Arctic expedition in North Svalbard
A Cosa group travel in North Svalbard
90 guests from across the world embarked on a multi-generation group expedition, where the sun doesn’t set and polar bears officially outnumber people. Departing from Longyearbyen aboard the MV Plancius, this five-day Arctic expedition in North Svalbard blended real adventure with just the right amount of flexibility. Ice and weather shaped the route, experts handled the details, and shared moments – from silent wildlife sightings to laughter on deck – showed how extraordinary group travel becomes when nature leads, Cosa curates and good company follows.
Highlights
Following the rhythm of ice
With endless daylight on board, time felt optional. Moving further north, colours vanished, leaving only ice, snow and silence.
Routes were adjusted daily by an expedition team, guiding the group seamlessly in both German and English while reading charts, clouds and currents like second nature.
Following the rhythm of the wild turned planning into presence and nothing bonds a group faster than trusting experts at the edge of the map.
Step by step into Arctic cold
Expedition snowshoes kept feet warm and dry as each landing was carefully assessed. In a place shared with polar bears, preparation is simply part of the landscape.
The group crossed late-season snow and tundra towards wide fjord views: distant glaciers, open water shifting between ice, all taken in slowly, on foot.
Snow squeaked underfoot, a few steps later, boots met gravel and driftwood. A reminder that this is no frozen postcard, but a living, changing world.
At eye level with the North
A slow Zodiac drift along the shoreline brought the group strikingly close to walruses sprawled across the beach, while seabird cliffs above created a wild, untamed spectacle.
Whether whales surfaced beside the ship in Isfjorden or reindeer paused on distant ridges, it was this blend of patience and possibility that made the Arctic addictive.
And the wish everyone shared? To glimpse the elusive polar bear in its High Arctic home.
The Cosa touch at 79° North
A private charter from Oslo brought everyone north together, setting the tone for something extraordinary shared with family and friends.
At 79° latitude, under the midnight sun, a guest quietly raised the bar, with salt-rimmed Margaritas served against drifting glaciers.
Branded expedition beanies, thoughtful onboard details and seamless coordination added a quiet sense of privilege. Up here, exclusivity is measured in foresight and care rather than location.
The scale of the North
The scale of the North
Svalbard, meaning “the cold edge,” sits far from the sun where glaciers stretch to the horizon and silence feels almost physical. Here, distances are measured in light and weather rather than kilometres. Every landing required teamwork: steady hands guiding Zodiacs ashore, quiet signals between guide and captain, and trained expedition leaders carrying the necessary safety equipment in polar bear territory. In a landscape of such scale, collaboration became instinctive – and binoculars are never far from reach. For centuries, explorers, hunters and modern adventurers have travelled north in search of something greater and returned with a deeper sense of perspective.
Type of event
Group travel
Travel period
June
Trip duration
5 days
Group size
90 people
