Lofoten, Bear Island & Svalbard | MS Quest

The guides and crew greet us when we arrive in Bodø and board our ship, M/S Quest, in the afternoon. Following our departure, we go in the direction of the breathtaking Lofoten Islands.

Following breakfast, we take our first trip in our robust Zodiacs around the breathtaking Vedøya, where we may be able to spot seabirds like the recognisable puffin that nest there. We might occasionally see sea eagles here as well. We continue our voyage along the southern side of the enormous group of rocky islands that rise majestically from the sea and are commonly referred to as the Lofoten Wall. We disembark and stroll around the sleepy fishing community of Reine, which overlooks Kirkefjorden. Reine has been named the most beautiful place in Norway because of its distinctive wooden buildings that are surrounded by striking mountain peaks. We also take our Zodicas out here to investigate the area.

Following the Lofoten Wall, we continue our journey into Trollfjorden, which is just as magical as its name implies. After a little while, we set sail towards Bear Island. After only a few hours at sea, we arrive at popular spots along the continental shelf for whale watching. We are always watching from the deck, and we have the opportunity to view whales during our voyage.

At sea, we keep moving northward towards greater latitudes. We are introduced to Bear Island's fascinating history during engaging talks aboard. Of course, we continue to look for whales!

We visit this intriguing rocky island in the middle of the Barents Sea with solid zodiacs. Due to its isolated location, only a small number of ships are able to visit it annually. We discover one of the biggest seabird colonies in the North Atlantic on the 400-meter sheer cliffs. Tens of thousands of Brünnich's guillemots, as well as glaucous gulls, kittiwakes, razorbills, and puffins, nest here. We will try to land on this infrequently visited island if the winds and weather cooperate.

After that, we proceed into the Arctic seas. One of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world, the Svalbard archipelago, is visible by the next day after we spend the night at sea.

Visitors may experience Svalbard's amazing purity, lovely pastel colours, and breath-taking views in May. The fjord ice is thick, the mountain summits are covered with snow, and the rays of the midnight light fall over shimmering ice forms. The Arctic is experiencing spring, and it is a moving experience to watch Svalbard come to life. Although we naturally watch for polar bears, walruses, and other emblematic species in this Arctic archipelago, we are most grateful for the enchanted surroundings. The weather and ice conditions will determine our precise schedule in the next few days, as it is still early in the season. In some of Svalbard's most stunning fjords, we explore the captivating winter scenery with our zodiacs, landing wherever we can.

We will only know how far north we may go at this time of year because drift ice is frequently present in the huge Storfjorden, which lies between Edgeøya and Spitsbergen. Isbukta is located on Spitsbergen's southern tip. In this breathtaking bay, we are treated to breathtaking views of the powerful glacier front of Vasil'evbreen and snow-capped high peaks. Additionally, bearded seals, skuas, and ivory gulls frequent the bay.

Magnificent Hornsund is made up of a number of stunning fjords on Spitsbergen's southwest coast, where glaciers calve icebergs with a mystical blue tint. Tens of thousands of little auks nest on the mountain slopes of Bellsund's picturesque Vårsolbukta. We disembark and trek across the tundra to the bird cliff, where we can get up close and personal with the endearing birds who circle us.

The characteristic bird cliff Alkhornet is a pointed rock several hundred meters high that is located at the entrance to Isfjorden. We come ashore here to take in the snow-covered tundra and the fauna, which includes tens of thousands of kittiwakes, barnacle geese, Brünnich's guillemots, glaucous gulls, and snow buntings. Several Arctic foxes have their dens in the cracks surrounding the bird cliff, and if we're lucky, we might spot these adorable little creatures frantically looking for food.

We disembark in Longyearbyen, Svalbard's principal settlement, early in the morning and set out for home.