There’s a moment on this trip when Svalbard disappears behind you and there is, quite literally, nothing but sea until mainland Norway. Just wind, sails and a group of strangers on the same boat.
That’s the MTP Bjørnøya Expedition. After a successful first edition last year, we completed two more expeditions this year and it proved once again to be one of the rawest experiences on our travel calendar. Definitely one for the most determined.
The Route
Both missions this year sailed across the Barents Sea to Bjørnøya, one of the most remote islands on Earth, fogged in roughly 300 days a year. Along the way: Arctic fjords, calving glaciers, stops to fish for Barents cod, a cold plunge, and dolphins following the boat through open water. The expedition #2 traveled from Tromsø to Svalbard, while the third followed the reverse route.
“I was part of the Expedition #2. We landed at the weather station on a beautiful, sunny day, as well as on the small beach where both expeditions had previously landed” reported Charles Veley, founder of MTP.
The Crew
Bjørnøya, also known as Bear Island, is one of the least visited MTP regions on our map. So far, only 276 people from the global MTP community have managed to visit the island. That’s exactly what makes destinations like Bjørnøya so special to us: remote, difficult to reach, and far beyond the usual travel routes.
MTP designed and coordinated this trip in partnership with SeilNorge, but this was never meant to be a passenger experience. Each expedition consisted of just eight people — seasoned travelers who had explored some of the most remote places in the world.
Everyone on board stood watch, trimmed sails, cooked, and helped run the boat. No sailing experience was required; participants learned everything on the spot.
That shared effort brought together 16 people from completely different backgrounds and cultures, who came together on the open sea to experience something they won’t forget.
As Per Besson, an MTP UN Grandmaster who has visited all 193 UN member states, put it:
“The time was rough, but always worthwhilem, a journey full of learnings, adventures, good vibes and memories for a lifetime.”
Swedish traveller Bengt Hildebrandt, also an MTP UN Grandmaster who has visited all 193 UN member states, shared a rather cheerful health report from the voyage:
“Apart from three people with seasickness and one who fell into the spa when we landed on Bjørnön and got wet, the health situation is good.”
Why It Matters
Bjørnøya isn’t on most people’s radar because it’s so difficult to reach. And that is exactly the kind of destination our community exists to chase. Bjørnøya remains one of those rare places where simply getting there is part of the adventure.
If the Arctic, sailing, and the idea of genuinely disconnecting appeal to you, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the expeditions in 2027.