The Coolest Reccy Yet: Arctic Tales from Kat

Day One – July 1st

It’s Happening

Sometimes the biggest adventures come out of nowhere—and this one definitely did. Just a few short weeks ago, this reccy wasn’t even on the radar. But when the opportunity to explore the Arctic came up, we didn’t hesitate to jump on it. This trip has been on the WEA vision board for years, and suddenly—it was go time.

I packed my bags, crossed my fingers that I’d packed enough layers, and made my way to Sydney Airport. Classic chaos followed—delayed trains, wild weather, only one runway operating. But despite it all, the flight left on time. I was on my way.

Fifteen hours later, I landed in Doha for a 2.5-hour layover—just enough time to wander, people-watch, and grab a few snacks. No sleep yet, but running purely on adrenaline and caffeine at this point. The excitement was real, and the social media guessing game had begun—some guesses were wild, others were very close. I was loving every second of it.

This wasn't just any trip. I was here to reccy a potential new WEA expedition. To test the hikes, experience the kayaking, and ensure every moment would be worthy of bringing a group of incredible women here in 2026.

Day Two – July 2nd

Crossing the Arctic Circle

Boarded the second flight—Doha to Oslo. It was a solid 6 hours, and despite my best intentions to sleep, the anticipation had other ideas. Oslo airport became my makeshift office and café, where I squeezed in two strong coffees, a cheeky wine, and plenty of excited scrolling through everyone’s guesses online.

Then came the moment: the final flight to Longyearbyen. Just 2.5 hours, but everything shifted when the pilot came over the speaker and said: 'We’re now crossing the Arctic Circle.' Goosebumps. The Arctic just became real.

At the airport, I met Elijah, one of our expedition team, and a small group of fellow travellers—12 of us flying in together, joining a total of just 38 passengers onboard the MS Quest. Yep, only 38. This wasn’t going to be a standard cruise—it was going to be something intimate, immersive, and truly unique.

Despite the exhaustion creeping in, I couldn’t just crash. After checking in, showering, and changing into a quick outfit, I joined the expedition briefing. I met my roommate, Sapna—fun, easygoing, and we hit it off straight away. I totally get the nerves WEA women feel before rooming with a stranger on our adventures—but from day one, it was like I had known Sapna for years.

And then it hit me: I was in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. The gateway to the High Arctic. And tomorrow, we board the ship.

Day Three – July 3rd

Embarkation Day on the MS Quest

Woke up early despite the blackout blinds—thanks to the 24-hour sunlight. When I peeked outside, two beautiful reindeer were grazing right by my window. Instant Arctic magic.

The day was spent exploring Longyearbyen—muck boot fitting, visiting the Svalbard Museum, coffee with huskies at the Husky Café, and wandering through local shops.

At 3:30pm, we boarded the MS Quest. Small, cosy, beautiful. Only 38 passengers onboard—it felt like our own private polar haven. After settling into our cabin, we had safety briefings, met the expedition crew, and got fitted into our iconic red zodiac suits.

The ship set sail into Arctic waters. The excitement in the lounge was contagious. A voice came over the speaker—singing 'What a Wonderful World' to call us to dinner. A beautiful touch. That night, I was rocked to sleep by the swell of the Barents Sea.

Day Four – July 4th

Let the Adventure Truly Begin

Woke early and headed straight to the lounge—coffee in hand—as we approached our first destination: Gullybukta. We spotted two herds of walruses in the water before breakfast. Then it was time for our first zodiac landing. We stepped ashore, wandered beside the glacier, and watched waterfalls gush from melting ice. Our muck boots got a good workout.

Back onboard, lunch was served as the ship cruised to our next destination: Fuglefjorden. That afternoon’s zodiac ride? Breathtaking. The glacier was otherworldly. Puffins, seals, calving ice, and rolling bergs. The kayaking team had a minke whale swimming beside them. I took on the job of collecting the ice from the sea for our evening gin and tonics. Our zodiac won the ‘clearest ice’ challenge—no surprise there, I do have some competitiveness in me.

Back onboard, we had a drink (with glacier ice of course) had a glass of bubbles and met the captain, cheered to a great trip ahead and shared stories. The midnight sun kept the energy high long past 9pm.

