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Itinerary

North Spitsbergen by Small Ship
8 days - Jun - From US $ 2,760

DISCLAIMER:  All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.  Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Day 1: You will arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago, of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking, you will have an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Day 2: The ship will head north along the west coast, arriving by morning in Krossfjorden, where you can take the zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly fertile slopes near the glacier, a colorful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There will also be a good chance of spotting opportunistic arctic foxes patrolling the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and the bearded seals that cruise this scenic fjord.

In the afternoon, the ship will sail to Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement. Once a mining village --served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen--Ny Ålesund is now a research center. Close to the village is a breeding ground for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese and Arctic terns. If you are interested in the history of Arctic exploration, you will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928, before their flights to the North Pole.

Day 3: Depending on the weather, the ship may sail to the mouth of Liefdefjorden where you can go ashore for a walk on the tundra island of Andøya. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest here, and the even more rare king eider may also be seen. The ship will then, hopefully, sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km (3 miles) long face of the impressive Monaco glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes and, on previous voyages, polar bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography.

Day 4: Today the ship will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears, and ivory gulls. You will navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in zodiacs, explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, and witness thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, an attempt will be made to land at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls, and walruses.

Day 5: Today, at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet, you will reach the most northern point of the journey--at 81 degrees north, you will be just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, along with ivory gulls. The ship may sit for several hours in the pack ice, allowing you to take in the spectacular surroundings and maybe glimpse a Ross gull, before turning south again.

Day 6: Retracing your route westward, the ship will visit Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favored by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. On the offshore island of Ytre Norskøya, you will visit a 17th century Dutch whaling site, whose large graveyard is a poignant reminder of the hardships and dangers of life at the time. The island’s bird life is prolific, with colonies of little auks, black guillemots, Brünnich’s guillemots, puffins and Arctic skuas accessible to visitors.

Day 7: The ship will land at the northern tip of Prins Karls Forland near Fuglehuken, where Barentsz probably set foot on Spitsbergen for the first time. Seabirds nest on the cliffs and along the coast you can see harbor seals--the only population in Spitsbergen. Further along, you will observe demolished set guns and bear traps, the remains of the polar bear hunting era. At the opposite site of Forlandsundet at Sarstangen you can find a haul out place for walruses.

Alternatively, the ship may sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, and land at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on its cliffs and arctic foxes search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks, while Spitsbergen reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. The reindeer may seem unbothered by human presence, but this is not really the case. The animals must survive the harsh winter, when temperatures plummet and food is hard to find, so they preserve what energy they can, fleeing only when it is absolutely necessary. In the afternoon, you will cruise along a glacier front through beautiful Borebukta before continuing to Longyearbyen.

Day 8: Upon your return to Longyearbyen, you will disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight to Oslo and home.

Optional (please see Dates and Prices section):  There will be a unique opportunity for scuba diving during a portion of the voyage.  It is a great chance to see the Arctic ice and marine life as few have.