Spitsbergen - Explorer 2026

06 Jun 2026 - 16 Jun 2026 (11 days)

USD8,695 SPACES AVAILABLE

Book Now

Tour Price (Per person): USD8,695 (GBP6,546 * EUR7,498 * AUD12,565)

Pricing notes : *prices are estimated and dates may change*

Join us in June for the Spitsbergen - Explorer, a once-in-a-lifetime 9-night birding and wildlife cruise through the breathtaking Svalbard archipelago. Starting in Longyearbyen, we set sail on the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, venturing into a land of Polar Bears, Belugas, Walruses, and Reindeer. Marvel at the stunning Arctic scenery, from snow-capped mountains and towering glaciers to flower-studded tundra and vast skies filled with Ivory Gulls and Snow Buntings. This high Arctic journey promises unforgettable wildlife encounters and spectacular views in one of the most pristine parts of our planet.

Top Birds

Ivory Gull, chances for Ross’ Gull, King Eider, numerous alcids, Snow Bunting.

Top Mammals

Polar Bear, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Bearded & Ringed Seal, Humpback, Narwhal, Beluga, Bowhead (Greenland), Northern Minke & Fin Whale, Svalbard Reindeer.

Habitats Covered

Explore diverse habitats including coastal and pelagic waters, towering glaciers, polar tundra, pack ice, and nesting cliffs.

Expected Climate

Experience a cold, Arctic climate with temperatures often below freezing, complemented by the pristine, clear air of the high Arctic.

Max Group Size

Dependent on ship capacity with expedition leaders.

Tour Pace & Walking

This expedition maintains a moderate pace, with a mix of leisurely cruising, informative onboard lectures, and active shore excursions for wildlife viewing and photography.

Accommodation

Stay in comfortable cabins aboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, providing modern amenities and cozy quarters.

Other Attractions

Historical town of Longyearbyen, spectacular Arctic scenery, glaciers, nesting cliffs, whale graveyard, fjords

Photographic Opportunities

Capture stunning images of Polar Bears, Belugas, Walruses, and Reindeer amidst spectacular Arctic landscapes, including glaciers, fjords, and nesting cliffs.

What our clients say about us

Glen Valentine
TS, India - Northern: Birds & Tigers (Small Group) 2026

Glen ran an excellent tour for northern India and the Assam extension. He knows his birds and keeps guests informed about sightings as well as distinguishing bird features. His calming influence during times of stress helps the support staff and guests. We loved his enthusiasm and energy.

Stephan Lorenz
YB, China - Southeast in Winter 2026

We chose our China SE in Winter 2026 tour because Stephan is the guide ! Like all the trips we went with him before, we had a great time with him and the team members. Stephan was professional, knowledgable, persistent, energetic and caring. We would definitely tour with him again, in the very near future, we hope !

Lev Frid
JM, Guyana - Birds & Wildlife II 2025

Despite the heat and humidity, Guyana is a magical place with gorgeous rainforests and savannahs and lots of beautiful birds and the wonderful giant anteater. Lev Frid was a wonderful guide full of great enthusiasm. I especially appreciated his patience in helping everyone get a good view of the birds. He is a joy to travel with. Our local guide was also great and a lot of fun to be around and so helpful as well in identifying the different birds. Also a special shout out to Leroy, who helped us on the last full day of birding; he was great. The drivers Renford and Devon were awesome as well.

Stuart Elsom
CS, Madagascar - Budget Birding 2025

Stu is a personable, helpful, and organized guide and was a pleasure to travel with. He was ready to help not only with finding and identifying birds, but also with little problems that popped up during our trip, as they so often do. Our local guide was likewise consistently friendly and helpful. My main concern is that on this trip, as on past Rockjumper trips, there doesn't seem to be any effort to vet the physical ability of potential group members, and as a result those of us who are prepared for the experience are held back by those who are physically not ready for it. I know that trips are rated on the website in regards to the level of exertion required, but this does not seem to help -- I have been on multiple tours with people who are not physically capable of maintaining a steady level of exertion while birding. This is not fair to those of us who are.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
JR, Jamaica - Island Endemics I 2026

I was very pleased with the birding. I saw all 29 endemics and a total of 42 life birds. The leaders are great at finding, luring in and identifying birds. I appreciated that the focus was very much on the birding. The food and accommodations were excellent and appropriate. I wonder if we should have spent our last night near the coast but am not sure how that would have affected our birding success.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Your details

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • Contact permission

    We would love to send you Newsletters (twice yearly).via Type a message, Promotions/Discounts (weekly), Blog Articles/Image of the Month (monthly) and other content that we think you would find interesting. If you are happy with this then please select your preferences below. If you would like to unsubscribe from previous subscriptions, or leave our mailing list entirely, then please do so by visiting the Preference Centre link at the bottom of these emails.

itinerary-img