies hugely year on year, expanding in winter and retreating in summer. The location of the sea ice around Svalbard can also vary wildly - however, your Expedition Leader will work hard to maximise our chances of finding and exploring this impossibly remote environment. At first glance, this stark white wilderness seems barren, empty and lifeless. This icy wilderness holds on to its mysteries, and of course wildlife sightings are at the whims of Mother Nature. With a little perseverance however, the ice reveals its secrets. As the Ocean Albatros pushes through the narrow channels in the ice, tiny cod-like fish can be seen silhouetted against the ice in the clear water. Kittiwakes and Gloucous Gulls follow the vessel as it disturbs the water. Further out on the ice, black dots appear; moving closer, they resolve into seals, basking on the ice. A plume of water reflects the sunshine - a pod of belugas perhaps, or maybe even the vast gentle bowhead whale crushing the ice from below as its massive body surfaces. There, beyond the banks of rucked ice - a yellowish dot pads along the ice, the head swinging from side to side: the King of the Arctic continues his never-ending quest for prey. This is the kingdom of the polar bear, the vast icy wastes at the top of the world.

From the icy wilderness of the pack ice, we will head back towards land, cruising into the Hinlopen Strait. If the weather is on our side, we may have a good view of the steep cliffs of Alkefjellet. The area is home to a dense congregation of Brünnichs guillemots - one of the largest colonies in the world. There are so many birds that hardly an inch is free! Nesting Brünnich's guillemots and other auks crowd the cliffs, while predatory skuas and gulls cruise the skies above, constantly on the lookout for their next meal. During the raucous summer the breeding pairs offer a wild view of frantic activity, both along the cliffs and in the sea in front - one of nature's most spectacular sights. More wildlife awaits us as we land on the polar desert landscapes of Nordaustlandet. Although the polar desert landscapes of this region appear stark and barren, they are wildly beautiful - unearthly plantless landscapes illuminated by the weak Arctic sunlight. However, it is in the marine environment where Svalbard's biodiversity is richest. Walrus haul their vast bodies onto flat beaches to rest, where they snuggle together for warmth and protection. Belugas frolic in large pods in the waters off the coast, harvesting fish and crustaceans from the seabed, and further offshore the vast gentle baleen whales can sometimes be seen feasting upon copepods and small fish.

As we continue to venture around these remarkable islands, we arrive in Southeast Svalbard - a region where the cold easterly polar waters collide with the last tepid gasp of the Gulf Stream. If the ice is passable, we can make it through the southern edge of the Hinlopen Strait and cruise through Freemansundet, which separates Barentsøya and Edgeøya. We enjoy the views of the massive Kapp Lee as we exit the Strait. We will aim to land on Edgeøya, Svalbard's third largest island. Vast piles of snow-bleached bones on the island's beaches bear witness to the systematic and industrial-scale slaughter of walrus and beluga in their thousands. The earliest humans on the island, had little regard for conservation, seeking only profit, a situation which continued well into the 19th century. Thankfully, all wildlife on Svalbard is now protected by law and vast tracts of the archipelago are designated as nature reserves and National Parks - some of the largest and richest in the world. Further east on Edgeøya, sites include the walrus colonies of Andréetangen and Kapp Lee, and the spectacular raised shorelines and bird colonies of Sundneset. From these remote shores, we will cruise around Sørkapp and back towards Spitsbergen, the largest island of Svalbard.

Having passed the southern tip of Spitsbergen, we arrive back into the greener warmer regions of this Arctic wilderness. The southwest coast of Svalbard is washed by warmer water coming up through the Atlantic, so winter ice generally retreats first from this region. This allows us to enter the southern fjords of Bellsund and Hornsund - easily some of the most spectacular regions of this stunning archipelago. Throughout this maze of fjords and islands, birds cluster together on high cliffs and reindeer graze on the fertile slopes below, while icebergs drift by from the various large glaciers in the area. Tiny calico snow buntings flit between crags, while perfectly camouflaged purple sandpipers scamper along the shore. Look higher up on the vegetated slopes, and there - greyish white 'boulders' move and resolve themselves into sheep-sized reindeer: the unique subspecies native to Svalbard. A flash of bluish-black, and the screeches of nearby birds herald the arrival of the Arctic fox, the only native land predator on Svalbard - the polar bear being classified as a marine mammal.

The mountaintops are most often covered by dense clouds and the East-Spitsbergen current often leads pack ice into the mouths of the fjords. With a huge variety of landing sites to explore, this region is without doubt one of the most exciting and diverse regions of Svallbard. Options to explore in the area include the huge bird cliffs of Alkhjornet and Vårsolbukta, and the historical sites of Calypsobyen and Bambsebu, where prospectors, trappers and a range of other adventurers attempted to make their fortunes.

During the night we will enter Forlandssundet, the strait which separates Prince Karls Forland from Spitsbergen. Our destinations may include Poolepynten (Poole Point), a small headland named after the British whaler Jonas Poole. Today, the area is inhabited by herds of walruses who can be seen from a distance. The large mammals flaunt their tusks and whiskers, as well as their considerable bulk. The remote beaches, rugged mountains and tundra plains of the region positively beg to be explored! From Forlandsundet, we will return southwards during the afternoon towards the town of Longyearbyen, all the while on the lookout for wildlife and spectacular views as we return to civilisation.

On the final morning of your expedition, we arrive in Longyearbyen. The town's rugged frontier edge belies a core of warm Nordic hospitality and coziness, with comfy cafes, excellent restaurants and boutique shops, all within walking distance. Even this small town will feel like a metropolis after days of isolation in the wilderness of the Arctic. After enjoying time spent exploring Longyearbyen, it is time to bid a fond farewell to the crew and fellow guests of the Ocean Albatros, before heading to the airport to fly back to the Norwegian mainland. You will leave Svalbard rich with memories of this frozen wilderness that will last a lifetime!