Svalbard Pack Ice Expedition

21-30 June 2027

SVALBARD PACK ICE EXPEDITION

Sail to the edge of the Arctic sea ice over 10 days with only 12 guests on Europes largest wooden tallship: S/V Linden

This is a small-group sailing expedition into the high Arctic aboard a 50-metre traditional tall ship. We head north from Longyearbyen in search of the pack ice, polar bears, whales and the extraordinary wildlife that gathers at the frozen edge of the Arctic Ocean.

Longyearbyen → Pack Ice → Longyearbyen
12 guests · 6–8 crew · Midnight sun · Zodiac landings · Full board

If thats good to you, here’s what to do next:

Get familiar with all of the information on this page.

Find the Zoom call scheduling window at the bottom of the page.

Apply and book a call with Your Expedition Leader Joe who will get your fully on board.

12 GUESTS | 50M TALL SHIP | 10 DAYS | 78°–80° N | THE PACK ICE

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

  1. Reach the Arctic pack ice — spend several days exploring the dynamic sea-ice edge.

  2. Just 12 expedition guests — no crowds, queues or mass-tourism experience.

  3. Sail aboard S/V Linden — a 50-metre, three-masted traditional sailing vessel.

  4. Search for Arctic wildlife — polar bears, walrus, seals, whales, reindeer and Arctic fox.

  5. Go ashore in wild Svalbard — Zodiac landings, hikes, historic sites and remote settlements.

  6. Live under the midnight sun — ten days of continuous Arctic daylight.

Expedition Maps: Getting to Svalbard + where we’ll be sailing

Citizen Science: A Call to Action

For the second year in a row, we will run a scientific programme on board this expedition. The purpose of this programme is to shed light on the continuing influence of the changing climate on the Polar Regions.

The crew will be collecting data at regular intervals throughout the expedition with a specific research objective. Later, all the data will be collated into a report which can be used to aid in further research about the Arctic.

All passengers are invited to participate in this ongoing programme on board and involve themselves. It must be said that there is no obligation at all, and participation is entirely voluntary.

What’s so Special about Sea Ice?

Referenced from: The Sea Ice Portal

Light and heat from the sun lead to blooms of diatoms (single celled organism that make chains spanning several meters) protozoa, zooplankton and phytoplankton blooms. These are organisms that flourish in their billions at these latitudes. These blooms attract cetaceans (whales and dolphins), fish, birds and seals, which use the Arctic sea ice as a resting stop inbetween feeding. In turn, the seals attract polar bears, which patrol the edge of the arctic sea ice in search of their main food source. It is a complex and interdependent ecosystem taking place across many trophic levels.

Now, you begin to get some idea of how important there Arctic Sea Ice for supporting the biodiversity of Arctic ecosystems, and how important it is for our potential wildlife sighting along the course of the expedition.

We fundamentally believe the Arctic is better experienced by twelve people than by two hundred

EXPEDITION INTRODUCTION

We embark on this expedition at the peak of midsummer. The long summer sun makes its return to Svalbard, setting this region alight with an array of warm hues.  From this time, the sun will ebb and flow in the sky, but never dip below the horizon. This brief resurgence of summer will be the ideal backdrop for which we can set sail under the fairytale-like kiss of the Arctic sun as we journey across the remote, otherworldly landscapes of the Arctic Circle: Svalbard. 

Our expedition is focussed: we aim north and aim to spend the majority of our expedition time, at the edge of the Arctic sea ice, a paradise for arctic fauna

Aerial view of a pod of Beluga whales swimming in the ocean.

Abundant Arctic nature.

The landscapes of Svalbard are simultaneously brutal, yet charming. Dramatic glaciers and fjords will glisten under the midnight sun, demanding your attention, inviting your imagination to feast upon the grandeur of Svalbard’s vast beauty.

We aim to foster a deeper understanding and respect for the often controversial history and fragile ecosystems you will explore on this expedition. Our ethos is simple: “arrive curious, leave inspired”, and we promise to deliver just that.

A polar bear walking along the edge of a body of water in a snowy Arctic landscape.

Meet the locals.

Svalbard is a safe haven to an array of wildlife. None of the wildlife that we may see will be baited: this is unethical and not how we operate. Therefore, wildlife is by no means guaranteed. However, since we will be sailing quietly along remote coastal edges, we stand a good chance of discovering marine wildlife and terrestrial mammals: polar bears searching for their next meal, curious seals, playful arctic foxes, bathing walrus and the shy (often elusive) minke whales - all in their natural habitat.

The wildlife in Svalbard enjoy their existence on their own terms, and are  therefore not accustomed to people. We will keep a safe and respectful distance if and when we find any wildlife.  As such, bring a pair of binoculars and be prepared to be on the look out.

