Around Spitsbergen

Itinerary

Day 1: Longyearbyen / Embark

Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is 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 sail out of Isfjorden.

Day 2: Krossfjorden

Heading north along the west coast, arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where you take a Zodiac cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the 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 is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, patrolling the base of the cliffs, and Bearded Seals.In the afternoon, sail to Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement. Once a mining village, Ny Ålesund is now a research center. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928 before their flights to the North Pole.

Day 3: Liefdefjorden / Monaco Glacier

Near the mouth of Liefdefjorden, go ashore for a walk on the tundra island of Andøya. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest here, and the more rare king eider may also be seen. Sailing into Liefdefjorden, cruise near the face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes and occasionally polar bears are seen on the glacier.

Day 4: Phippsøya

Today you reach your northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet (81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole). Polar bears inhabit this region, along with ivory gulls. You may sit for several hours in the pack ice, taking in the spectacular surroundings and seeing a Ross gull, before turning south again.

Day 5: Laagøya / Sorg Fjord

Visit Laagöya today, a low island with a big lagoon where a big herd of walrus tends to congregate. Sabine’s gulls nest on the island, as well. At Sorg Fjord you may find another herd of walruses not far from the graves of 17th century whalers. On a nature walk, you may encounter families of ptarmigans.

Day 6: Alkefjellet / Palanderbukta

Today you sail sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears, and ivory gulls. Navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in your zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, you attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls, and walruses.

Day 7: Torrelneset

Near Torrelneset, you explore the polar desert of Nordaustlandet, next to the world’s third largest ice cap, which meets the sea nearby. Walk along the beautiful coastline covered in smooth rocks, sculpted by the surf over thousands of years. You may encounter walruses along the way. Sailing south of Nordaustlandet you have good chance to see Greenland whales.

Day 8: Freemansundet

In Freemansundet you may land at Sundneset on the island of Barentsøya to visit an old trapper's hut and then take a brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen Reindeer and Barnacle Geese. Later we cruise south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya. After a Zodiac cruise through the shallow bay, you land on a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks, which have drifted here from Siberia. You can also climb to the rim of a narrow gully which is inhabited by thousands of Kitttiwakes, together with Black Guillemots and piratical Glaucous Gulls. During the breeding season, the base of the cliffs is patrolled by Arctic foxes and polar bears, especially females with young cubs, searching for young birds that have fallen from the nesting ledges.

Day 9: Hornsund

Start the day quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of towering mountain peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch explorers gave the name ‘Spitsbergen’ - pointed mountains - to the island. There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area and very good chances of encounters with seals and polar bears. You may visit the Polish research station where the friendly staff gives you an insight into their research projects. Behind the station the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks.

Day 10: Ahlstrandhalvøya / Recherchefjorden

Today, land on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden. Here piles of Beluga skeletons (the Beluga is a small white whale), the remains of 19th century slaughter, are yet another reminder of the consequences of thoughtless exploitation. Fortunately, belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and may still be seen locally. Indeed, there is a good chance you will come across a pod. Cruising into Recherchefjorden during the afternoon you can explore an area of tundra at the head of the fjord where many Reindeer feed.

Day 11: Longyearbyen / Disembark

Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.