Spitsbergen - Realm of the Polar Traveller Reviews

Flew from UK via Norway to Longyearbyn. Boarded ship m/v Ortelius for cruise along the coast & inlets of Spitzbergen with an emphasis on seeing the wild life Ship simple, practical and comfortable with great choice of food and never ending hot drinks available. But the joy of the holiday was the "other world'" experience. With trips from the boat in zodiacs we were able to see so much of the arctic birdlife and come oh so close to the mammals The experts on the boat gave very good lectures which gave us a greater understanding of the challenges the wildlife face in this environment. We have come home with hundreds of photos, and with wonderful memories of this fantastic trip

Flawless booking and holiday experience with Naturetrek.

We travelled into the pack-ice and saw four polar bears feeing on a ringed seal. We were able to watch the bears form the ship for over four hours. We also saw reindeer, an arctic fox with a dead guillemot, walruses on the ice and on land, thousands of Brunnich's guillemots nesting on cliffs, large numbers of little auks, and many more birds, seals and some whales. The scenery was truly stunning and the walks enabled us to experience the arctic tundra, flora and overall environment, with plenty of time to take photographs and enjoy the experience. The staff and experts on board were excellent, providing informative lectures and photographs, and always ready to answer our questions. The ship was comfortable, the food excellent and the staff friendly and efficient.

Naturetrek operates efficiently and provides good pre-departure information. The office staff are friendly and available to answers any queries. The tour leaders and experts sent with us were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They went out of their way to ensure we saw as much wildlife as possible.

Everything ran like clockwork. We were kept well informed including any necessary changes brought about by the weather. Our accommodation on the MV Ortelius was perfectly adequate and comfortable. The food was excellent, matched by the range on offer. All the support staff were efficient, obliging and cheerful and made us feel valued. The expedition leaders were all experts in their own field and went out of their way to be helpful and pass on their knowledge and experience in a practical manner. Great emphasis was placed on safety, both on board ship and the zodiac craft used every day. All of the expedition staff were properly equipped to deal with intruding polar bears (of which there turned out to be none, fortunately) and sentries posted when required. The captain and expedition leaders worked very hard to give us good sightings of elusive creatures such as polar bears, walruses and arctic foxes; along with a good range of the native birdlife. A wonderful adventure, indeed.

The headquarters staff could not have been more helpful. In view of the adventurous nature of the trip and our considerable seniority, we did have some qualms. In the event, these proved unfounded and the advice given was completely correct. The brochure and pre-tour information was accurate and up-to-date. The staff on tour with us were approachable, knowledgeable and helpful and worked closely with the expedition staff to make our holiday as enjoyable as possible.

An outstanding expedition in the Arctic circle staying on the MV Ortelius. The accommodation is lovely, and all the crew and staff ensure everyone is well looked after. The expedition staff are extremely knowledgeable and ensure all guests get the most out of the trip. The wildlife viewing, indeed the whole perience, was truly amazing. To be out of reach of the outside world was very liberating - no phone, email, Internet, television, or even newspapers. This all adds to the experience and removes distractions so you can really appreciate this stunning corner of the world.

We booked fairly late for this holiday and Naturetrk ensured that we were ready for our departure. They look after you right from check in at Heathrow to your return to the same airport over a week later. They have put together an excellent package which has something for everyone taking a trip to this part of the world. All the staff, both on the office and the reason the trip, couldn't be any more helpful and we would highly recommend them.

Well planned and managed. Spitsbergen is an amazing destination. The ship was a delight. The staff and crew were friendly, courteous and helpful. Food was of a very high quality (5 star). Spitsbergen itself, the scenery is unique, the wildlife amazing, and overall such a wonderful and unforgettable experience. We were privileged to be a part of it.

All contact was handled in a courteous and professional manner. Information we received was detailed and timely. On the tour the guides took the time to answer questions and generally became part of our group. Very approachable and professional and amply qualified. Would recommend Naturetrek and will be booking with them again.

It was absolutely amazing. We boarded the 'Ortelius', a converted ice breaker, at Longyearbyen and spent the next 8 days exploring the west side, sometimes on the ship and sometimes being transported to land by zodiacs so that we could see the lovely alpine flowers and some of the history of the area. When we got into the ice we were all looking for Polar Bears, and certainly one of the highlights for me was seeing 3 adult males eating a seal. We managed to achieve 80 degrees 50.6 minutes before thick pack ice stopped us. Other highlights were seeing Blue Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox and the seabird colonies. The ship was very comfortable and the staff and leaders couldn't have been more helpful. It was without doubt, the holiday of a lifetime.

My wife and I have travelled with Naturetrek on many occasions and have always been very satisfied. On the rare occasions that we have raised an issue, they have always been quick to acknowledge and thank us.

A wonderful holiday in the high Arctic aboard a Naturetrek chartered vessel (MV Ortelius). Expectations were high but the wildlife and scenery easily exceeded our wildest dreams! Polar Bears, Walrus, huge sea bird colonies, Blue, Humpback and Minke Whales were amongst the many wildlife highlights. All this with spectacular scenery throughout. The boat, an ice-strengthened expedition vessel, was crewed by a professional and friendly team and Naturetrek also sent 3 of their own tour leaders. Needless to say there was a wealth of knowledge aboard which proved invaluable for the exciting daily land excursions and absorbing evening lectures. This holiday comes highly recommended!

Naturetrek were friendly and helpful throughout the entire process and provided extensive pre tour information, ensuring we were well prepared for the holiday. I would highly recommend them and look forward to travelling with them again.

The trip was well organised from start to finish. We were met at the airport which was really helpful. With any wildlife trip you can never be sure of what you're going to see regardless of the best laid plans, but on this trip we saw Blue Whale, Humpback whale, seals, walrus, amazing bird life and of course Poar Bears! The whole trip I felt that the ships Naturalist Leaders and Naturetrek Tour Leaders were doing all they could to ensure the best chance to see the best of the Arctic Wildlife. And when not looking for wildlife the ships hotel staff were second to none in making sure that the food, drink and facilities were just right.

Naturetrek ensured that every thing was done to ensure we had a wildlife filled and enjoyable holiday. They provided plenty of information before, during and after the holiday, all of which only added to the experience of the trip its self.

A fantastic cruise around Spitsbergen experiencing the unique landscape and wildlife of a very special place

Organised a great trip. Very impressed