Day Five – July 5th

Pack Ice and Polar Bears

After breakfast, we reached the pack ice. It was everything I imagined and more. Soon after, a polar bear was spotted in the distance. As we slowly cruised closer, the bear became curious and made its way toward us—leaping between pancake ice floes until it was right beside the ship. A surreal moment.

We barely had time to catch our breath before another call came over the speaker—another polar bear sighted, this one feeding on a whale carcass. We bundled into zodiacs and made our way through the ice. The bear wandered curiously toward one zodiac, prompting our guides to shout 'hello bear!' (Just like the movies) and bang anchor boxes to deter it. It worked. Then we watched it return to its whale lunch, unfazed by our presence - a safe distance away of course.

Later that day, we had the option to do a polar plunge. Did I jump into freezing Arctic waters at 81°53.5'N? Of course I did. Followed by a vodka shot. Because why not.

As if the day hadn’t delivered enough already, we had Belgium waffles for afternoon tea, lectures on Arctic / Svalbard history, and our nightly dinner serenade by Xyrene. This was officially one of the best days ever.

Day Six – July 6th

Polar Desert Magic & Icebergs Galore

After yesterday’s polar bear bonanza, I didn’t think anything could top it—but the Arctic keeps surprising me.

Today we cruised along the northeast corner of Svalbard and explored Andreeneset, Kviteøya—an ice-covered island whose name literally translates to 'White Island.' It truly looked like a snow dome floating in the sea.

We suited up in our red zodiac gear and set off on a 4-hour adventure. Immediately we encountered curious walruses bobbing beside our zodiacs—popping up to look us right in the eye before disappearing under the surface. Herds swam around us, playful yet powerful.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better… six polar bears. SIX. Spotted along the ice edge, calmly wandering, resting, occasionally lifting their heads.

Later, we cruised close to a breathtaking glacier under rare sunshine. The light hitting the ice made it sparkle like it had been dusted in diamonds. The view was a total knockout.

In the afternoon, the captain navigated a full circle around a towering iceberg - almost the height of our ship. You could see layers of snow compressed into bands, and its surface shimmered in shades of electric blue, seafoam, and turquoise. (Fun fact: the more compressed and old the ice, the bluer it appears, due to how it absorbs and scatters light.)

We ended the evening with a humpback whale spouting in the distance, a walrus lecture from Gary, and dinner with toes still thawing from the morning’s icy ride.

Day Seven – July 7th

Cliffs, Birds, and a Fox with a Secret

This morning we reached Alkefjellet—a towering cliff face known as one of Svalbard’s most important bird nesting sites. It was foggy, but dramatic. The sheer wall of volcanic rock rose straight out of the sea, mist curling around its edges.

Then came the birds—tens of thousands of Brünnich’s Guillemots nesting shoulder to shoulder. The noise was deafening. The guano? Pungent. But the sight? Absolutely jaw-dropping.

As we drifted beneath the cliffs, we spotted Puffins, Kittiwakes, and Glaucous Gulls among the Guillemots. Some of us even got a little extra 'luck' from above (yes, bird poop—lotto ticket time!).

Just as we were about to head back, a whisper came through the radio: arctic fox sighting. Off we zoomed. What followed was like something out of a documentary. The fox, sleek and beautiful, emerged from a cave holding a bird carcass. We watched in awe as it shook the feathers, snacked, and then climbed up the slope to dig up another cached bird—its frozen pantry. Absolutely wild, and incredibly rare to witness.

After dinner, I sat in the lounge with hot chocolate in hand, watching the fog soften the horizon. It’s hard to describe the feeling here—otherworldly, peaceful, vast. And the 24-hour daylight? I think I’m starting to love it.

Day Eight – July 8th

Walruses, Wildflowers & Standing on Icebergs

Blue skies and calm seas greeted us this morning as we arrived at Palanderbukta. We immediately spotted our first bearded seal—a massive, whiskered creature sunbaking on an iceberg. Zodiacs zipped us in for a closer look before heading to shore for a 6km tundra hike.

It was surreal to be walking in a polar desert. Wildflowers poked through the rocks—purple Saxifrage and yellow Svalbard Poppies brightened the barren ground. We learned about frost-patterned soil, wandered past grazing reindeer, and took in sweeping views from the ridge.

