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Itinerary
North Spitsbergen Sailing Expedition
12 days - Sep - From US $ 3,140
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: After arriving in Longyearbyen, the administrative center for Spitsbergen and former mining town, there will be a chance to visit the museum, which has an interesting collection on the history of the islands, the mining industry and polar exploration. In the afternoon, you will sail through scenic Isfjorden aboard the tall ship Noorderlicht, setting course for Alkhornet at the mouth of the fjord, whose cliffs are home to a large colony of kittiwakes. Below the cliffs is a den of arctic foxes, who scavenge on fallen eggs and chicks. The ship will continue on to Trygghamna to visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station, and an 18th century Russian Pomor station.
Day 2: You will leave Tryghamna early in the morning and sail through Forlandsundet, the sea passage that divides the island of Prins Karls Forland from the mainland. Weather permitting, you will go ashore at Fuglehuken, where the expedition of Willem Barentsz landed on Spitsbergen and, in so doing, became the first Europeans to set foot on the islands. Here, you can see the graves of whalers, and observe impressive colonies of common guillemots, Brünnich´s guillemots, little auks and kittiwakes. Nearby, harbor seals and walruses often haul out and are great subjects for photography.
Day 3: Today you will visit Ny Ålesund, the northernmost permanent settlement in the world, a center for polar research, and a former starting point for many North Pole expeditions, including those of Amundsen and Nobile. The local bird life has adapted itself to human presence and is exceptionally tame--barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, common eiders, arctic terns and several species of wader can be observed and photographed at close quarters. Reindeer can also be seen in the vicinity--they are smaller than their mainland relatives and do not form large herds.
Day 4: In the morning, you will sail from Ny Ålesund to the 14th of July Glacier, where you will take to the zodiacs for a spectacular cruise along its front. Not far from the glacier, you can visit an accessible breeding site for Brünnich’s guillemots, little auks and puffins. The guano of these bird colonies, the southward exposure, and the sheltered situation, give rise to relatively rich vegetation with many species of flowering plants.
Day 5: Sailing northward, you will visit Magdalenafjord, one of the most beautiful places on Spitsbergen, with many impressive glacier fronts. During a shore visit, you will view the remains of 17th century English whaling activities. Birdwatchers will not be disappointed, as there are substantial seabird colonies here, particularly noted for their little auks.
Day 6: Today, the ship will try to visit Ytre Norskøya, a small island that was used for many years as a lookout point for Dutch whalers. There, you can still follow their tracks to the summit of the island, passing excellent bird cliffs on the way. On shore, the remains of 17th century blubber ovens can be found, while arctic skuas and common eiders breed among the graves of 200 Dutch whalers.
Day 7: Raudfjord, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, is a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers and an exceptional variety of wildlife. It is a favorite with ringed and bearded seals, has abundant seabird colonies, and will offer a good chance for spotting polar bears and belugas. Jermaktangen, at the fjord’s eastern entrance, shows marked features of sea erosion.
Day 8: If sea ice conditions allow, the ship will land on the northern side of Reindyrfla, the largest tundra area on Spitsbergen. Its vast undulating plain provides good grazing for reindeer, and several species of waders also breed here. On the tundra lakes, there will be a good chance of spotting red-throated divers and king eiders, whose breeding plumage is especially colorful.
Day 9: Today, you will visit the remains of Smeerenburg, the largest 17th century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen and, if permission is obtained, Danskøya, where many historical remains can be found of the 19th century expedition by the Swedish explorer Andree, who tried to reach the North Pole in a balloon.
Day 10 & Day 11: On your way south, an attempt will be made to try to land on the coast of Forlandsundet at Engelsbukta, or Sarstangen, where walruses often haul out. From there, the ship will head straight for Longyearbyen but, if time allows, the ship may call at Colesbukta, from where fit walkers can walk to Longyearbyen in around six hours, joining the rest of the party when the ship arrives later in the day.