S/V Linden floating on calm water in a foggy, snow-covered landscape.

Tranquility. Intentionality. Seclusion.

We don’t think that big ships and fragile landscapes mix. Tourism in the Arctic is steadily increasing. Enormous cruise ships carrying hundreds, if not thousands of people, are becoming a dystopian reality.

Our experience could not be further from this.

Think about what it is like to go somewhere and be alone, and be the only people around for hundreds of miles. There are even times and spaces for you to be completely alone. Pure seclusion. Think about what it means to really leave the world behind, with all of its trials and tribulations, and bask in the glory of nature’s Arctic bounty. This is what we propose to you.

Our expedition is fundamentally based on a small group dynamic. On this voyage, our tall ship S/V Linden is able to manoeuvre the rugged coastline of Svalbard in a carbon-friendly manner, far from where other cruise ships simply cannot reach. We travel in waters which are much too shallow for the likes of them.

With our intimate group of just 12 passengers onboard S/V Linden, we guarantee to tread lightly.

A walrus with long tusks and whiskers swimming in icy Arctic waters with snow-covered mountains and glaciers in the background.
Joe Shutter dressed in a colorful, patterned robe and a beige knit hat, standing on a boat railing, taking a photograph with a large telephoto lens camera, with icy mountains and cloudy sky in the background.

Learn the ropes.

A message from our Captain, Rasmus:

“ Linden has a long history training young seafarers and competing in tall ships races around Europe. On board, you will get an exceptionally fun, challenging, unfiltered experience of how it is to sail a 3 masted tall ship in the northern Arctic Circle. My crew and I are capable, but not numerous, so we are dependent on your help with the sails if we are to travel by the wind as we strive for. You will quickly see how energetic everyone becomes once we hoist the sails.  “

Stretch your sea legs.

You can be as active or inactive as you desire. We will have opportunities to take a zodiac ashore and hike along the various coastlines to explore the Arctic tundra on foot. We will discover interesting historical relics, geographic formations, rare Arctic botany, as well as observing terrestrial mammals such as reindeer, muskox and  the Arctic fox.

Mind offline.

The idea of being disconnected from the outside world may seem disconcerting at first, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you adjust to being offline.  The benefits from leaving behind the external noise and stresses of daily life are tenfold. After a few days offline, picking up your phone will feel foreign, which is a refreshing notion.

During your time offline, you will have the space to fully immerse yourself into absorbing the abundant beauty of Svalbard, as we sail and discover all it has to offer us. 

OUR PEOPLE MEAN EVERYTHING TO US. MEMORIES FROM YEARS PAST.

JOINING YOU ON BOARD

The Great Expedition Company has no back-office. Expedition leader Joe Shutter has carefully curated this unique sailing itinerary, along with the expertise of S/V Linden’s Captain, Rasmus Jacobsen, and together they will sail with you through the wonders of the Svalbard seas.

Joe Shutter

YOUR EXPEDITION LEADER

Joe Shutter on a boat wearing a patterned pink and green robe, a matching headscarf, and sunglasses, with snow-covered mountains and water in the background.

Founder of The Great Exped & Expedition Leader

Welcome, curious explorer! I’ve spent many summer seasons sailing in Eastern Greenland and traversing the harsh highlands of Iceland. In recent years, I have had the pleasure of deepening my knowledge of the Arctic and Antarctic.

My affinity for the Polar Regions has no limits. Through my lens and many years of exploration, I have honed the artful skill of curating positive and purposeful experiences which I take great joy in sharing with fellow explorers.

I pursue a gratuitous and exuberant expedition leading style. I believe fervently in enjoying myself and fomenting an atmosphere of merriment and jubilation with my expedition parties. I strive to use my expedition time on the most remote and unique places and experience, but I’m always ready for whatever nature has lined up for me. I am always there for my people.

Rasmus Jacobsen

YOUR ARCTIC CAPTAIN

Captain Rasmus standing at the helm of a wooden and metal ship, holding a red navigational ball and a flag, with ropes and ship equipment surrounding him.

Captain of S/V Linden & Experienced Navigator

Growing up in Denmark and living on a yacht, my family raised me within a maritime lifestyle and eco-friendly culture from childhood. Since then, I’ve enjoyed over 30 years on the ocean thus far: working on galleons, square rigs, research vessels and passenger ships.

My passion lies in seeking out the most untouched arenas of the Arctic, placing a great emphasis on exploring without any signs of human activity. 

My crew and I are committed to embodying an environmentally-friendly approach to sailing, inspired to seek out the abundant beauty of Svalbard in a purposeful manner. Hence, collaborating with The Great Expedition Company is a harmonious eco-expedition match.