The descent? A comedy of bum slides, zigzags, and squeals of joy as everyone found their preferred way down the icy slope. At the beach, three incredibly curious walruses greeted us in the shallows—they swam closer and closer, raising their tusked heads to check us out.

In the afternoon, we explored Torellneset, home to a large walrus haul-out. On the way, we floated through water so clear you could see the jellyfish-like comb jellies drifting beneath us. But the highlight? We landed a zodiac on a floating iceberg and climbed out onto it. Yes, we stood on an iceberg. In the Arctic. Wild.

Back at the walrus colony, they were mostly dozing in the sun, occasionally shuffling, snorting, and rolling their blubbery bodies toward the water. Another epic day in this frozen wonderland.

Day Nine – July 9th

Dive Bombs, Glaciers & Wildflower Views

Today started with a zodiac cruise through the Arctic Tern breeding grounds at Hamiltonbukta. These feisty little birds weren’t happy about us visiting—they dive-bombed us relentlessly. I couldn’t stop laughing. It was like a scene from a nature documentary meets a comedy sketch.

We cruised through iceberg fields, watching a glacier calve dramatically into the ocean. That thunderous crack and splash never gets old. We scanned the shoreline for arctic foxes, but no luck today—though honestly, the one we saw yesterday is still etched in my memory.

Three King Eiders bobbed nearby—a special sighting of these stunning, colorful ducks.

In the afternoon, we hiked Buchananhalvøya. I almost stayed on board, but I’m so glad I didn’t. It was one of the most scenic walks of the trip. The trail wound through wildflowers and tundra, past glacial melt streams and onto a high ridge. From the top: 360° views of mountains, ocean, snow, and glacier valleys. Pure Arctic Magic.

Day Ten – July 10th

Puffins, Paddling, and a Glacier Symphony

We kicked off today with a zodiac cruise around Tinayrebukta, a key breeding ground for Puffins. And oh, the Puffins were out in force! Zipping around in every direction, flapping, diving, and doing their adorable puffin thing.

Then we spotted an Arctic Fox feeding on a reindeer carcass—another rare sighting. A reminder of the raw, wild nature of this place.

That afternoon, I ticked off one of my ultimate bucket-list moments: kayaking at Lilliehöökbreen Glacier. It’s one of the most active glaciers in Svalbard, stretching over 7 kilometers. As we paddled across glassy water, we heard thunderous cracks every few minutes as giant slabs of ice broke away and crashed into the sea. It was like being inside a three-hour thunderstorm—but made of ice.

We paddled through small bergs, past icy walls, and shared silent awe at the sheer scale of it all. No words.

Back onboard, our recap included a geology talk by Dan about Svalbard’s ancient rock layers and how glacial movement shaped this archipelago. Then, to top it all off, the crew surprised us with a BBQ on deck. There was music, dancing, drinks, and a whole lot of laughter—even in the Arctic drizzle.

Day Eleven – July 11th

Science Town & Ice Blockades

We visited Ny-Ålesund today, the northernmost civilian settlement in the world. This tiny research town has a permanent population of about 35 and hosts scientists from around the globe. It was once a mining village, but now it's a hub for Arctic research.

We walked the gravel streets, checked out the old mining museum, and saw where Roald Amundsen launched his airship to the North Pole in 1926. History and science collide here in the most fascinating way.

In the afternoon, we cruised around Conwaybreen. So much ice had calved from the glacier that we couldn’t get close—it looked like a floating sculpture garden. We found a bearded seal chilling on an iceberg, completely unbothered by our presence.

Our nightly recap brought the first hints that the end was near—talk of disembarkation had begun. None of us were ready to leave this place.

Day Twelve – July 12th

Puffins & Playful Foxes – The Grand Finale

Our final full day in the Arctic didn’t disappoint. The morning hike took us to Protekorfjellet where we climbed up to Puffin nesting cliffs—up close and personal with dozens of these delightful birds. Their beaks are even brighter when you are up close and personal. The views from the top were spectacular—fjords, reindeer, and snow-capped peaks. That afternoon, on our last zodiac landing at Alkhornet, we wandered through the tundra dotted with reindeer.

