A Taste of Spitsbergen

Day 1: Embarkation, Longyearbyen

Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there may be an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. Embark your ship this afternoon and set sail on your Arctic expedition.

Day 2: Raudfjord

Sail to Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich amount of vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. Polar bears are often seen here.

Day 3: Monaco Glacier

Sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes. Polar bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography.

Day 4: Hinlopen Strait

Today cruise into the Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, Polar bears, and ivory gulls. At the entrance there is also the possibility to see blue whales. Navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in the zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of the strait, there may be an attempted landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls, and walruses.

Day 5: Seven Islands

Today the ship will attempt to reach its most northerly point of the voyage at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here you will be at 81 degrees north, 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, before turning west again.

Day 6: Westward Bound

Retrace the route westwards, through and along the pack ice, keeping watch for Polar bears and the elusive Greenland right whale (bowhead). About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen sail along the edge of the continental shelf, where fin whales forage in the upwellings along the banks. At the mouth of the Kongsfjord there are also good chances to see minke whales.

Day 7: St. Johns Fjord or the mouth of Isfjorden

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. Tonight, the ship will arrive back in Longyearbyen.

Day 8: Disembark in Longyearbyen

This morning disembark the ship in Longyearbyen and head home.

Notes

Important Reminder: All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only - embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!