Day 12: You will depart by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo.
Day 1: After arriving in Longyearbyen, the administrative center for Spitsbergen and former mining town, there will be a chance to visit the museum, which has an interesting collection on the history of the islands, the mining industry and polar exploration. In the afternoon, you will sail through scenic Isfjorden aboard the tall ship Noorderlicht, setting course for Alkhornet at the mouth of the fjord, whose cliffs are home to a large colony of kittiwakes. Below the cliffs is a den of arctic foxes, who scavenge on fallen eggs and chicks. The ship will continue on to Trygghamna to visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station, and an 18th century Russian Pomor station.
Day 2: You will leave Tryghamna early in the morning and sail through Forlandsundet, the sea passage that divides the island of Prins Karls Forland from the mainland. Weather permitting, you will go ashore at Fuglehuken, where the expedition of Willem Barentsz landed on Spitsbergen and, in so doing, became the first Europeans to set foot on the islands. Here, you can see the graves of whalers, and observe impressive colonies of common guillemots, Brünnich´s guillemots, little auks and kittiwakes. Nearby, harbor seals and walruses often haul out and are great subjects for photography.
Day 3: Today you will visit Ny Ålesund, the northernmost permanent settlement in the world, a center for polar research, and a former starting point for many North Pole expeditions, including those of Amundsen and Nobile. The local bird life has adapted itself to human presence and is exceptionally tame--barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, common eiders, arctic terns and several species of wader can be observed and photographed at close quarters. Reindeer can also be seen in the vicinity--they are smaller than their mainland relatives and do not form large herds.
Day 4: In the morning, you will sail from Ny Ålesund to the 14th of July Glacier, where you will take to the zodiacs for a spectacular cruise along its front. Not far from the glacier, you can visit an accessible breeding site for Brünnich’s guillemots, little auks and puffins. The guano of these bird colonies, the southward exposure, and the sheltered situation, give rise to relatively rich vegetation with many species of flowering plants.
Day 5: Sailing northward, you will visit Magdalenafjord, one of the most beautiful places on Spitsbergen, with many impressive glacier fronts. During a shore visit, you will view the remains of 17th century English whaling activities. Birdwatchers will not be disappointed, as there are substantial seabird colonies here, particularly noted for their little auks.
Day 6: Today, the ship will try to visit Ytre Norskøya, a small island that was used for many years as a lookout point for Dutch whalers. There, you can still follow their tracks to the summit of the island, passing excellent bird cliffs on the way. On shore, the remains of 17th century blubber ovens can be found, while arctic skuas and common eiders breed among the graves of 200 Dutch whalers.
Day 7: Raudfjord, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, is a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers and an exceptional variety of wildlife. It is a favorite with ringed and bearded seals, has abundant seabird colonies, and will offer a good chance for spotting polar bears and belugas. Jermaktangen, at the fjord’s eastern entrance, shows marked features of sea erosion.
Day 8: If sea ice conditions allow, the ship will land on the northern side of Reindyrfla, the largest tundra area on Spitsbergen. Its vast undulating plain provides good grazing for reindeer, and several species of waders also breed here. On the tundra lakes, there will be a good chance of spotting red-throated divers and king eiders, whose breeding plumage is especially colorful.
Day 9: Today, you will visit the remains of Smeerenburg, the largest 17th century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen and, if permission is obtained, Danskøya, where many historical remains can be found of the 19th century expedition by the Swedish explorer Andree, who tried to reach the North Pole in a balloon.
Day 10 & Day 11: On your way south, an attempt will be made to try to land on the coast of Forlandsundet at Engelsbukta, or Sarstangen, where walruses often haul out. From there, the ship will head straight for Longyearbyen but, if time allows, the ship may call at Colesbukta, from where fit walkers can walk to Longyearbyen in around six hours, joining the rest of the party when the ship arrives later in the day.
Day 12: You will depart by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo.