And then came the finale—three Arctic Fox cubs tumbling around each other, feeding, play-fighting, chasing tails, all just metres from where we sat. No one said a word. No one moved. Just quiet awe and full hearts.

Back on board, we toasted our amazing crew and captain, who revealed we’d travelled 1,138 nautical miles and reached 81°51'N—the furthest north this ship had gone this season.

A photo slideshow by Paul had us laughing, crying, and reliving it all. We ended with one last serenade from Xyrene, calling us to 'yummy, yummy, extra yummy dinner.' The perfect finish.

Day Thirteen – July 13th

Disembarkation Day – Booooo!

No one wanted to leave. Not the passengers, not the staff, not even the expedition team. But today was the day.

We woke early, packed bags, shared hugs, swapped contact details, and tried to capture that one last photo that could somehow hold everything we’d seen and felt.

Disembarking the MS Quest felt like saying goodbye to a tiny floating home. A home filled with 38 adventurous souls, incredible guides, passionate scientists, and a hospitality crew that felt like family.

I walked off the gangway feeling equal parts emotional and grateful.

This wasn’t just a trip. It was something much bigger.

Day Fourteen – July 14th

Transit & Reflection. What a Journey!

Still in transit. Airports and planes and lots of thinking.

I scrolled through hundreds of photos, made notes, put the finishing touches on this blog, and drafted ideas for next year’s Women Embrace Adventure Arctic Expedition. The memories were still fresh—the laughter, the wildlife, the wild weather, the stillness.

Going through videos for a highlight reel brought tears and giggles in equal measure. This place has a way of getting under your skin—in the best way possible.

Our Journey

Day Fifteen – July 15th: Touchdown in Sydney

Home safe. Tired but happy. Bags slightly salt-crusted. Heart completely full.

What an adventure. The Arctic has left its mark—and I can’t wait to share it with more of you in 2026.

Until then… keep dreaming, keep exploring, and keep saying yes to wild, beautiful things.

– Kat x

Wings of the Arctic: A Symphony in the Sky

The silence of the Arctic is often broken by wings overhead.

Up here, birds rule the cliffs and skies, each uniquely adapted to life in the cold.

Here are just a few we saw (or heard!) during our expedition:

Little Auk – Tiny, loud, and often seen in colonies of millions.

Brünnich’s Guillemot – Cliff-clingers with sleek diving skills.

Atlantic Puffin – The Arctic’s cutest icon, always a crowd favourite.

Arctic Tern – Migrates from pole to pole. The true globetrotter.

Ivory Gull – A rare beauty, entirely white and often spotted near pack ice.

Snow Bunting – Svalbard’s only songbird, adding melody to the tundra.

Northern Fulmar – Long-lived gliders of the open sea.

King & Common Eider – Fancy ducks in their finest plumage.

Rock Ptarmigan – Known locally as the 'Svalbard chicken.'

The Arctic may look barren at first glance—but look up, and the sky tells a different story.

Arctic vs Antarctic: Two Poles, Worlds Apart

Both are remote, extreme, and breathtaking—but the Arctic and Antarctic are polar opposites in more than just geography.

Antarctica is a continent of ice surrounded by ocean. It’s bold and dramatic, with towering glaciers, endless snowfields, and wildlife by the thousands—especially penguins.

The Arctic, by contrast, is an ocean surrounded by land. It’s quieter, more personal. A place of stillness and solitude. Wildlife appears one by one—polar bears, foxes, reindeer—creating powerful, intimate encounters.

In short:- Antarctica stuns with scale and sound.- The Arctic stirs something deeper—a quiet connection to place, to wildness, and to yourself.

Neither is better. But once you’ve experienced both, neither ever truly leaves you.

Glossary of Arctic Terms

Pack Ice– Floating sea ice that forms and shifts with the wind and currents.

Calving– When chunks of ice break off a glacier and fall into the sea.

Zodiac– A sturdy inflatable boat used for landings and wildlife viewing.

Muck Boots– Waterproof boots designed for wet, muddy, or icy conditions.

Polar Desert– An area with minimal precipitation, despite its icy appearance.

Tundra– Treeless plains with permafrost beneath the surface.

Midnight Sun– Continuous daylight during Arctic summer, with the sun never setting.

Latitude 81°N– That’s way up there. Nearly at the top of the planet!