Joe Shutter wearing a The North Face Expedition Parka with patches and flags, blue reflective sunglasses, a beige knit hat, and a gray inner layer standing outdoors against icy waters and snowy landscape.

A personal note from Joe on the collaboration with S/V Linden:

Captain Rasmus is a gentle soul with kind eyes; I have no doubt that you will feel welcomed and at ease in his presence, and safe in his sailing skills. He is a breath of fresh air on the seas: intelligent yet humble, he is committed to exploring in an intentional and eco-friendly manner, which was the very basis for which I decided to form a collaboration between The Great Expedition Company and S/V Linden. We have a mutual respect and understanding for the fragile Arctic we intend to sail in, and as such, we can plan to explore with purpose and wonder. I am beaming with excitement just writing these words, knowing what lies ahead of you and I: awe-inspiring natural beauty, thrilling wildlife encounters, and genuine human connection amongst our intimate group as we set sails under the Arctic sun.

LIFE ON BOARD S/V LINDEN

S/V Linden is undeniably a swoon-worthy vessel.  This elegant 50 meter three-masted tall ship captures everyones attention as she glides on the polar seas. She is very strong, capable, and best suited scouring the ice in the Arctic. Built in 1993, as a modern take on the original Linden from 1923, she has been sailing for more than thirty years around the northerly seas, proving that she is trustworthy and made for arctic adventures.

Linden will host us in her bright and comfortable main saloon, where plenty of windows provide a panoramic view for you to watch the waves roll by. Accommodation is made up of 5 twin bunk-style cabins and 2 single cabins. Home-cooked meals by the on board chef will be enjoyed in her main saloon, amid a well stocked library of polar literature. Day to day life on board is exciting yet easy-going: we will discuss the upcoming route over a hearty breakfast, plan our days activities, share life experiences over warm tea, and keep our binoculars in hand whilst we look out for wildlife.

Having been built in Finland there is, of course, a well-sized sauna on board, which will be the perfect refuge after a polar-plunge!

TECHNICAL DATA:

Length overall: 49.5 meters / 164 ft.
Beam: 8.8 meters
Draft: 3.1 meters
Passengers: 12
Crew: 6-8
Cargo space: 35 Ton
Crane: SWL1,1T4M
Deck space: 80m2
Tenders: 2x ZodiacMk5, 1xZodiac MOB 4,56m
Sail area: 690 square meters
Speed on sails: 8 knots avg.
Speed on Engine: 6 knots
Range: Unlimited

WE ARRANGE

  • Accommodation on board, incl. bedding & towels

  • All meals, snacks, tea and coffee throughout.

  • Expedition champagne and port supply.

  • Access to the ship’s cigar humidor

  • Free use of onboard sauna

  • Extensive Pre-Departure Preparation Material

    • Equipment and Information Pack

    • Destination-specific Expedition Preparation Guide - everything we think you need to know about your location before you get there.

  • All guided hikes ashore

  • All guided zodiac excursions to and from shore

  • Educational and Informational services from the Expedition Leader and crew

  • Port surcharges, permits and landing fees

  • Photography guidance and tuition in-the-field, as-we shoot

  • Editing session on board in the salon upon request

YOU ARRANGE

  • Your flights to and from Longyearbyen

  • Additional Alcoholic beverages on board

  • Personal travel & health insurance

  • Crew gratuities (entirely discretionary)

KEY DETAILS

  • Dates:  

    • 21-30 June

      • Berths: 12

      • Price: €8,995/ $9,950

      • Starts: Longyearbyen, Svalbard,

      • Ends: Longyearbyen, Svalbard

EXPEDITION ITINERARY

Below is our intended sailing route, but please take into consideration that wind and weather conditions may adjust our sails. This is a natural part of the adventure of sailing. Our strength is to abide by the conditions which nature gives us, never against it, still making the best out of our time.

All expedition itineraries are approximate and are designed to give you a rough idea of the sorts of places we will go and the sorts of places we will see. A true expedition must respond to the prevailing conditions such as the weather, ice, and wildlife opportunities. That being said, the backbone of the expedition will head north and then down south again roughly on the following basis.‍ ‍

EXPEDITION OBJECTIVE

The overarching expedition objective is to spend as much time as possible at the pack ice looking for wildlife while still delivering a feeling that we have visited Svalbard. For this reason, we will be landing in 2 or 3 places on the way up or down from the pack ice, and we also have the opportunity to visit Ny Alesund and Barentsburg

DAY 1-2

We aim to anchor our first night in Ny Ålesund, the northernmost settlements in the world. The village is mainly uninhabited besides for some inspiring arctic scientists, and it is known for being the starting point of polar expeditions led by Amundsen and Nobile. Arctic foxes and reindeer may be hanging around and polar bears can often be sighted.

