HIGHLIGHTS
- Start
out from Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the
largest island of the Svalbard archipelago
- Board
the Zodiacs for a cruise near the towering blue-white face of the
Fourteenth of July Glacier
- Watch
colorful flowers bloom while flocks of kittiwakes and
Brünnich’s guillemots nest on the cliffs, on the
green slopes near the glacier
- Sail
to Ny Ålesund, the northernmost settlement on Earth
- Visit
the breeding ground for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, and Arctic
terns
- Visit
the anchoring mast used by polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their
airships, Norge (1926) and Italia (1928).
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
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| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
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Rates are listed per person
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| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
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ITINERARY
Day
1: Largest town, biggest island
You
touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen,
the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around
this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make
for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more
than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early
evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first
minke whale of your voyage.
Day
2: Cruising Krossfjorden
Heading
north along the west coast, you arrive by morning in Krossfjorden. Here
you might board the Zodiacs for a cruise near the towering blue-white
face of the Fourteenth of July Glacier. On the green slopes near the
glacier, colorful flowers bloom while flocks of kittiwakes and
Brünnich’s guillemots nest on the cliffs. You have a
good chance of spotting an Arctic fox scouting for fallen chicks, or a
bearded seal paddling through the fjord.
In
the afternoon you sail to Ny Ålesund, the northernmost
settlement on Earth. Once a mining village served by the
world’s most northerly railway – you can still see
its tracks – Ny Ålesund is now a research center.
Close to the community is a breeding ground for barnacle geese,
pink-footed geese, and Arctic terns. And if you’re interested
in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the anchoring mast used by
polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their airships, Norge (1926) and
Italia (1928).
Day
3: Stop at the Seven Islands
The
northernmost point of your voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in
the Seven Islands. Here you reach 80° north, just 870 km (540
miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears and walrus inhabit
this stark desolate landscape. Later in the day the ship may roam for
several hours among the pack ice in search of wildlife.
Day
4: The great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen
Pushing
east to Nordaustlandet, you reach the area where the Italian captain
Sora tried to rescue the Nobile Expedition in 1928. The focus here is
the great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen, though you may also land
at Firkantbukta, getting the chance to gain some altitude and take a
few higher-elevation photos. Alternately, you could make a Zodiac
cruise near Storøya, where you might encounter walruses.
Day
5: Ice cap at Kvitøya
Today
you try to reach the rarely visited Kvitøya, far to the east
and close to Russian territory. The enormous ice cap covering this
island leaves only a small area bare. You land at the western tip of
Andréeneset, where the Swedish explorer S. A.
Andrée and his companions perished in 1897. Another
objective for the day is Kræmerpynten, where a sizable group
of walruses reside.
Day
6: The longest glacier in Spitsbergen
South
of Nordaustlandet you may land on Isisøya, formerly a
Nunatak area surrounded by glaciers but now an island surrounded by the
sea. You then may pass by Bråswellbreen, part of the largest
ice cap in Europe and famed for its meltwater waterfalls.
Day
7: Barentsøya’s many bounties
The
plan is to make landings in Freemansundet, though polar bears sometimes
make this impossible. Potential stops on Barentsøya include
Sundneset (for an old trapper’s hut), Kapp Waldburg (for its
kittiwake colony), and Rindedalen (for a walk across the tundra). You
might also cruise south to Diskobukta, though Kapp Lee is more likely
your destination. On Kapp Lee is a walrus haul-out, Pomor ruins, and
the chance for hikes along Edgeøya.
Day
8: Land of the pointed mountains
You
start the day by cruising the side fjords of the Hornsund area of
southern Spitsbergen, taking in the spire-like peaks: Hornsundtind
rises 1,431 meters (4,695 feet), and Bautaen is a perfect illustration
of why early Dutch explorers named this island Spitsbergen, meaning
“pointed mountains.” There are 14 sizable glaciers
in this area as well as opportunities for spotting seals, beluga
whales, and polar bears.
Day
9: Bell Sund’s flora, fauna, and haunting history
Today
you find yourself in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in
Svalbard. The ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other
areas in the archipelago, which shows in the relatively lush
vegetation. Here there are excellent opportunities to enjoy both
history and wildlife. A possibility is Ahlstrandhalvøya, at
the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden, where piles of beluga skeletons can be
found. These remains of 19th-century whale slaughter are a haunting
reminder of the consequences of rampant exploitation. Fortunately,
belugas were not hunted into extinction, and you have a good chance of
coming across a pod. Alternately, while cruising the side fjords of
Bellsund, you can explore tundra where reindeer like to feed as well as
rock slopes where little auks are breeding.
Day
10: There and back again
Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You
disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you
wherever your next adventure lies.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff
- Free
use of rubber boots and snowshoes
- Transfers
and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for
those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
- AECO
fees and governmental taxes
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material
