Small-boat landing beneath Bear Island's towering seabird cliffs, home to hundreds of thousands of guillemots, kittiwakes and puffins.
What to expect
You board an inflatable Zodiac in small groups of 8-10 with a naturalist guide, motoring slowly along the base of 400-metre cliffs alive with birdlife and the smell of the colony. Guides point out Brünnich's guillemot nesting ledges and, if lucky, a passing minke whale or polar bear on distant ice. The light this far north gives the basalt cliffs an otherworldly glow.
Good to know
Weather-dependent and often the first activity offered given fog risk; dress in full waterproof expedition gear (usually provided). Confirm return time against the ship's departure, as Zodiac ops can run long if wildlife is active.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Bear Island — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.