Pushing further north, we will continue on towards Magdelaenafjorden. Vast and deep, and is filled beautiful spots on the west coast of Svalbard where we intend to land to knock in some wildlife sightings early on.

DAY 3-7

The sailing distance to the pack ice will be one of the determining factors of the expedition. If, at this time, the pack ice is nearer to the shores of the archipelago, it will take less time to sail there, and vice versa. Once we are at the sea ice, we will be pursing the edge of the ice. If we find seals, this is a good sign: a polar bear’s lunch box. Then, waiting is the name of the game, and we see what nature can offer us. Equally, we aim to spend many days perusing the edge of the sea ice and in fact we may even sail off in to more open water where we know we can find large whales such as Fin and Blue whales.

DAY 8-9

We begin our journey south back to Longyearbyen, but not before we take of plenty of scenic sights and affect more landings in other interesting and remote locations, all the while remaining vigilant for potential wildlife encounters and sighting. The night of day 9 will be spent in Barentsburg, a coal mining town which remains a fascinating place to visit.

DAY 10

On our last day we will leave Barentsburg in the morning and enjoy a gentle sail back to Longyearbyen where we aim to arrive by the middle of the afternoon.

  • Linden Saloon

  • Linden beside a glacier in Svalbard

  • Linden Cabins made up

  • Linden Saloon: rear.

  • Learning the ropes

FAQ’s

Below are some answers to a few commonly asked questions, with some additional suggestions. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, then you can raise it with us via a Zoom call.

  • What level of photography do I require?

    • This is not expressively a photography workshop, but Joe will be happy to assist and guide you as you wish. You can be as photographically creatively active or as inactive as you like, and we welcome many other forms of creativity. We even had a dressmaker join us on expedition once and it was amazing to watch her conjure up her design based on the inspiration she was getting from nature.

    How fit do I need to be?

    • You can engage in as much or as little physical exertion as you like, but you do need to be able to get into and out of the ship and zodiac, and go up and down the stairs.

    What & where will we eat?

    • All meals will be prepared and served by a chef on board Linden, and dietary requirements can be supported.

    Will we see the Northern Lights?

    • No, not during the Arctic summer as the midnight sun reveals itself for longer periods. Although it is rare, it can also rain in Svalbard too.

    What will the weather be like during June in Svalbard?

    • The weather in June will be near 5 °C / 40 °F throughout the day, dropping to 0 °C / 30 °F at night. With this said, windchill may decrease the temperature - please see the ‘Clothing’ FAQ section. Our "Equipment and Information" One of thre aspect fo our extensive pre-departure material, will make sure you have all the vbases covered.

  • Althopugh we provide an exhaustive list of what to pack in our "Equipment and Information Pack", part of our extensive Pre-Departure material, wee do offer the following as a guide for the initially curious.

    There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes! It’s essential to dress appropriately for arctic conditions. Below are our recommendations:

    • Sturdy hiking boots for getting off the boat and exploring land (if you wish to)

    • Comfy and warm shoes for below deck, such as slippers

    • 1st layer: base layer, like merino wool or bamboo long-sleeve & leggings

    • 2nd layer: mid-layer, like a wool jumper, fleece, or packable puffy jacket

    • Main outer layer: like a down-filled coat. We will be sailing in “summer”, but the Arctic does not follow any usual weather rules, so you must come prepared

    • Waterproof layer: GORE-TEX zip-up coat or similar, and ideally it’s also windproof to tolerate any windchill.

    • If you enjoy reading then definitely bring a book or two. You’ll likely cherish that book in the future, knowing where you read it

    • If you like journaling and writing then bring along a pen & notebook

    • Sunblock! The Arctic sun has no mercy, and reflects strongly off the snow, ice and sea water

    • In the same vein as sunblock, bring lip balm, as the Artic summer is drying

    • A water bottle. It’s much easier to use on board than a regular cup

    • Finally, don’t forget to bring your expeditionary spirit!

WHO ARE YOU?

A proper expedition is always comprised of an elaborate mosaic of characters, each with their own story and each with something to offer to the expedition group. Our job is to put together an incredible group of people: similar enough to embrace the spirit of adventure in the Arctic, different enough to introduce healthy diversity and counterpoint in the individual and shared experience of the Arctic.

We need to ensure that everyone who seeks to join us on our expeditions are a positive, forthcoming and interesting individual, hence why The Great Expedition Company follows a curation protocol when selecting guests to join us. This is why our selection process is curated.

Having “what it takes” simply means you’re open to new places, new people and unforgettable sights. We’re all smart in different ways, and it’s up to team leading the expedition to put together a truly excellent group for a truly exceptional experience.

Find the Zoom call scheduling window below, tell us something about yourself and then book a call with us to discuss your participation.