• about us:
• links:
• advertise:
• log in:
• join our club:
• contact:
• f.a.q:
• home

• holiday themes|
• holiday destinations|
• be inspired|
• special offers|
• newsletter

Spitzbergen Explorer Expedition Cruise to Northern Norway

months available

June, July, August

Facilities & Awards

Description

Special Offer
Receive the following loyalty discounts if you travel with us again. 2nd trip - £50 outdoor equipment voucher per person (or £25 voucher if booking is under £1,000 per person.) 3rd trip - SAVE £50 per person (or £25 per person if booking is under £1,000 per person.) 4th trip+ - SAVE £100 per person (or £50 per person if booking is under £1,000 per person.) Terms & Conditions apply

Spitzbergen Explorer Expedition Cruise to Northern Norway with the Adventure Company.  An inspirational cruise through Arctic waters which offers exceptional wildlife viewing and breathtaking scenery.  You will be surrounded by jagged mountain peaks, enormous glaciers and the still waters of peaceful fjords.

Visit the Adventure Company website or telephone 0845 609 0837

Spitzbergen Explorer, Norway
Tour ref: SB
Expedition Cruising

Highlights
• Spectacular Arctic scenery
• Whales, walruses & polar bears
• Fjords, glaciers & icebergs

A unique Arctic wilderness
Lying 80 degrees north, Svalbard is truly on the top of the world – head north from here and all you’ll encounter is Arctic Ocean and ice. These remote islands of midnight sunshine are nothing short of spectacular. The landscapes of Spitsbergen are breathtaking from sheer-sided fjords to polar desert, individual glaciers to infinite sheet ice. Each day brings a new highlight not to be forgotten.

History & wildlife
Explore history through visits to the old whaling settlements dating from the 16th century and send a postcard from the most northerly post office in the world. This is the stage for an incredible wildlife adventure as you go in search of reindeer, Arctic birds, seals, walruses, whales and above all, the majestic polar bear. Nothing compares to seeing these incredible giants in their natural habitat.

Day 1: Longyearbyen
Flying from London to Oslo and then on to Longyearbyen, you arrive late at night in Longyearbyen, the capital city of Spitsbergen, and transfer to your hotel. Hotel - 1 night

Day 2: Longyearbyen And At Sea
The morning is free for you to explore the town of Longyearbyen, one of the most, if not the most, northerly town in the world. It was found in 1906 by John Munroe Longyear of the Boston Arctic Coal Company. The coal industry is still the major employer in Svalbard.

Late afternoon you head to the pier and board your ship - the Akademik Shokalskiy - where you can settle into your cabin before the ship departs. You sail north from Adventfjorden; during the night you pass the long island of Prins Karls Forland and then turn east into Kongsfjorden.

You will soon discover the beauty of the Svalbard archipelago, better known as Spitsbergen. You are 400 miles north of mainland Norway and just 600 miles from the North Pole itself. In this remarkable wonderland two thirds of the land is covered by glaciers and yet from April to August the sun never sets. During the cruise you will go ashore once or twice per day, usually by Zodiac but sometimes docking the ship alongside the land.
Cabin on board Shokalskiy - 10 nights (BD)

Day 3: At Sea – Ny-Alesund
In the morning the Shokalsiky stops just offshore from the magnificent 14th of July Glacier. Before setting off in the Zodiacs for the first time you will have a briefing about all aspects of safety, including precautions in case of a close encounter with a Polar bear! In the Zodiacs you approach the towering ice cliff-face and can start to fully appreciate its true size. As you get close you can see what happens when the glacier meets the sea.

After lunch you stop at the tiny settlement of Ny-Alesund and have the chance to send postcards to your friends and family from the northernmost post office in the world. Then you set sail again heading now for distant polar country. The coastline is edged with spectacular cliffs and hidden fjords which house some small but very picturesque settlements. Whales, walruses, seals and many birds inhabit the region. You visit the famous Magdalenefjord, surrounded by sharply peaked mountains on all sides and with the dramatic Waggonway Glacier directly ahead. This area is home to a colony of the rare little auk and if you are lucky, you may spot a whale or two. Next you continue to the equally spectacular Smeerenburgfjord. (BLD)

Day 4: At Sea - Smeerenburg
Today the ship will stop for a while at Smeerenburg (Blubber Town!). This was a Dutch whaling town that operated in the 17th century. The techniques of the whalers will be described to you here and you can imagine what it would have been like to have 200 oily whalers living here at the height of the season. There are extensive remains of the settlement; whale bones and blubber ovens scatter the landscape. The richness of the area attracted whalers from all over the world. Basque whalers from France and Spain used to watch for Bowfin whales from the mountains above this settlement. (BLD)

Day 5: At Sea – Ytre Norskoya – Moffen Island
The further north and east you head, the more ice you encounter. Throughout the cruise keep your eyes peeled for whales, walruses and polar bears which can be spotted at anytime. Your expedition leaders will share their knowledge of the animal life here as well as Arctic conditions and history of the region. The ship also carries reference books in its library to allow you to expand your knowledge.

