In early summer 2022, we boarded the expedition vessel MS Fram in Bergen, Norway, bound for Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen, Svalbard. A twelve-day cruise taking in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard. A dream trip we’d been planning for many years, which finally came true.

The ship called at various ports on the islands, and sometimes we had to board a Zodiac (rubber dinghy) to reach a remote stretch of coastline. Joining us on the trip was an international expedition team of scientists who organised all the excursions and gave talks on wildlife, nature and the history of polar explorers who, over a hundred years ago, attempted to reach the North Pole. It was very informative and interesting.

The weather in the North Atlantic was better than expected, with blue skies and a warming sun over the otherwise chilly Arctic Ocean. We saw plenty of whales, seabirds and even walruses in Svalbard. The highlight, however, was our landing on the remote island of Jan Mayen, situated between Iceland and Svalbard. This island is best known for its fog and fierce Arctic winds. During our visit, the tall volcano Beerenberg (2,277 m) was bathed in sunshine, which is very rare. Most of the time, the summit is hidden behind clouds or fog.