Arctic : Around Spitsbergen

Day 1: Embarkation, Longyearbyen
Board your ship in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement.

Day 2: 14th of July Glacier and Ny Alesund
Cruise past the spectacular cliffs of the 14th of July Glacier, keeping an eye out for Purple Sandpipers, Common Eiders, Barnacle Geese, Arctic Terns and more. Later, visit Ny Alesund, once a remote coal-mining town, now a unique international research station. You may spot indigenous Svalbard reindeer, so keep your camera handy!

Day 3: Smeerenburg
Steaming northward, you will land at Smeerenburg on Amsterdam Island. Dutch whalers established a community here in 1619. The literal translation of the town name is Blubber Town – here you will learn about whaling as you explore the blubber ovens that still remain.

Day 4: Monacobreen, Worsleyneset and Moffen Island
You’ll awake this morning to find the ship at anchor near the Monaco Glacier at the head of Liefdefjorden. Tens of thousands of birds are often found on the water at the base of the glacier. Later, sail to Worsleyneset to hike and learn more about the human history of Svalbard. You may need a long lens approaching Moffen Island, a walrus sanctuary.

Day 5: Phippsoya
An archipelago within an archipelago, Seven Islands comprises the northernmost portion of Svalbard. They lie about 10 degrees from the North Pole. Ice seldom completely disappears from the islands during the Arctic summer. Polar bear and walrus exploit the ice, as did trappers. You will visit abandoned trappers’ cabins and watch for wildlife.

Day 6: Alkefjellet
Today’s goal will be to visit Alkefjellet on Spitsbergen’s east side. Thick billed Murres or Brunich Guillemots nest in the cliffs here in their thousands. Fox and polar bears are often seen patrolling the base of the cliffs, waiting for a meal to drop from the sky – chicks that have fallen from the nest before they are ready to fly.

Day 7: Sundneset
Today you'll visit yet another unique Arctic landscape - the tundra meadow. Sundneset, found at the southeastern corner of Barents Island, enjoys surprisingly lush vegetation, including many beautiful wildflowers. Learn about this fascinating Arctic ecosystem and keep your eye out for reindeer.

Day 8: Diskobukta
Visit a colony of Kittiwakes that have chosen to nest in a cavern, enjoying a closer view from the zodiacs.

Day 9: Isbukta
Isbukta translates as ‘ice bay’ and there should be plenty of fast ice here - sea ice that has frozen fast to the coast. This means a good chance of spotting polar bears on the hunt, as the seals rest along the ice edge. This is also another good location for spotting the rate Ivory Gull, as they are known to dine on a polar bear's leftovers.

Day 10: Brepollen
Home to several huge glaciers, this spectacular fjord is also a favorite haunt of the charming Beluga whale.

Day 11: Bourbanhamna
The narrow sound near Bourbonhamna is a favored route of beluga whales and you may be lucky enough to view these unusual creatures. A shore landing today will include a visit to one of Svalbard’s old mines. Then hike the tundra and search for tiny flowers that bloom under the midnight sun.

Day 12: Alkhornet
Today you will sail past Alkhornet - a brooding rock face crammed with nesting Guillemots, or Murres. There will also be time for another tundra hike during today's expedition itinerary. Watch for reindeer and Arctic fox.

Day 13: Disembarkation, Longyearbyen
Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. 
 

The 8-day M/S Expedition voyage is shorter variation on the above, focusing on an attempt to circumnavigate Spitsbergen if conditions permit - outline itinerary as follows:

Day 1 Longyearbyen

Days 2-7 Svalbard Archipelago 
Each day will be planned to take advantage of local ice and weather conditions. Distances are relatively short in the Archipelago and as there are no ocean crossings, the seas are normally calm. Svalbard is one of the few places on the planet that offers such a wealth and diversity of natural and cultural history sites. During these six days you will visit ice covered seas, fjords with breathtaking mountain scenery and glaciers flowing into the sea, as well as historic sites and known wildlife areas.  Krossfjord, Konigsfjord, Monaco Glacier, Hinlopen Straiit, Ny-Ålesund, Northeast Land, Edgeoya, Hornsund and Bellsund are just a few of the places that you may visit. By not having a set itinerary, you will take on an expedition spirit and are free to take advantage of the best that Svalbard has to offer.   

Day 8 Longyearbyen 

Please note that 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!