You round the north-eastern point of the archipelago and make your way to Norskoya. You disembark and have a look around the settlement. Again there is evidence of extensive whaling. Most striking here is a large graveyard which is testament to the harsh existence. After boarding again you set sail again, crossing the 80 degrees north line.

Your next stop is Moffen Island, a favourite location for walrus. These large Pinnipeds are protected here and show little fear of man or the boat; they may even come and greet you as you sail into the area! There is also a good chance of seeing Sabine’s gull and even the odd Polar bear. (BLD)

Day 6: Nordaustlandet
Today you head into the ‘Realm of the Polar Bear’. Nordaustlandet is the second biggest and most northerly of the major islands of the group and today you will either round the eastern coast of it or head in between it and West Spitsbergen (the exact route is dictated by levels of sea ice).

Nordaustlandet contains one of the largest ice caps in the world and in some parts is extremely barren. There are areas of polar desert which are so harsh that not even hardy tundra plants can survive. However, the rich sea life supports predators such as bearded and ringed seals, many sea birds and Polar bear. In this sample schedule we assume that the sea ice will be clear and that you head in between the two islands. Before settling for the night you go ashore to see the terrestrial wildlife of Nordaustlandet with good chances of seeing pink-footed geese, ivory gulls and even some of the resident wild reindeer. (BLD)

Day 7: At Sea - Hinlopenstretet
You continue down the channel between these two islands in a south easterly direction. This is the day that you have the greatest chance of seeing Polar bear. It is a region where they breed and is also very rich in seals - the bears’ major prey. In addition to both harp and ringed seals there is also a chance to see a large amount of birdlife here. (BLD)

Day 8: At Sea – Freemansundet
This morning you transit to Freemansundet, a narrow waterway between the islands of Barentsoya and Edgeoya. If it is ice free you will reach a wonderful area rich in wildlife. These sheltered islands support wild reindeer as well as a plethora of birds. red-throated divers, snow buntings, long-tailed ducks, purple sandpipers and the pink-footed goose all come here for the summer - some of them from the UK!!

After lunch you head south again and cross the 79 degree line. There is a noticeable difference as the vegetation gets lusher. Flowers appear as do the extraordinary lichens growing on the whale bones and reindeer antlers scattered across the terrain. (BLD)

Day 9: At Sea - Tusenoyane
You skirt to the south of the island of Egdeoya through the islands of the Tusenoyane archipelago. Again the warmer climate allows for more varied birdlife than in the north. There is evidence of whaling here too with a reconstructed Bowhead whale skeleton on the beach at Aekongen allowing you to see the size of these creatures. You might also be able to find bones of other animals, such as walrus or even Polar bear, scattered on the beach. (BLD)

Day 10: At Sea - Hornsund
With the circuit of the islands almost complete, you sail in amongst the fjords of Hornsund. The setting is delightful with tall mountains sandwiching the glaciers as they make their way down to the sea. There are good chances of seeing Polar bear and bearded and ringed seal in this lovely scenery. (BLD)

Day 11: At Sea - Ahlstrandhalvoya
The focus today is on finding beluga whale. There are good chances of seeing this relatively common little white whale as it swims in pods around the boat. These are the only species which have a flexible neck; this means that they can nod and turn their head sideways. On a land stop a huge pile of beluga bones show the grim result of the slaughter of these animals. This is a monument protected by the Svalbard government and underlines the impact that the whaling communities had on the cetacean population in this region. (BLD)

Day 12: Longyearbyen
You arrive back in Longyearbyen early in the morning and disembark. The trip ends here for Land Only clients. Clients on group flights transfer to the airport ready for your flight back to the UK via Oslo. (B)

Please note – your final itinerary will depend entirely upon the ice and weather conditions experienced during your expedition. The route taken will be reviewed continually during the cruise; some areas may at times be inaccessible.

Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Built for the Russian Academy of Science, the Akademik Serget Vavilov was designed to travel quietly for hydro-acoustic research. It has external stabilisers and a built-in trimming system which provides first-class stability too. An ice strengthened hull and open water cruising speed of 145 knots all help make this vessel great for Polar exploration. The Sergey Vavilov has a capacity of 104 passengers who will be accompanied by 60 crew and staff, including experts on everything Polar; from the behaviour of walruses, to the movements of glaciers and the history of Polar exploration. Onboard you can take advantage of the extensive facilities and services; there's a Polar library, panormaic lounge and bar; daily presentations, an exercise area with sauna, and excellent dining and sleeping arrangements. Each of the 50 cabins has an exterior view, so you can take in the stunning Polar landscape as you pass by.

Responsible Travel
The expedition cruise ships we use operate under strict environmental guidelines to minimise any impact.

Visit the Adventure Company website or telephone 0845 609 0837

more details