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Prices
for - Arctic Adventures
Around
Spitsbergen
Longyearbyen - Longyearbyen 10 Nights /
11 Days
Day 1
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 the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.
Day 2
Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in
Krossfjorden, where we take to the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the
sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly green slopes
near the glacier, a colourful 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, who patrol the base of the
cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who
cruise this scenic fjord. In the afternoon we 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
centre. 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, we will 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, we
will cruise near the face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the
glacier front are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes and
occasionally polar bears are seen on the glacier.
Day 4 - Phippsøya
Today we will reach our northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the
Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just
540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, along
with ivory gulls. We may sit for several hours in the pack ice, taking in our
spectacular surroundings and seeing a Ross gull, before we turn south again.
Day 5 - Laagøya / Sorg Fjord
We will 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 we may find another herd of walruses not far from the graves
of 17th century whalers. On a nature walk, we may encounter families of
ptarmigans.
Day 6 - Alkefjellet / Palanderbukta
Today we will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to Bearded Seals,
Ringed Seals, Polar Bears, and Ivory Gulls. We’ll navigate the ice floes of
Lomfjordshalvøya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with
thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, we’ll
attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to Reindeer,
Pink-footed Geese, breeding Ivory Gulls, and Walruses.
Day 7 - Torrelneset
Near Torrelneset, we will explore the polar desert of
Nordaustlandet, next to the world’s third largest ice cap, which meets the sea
nearby. We will walk along beautiful coastline covered in smooth rocks, sculpted
by the surf over thousands of years. We may encounter walruses along the way.
Sailing south of Nordaustlandet we will have good chance to see Greenland
Whales.
Day 8
In Freemansundet we plan to 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, we land on a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks,
which have drifted here from Siberia. We 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
We 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. We may visit the Polish research
station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research
projects. Behind the station the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of
nesting Little Auks.
Day 10
Today we 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 that we will come across a pod. Cruising into Recherchefjorden during the
afternoon we can explore an area of tundra at the head of the fjord where many
Reindeer feed.
Day 11
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the
airport and the flight to Oslo and home.
N.B. The chances that we can complete a full Spitsbergen
Circumnavigation (based on our experiences from 1992 until 2008) are about, 20%
in the first half of July, 55% in the second half of July, 90 % in the first
half of August, 95% in the second half of August. In case we can not complete a
full circumnavigation we will mostly resort to a program in Northeast or
Southeast Spitsbergen.
N.B. If ice conditions are favorable we may sail around
Nordaustlandet, passing another Nordkapp and visiting Kvitøya, the place where
the Swedish Explorer Andree perished, instead of sailing through the Hinlopen
Strait. The area between Kong Karls Land and Edgeøya offers great chances of
observing Greenland Whales.
Important:
Before you travel please check your Tour Voucher and Arrival
Information for the latest joining instructions. This will be sent to you
upon receipt of final payment.
All itineraries are
subject to change without prior notice.
Prices
for - Arctic Adventures
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