Day 1: | Arrive Longyearbyen
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, where you can visit the Svalbard Museum (please contact us regarding your flight quotation; prices from £425 per person, including taxes). In the afternoon set sail for Alkhornet, a seabird cliff with a large colony of kittiwakes. Below the cliffs is a den where Arctic foxes scavenge fallen eggs and chicks. Continuing onto Tryghamna, visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station. |
Day 2: | Forlandsundet & Fuglehuken
Leave Tryghamna early morning and sail through the Forlandsundet. Weather permitting go ashore at Fuglehuken where the first Western Europeans (the expedition of Willem Barentsz) set foot on Spitsbergen. Here you can see the graves of whalers and visit colonies of common guillemots, Brünnich's guillemots, little auks and kittiwakes. Nearby we may be able to visit a haul-out of harbour seals and walruses. |
Day 3: | Ny Alesund
Visit Ny Alesund, the northernmost permanently inhabited village in the world, a centre for polar research and a former starting point for many North Pole expeditions (Amundsen and Nobile for example). Barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, common eiders, Arctic terns and several species of wader can be seen here at close quarters. |
Day 4: | 14th July Glacier
Sail from Ny Alesund to the 14th July Glacier where you will cruise in Zodiacs. Visit a breeding site for Brünnich’s guillemots, auks and puffins. The guano of these bird colonies and the sheltered position here gives rise to relatively rich vegetation with many species of flowering plants. |
Day 5: | Magdalenafjord
Sailing northwards visit the Magdalenafjord, one of the most beautiful places on Spitsbergen, with many impressive glacier fronts. View the remains of 17th century English whaling activities and visit some immense seabird colonies. |
Day 6: | Ytre Norskoya Island
We aim to visit Ytre Norskoya, a small island which was used for many years as a lookout point for Dutch whalers. Here you can 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
Raudfjord on the north coast of Spitsbergen is a beautiful fjord with breathtaking glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for ringed and bearded seals, and offers good chances of spotting polar bears and belugas. Jermaktangen, at the fjord’s eastern entrance, is itself a geography lesson in the erosion of the land by the sea. |
Day 8: | Reindyrfla
If sea ice conditions allow, we may land on the northern-side of Reindyrfla, the largest tundra area of Spitsbergen. This vast undulating plain is a good grazing area for reindeer and several species of waders also breed here. The area’s lakes offer good chances of spotting red-throated divers and king eiders. |
Day 9: | Smeerenburg
Visit the remains of Smeerenburg, the largest 17th century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen. If we are granted permission, we will also visit Danskoya, where many historical remains are to be found of the 19th century expedition by the Swedish explorer Andree, who bravely attempted to reach the North Pole in a balloon. |
Days 10-11: | Forlandsundet
On our way south, we will try to make a landing on the coast of the Forlandsundet at Engelsbukta or Sarstangen or Poolepynten, where walruses are often hauled out. From there we head straight for Longyearbyen, but if time allows we could call in at Colesbukta, from where you may walk to Longyearbyen in six hours. |
Day 12: | Arrive Longyearbyen
Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to the UK (via Oslo). Please contact us to discuss your flight itinerary and any requested extension in Spitsbergen or Oslo, on 0870 060 3288. |
Note: | Please note sailing voyage itineraries are very dependent on weather. The above outline of the voyage is just for guidance and may vary depending on local weather and sea conditions. Programmes may also vary in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for wildlife expedition cruises. |