- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Svalbard, an expansive archipelago of the Arctic Ocean north of Norway, is one of the last major European wilderness areas with pristine mountains, fauna, deep fjords, picturesque icebergs, and massive ice sheets. The goal of this voyage is to locate wildlife and spend the maximum amount of time possible hiking on the tundra. Spitsbergen is home to approximately 3,000 polar bears and you can hope to encounter a good number of them during your trip. You will travel along the same routes as famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Nordenskjöld, Amundsen and Nobile. You might get to see the indigenous reindeer, trek along beaches where groups of walrus are hauled out along the shoreline, and maybe even spot the Arctic fox or bearded seal. Seabirds, such as Ivory Gulls, auks and sometimes Atlantic Puffins, will be your constant companions. You might even encounter a few whales. A variety of known species frequent the area, in particular the Minke and beluga.
The flexible itinerary allows the ship to take advantage of favorable ice and weather conditions. You will search for walruses, seals, reindeer, Arctic foxes and polar bears. Shore walks and Zodiac landings will bring you up close to the mystical settings and passing icebergs. In the true spirit of adventure cruising, each day your Expedition Leader and Captain will determine the best course depending on changing weather, ice conditions and the wildlife you encounter.
Here is a list of places you may visit:
Hornsund The southernmost fjord on the rugged west coast of Spitsbergen Island. Jagged mountain peaks tower above glacier-filled bays. Listen for the crash of white thunder as huge chunks of ice fall into the fjord. Amidst floating icebergs jewels, watch for bearded seals, the elusive beluga whale and the king of the Arctic – the polar bear. Sightings are fairly common as the polar bear’s favorite food, the ringed seal, breeds in the fjord. The surrounding bird cliffs are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks. You may visit the Polish research station or the remains of whaling stations and trappers’ huts.
Ice Cruising With the strengthened hull of the Silver Explorer, You have the perfect platform to search for walrus and polar bears as you devote at least one day to exploring the pack ice around Spitsbergen. Conditions permitting, your Expedition Leader may choose to take you out in the Zodiacs for an even closer look.
Kongfjord or Kings Bay Cutting into the west coast of Spitsbergen and reaching inland about 15 miles (24 kilometres) and spanning up to 6 miles (10 kilometres) wide, Kongfjord is a splendid place to behold. Together with your on-board geologist, you will explore its complicated geological formations and visit the 14th of July Glacier, where you might hike onto the glacier itself. You can also hope to land at Blomstrand, named in memory of a Swedish chemist, to see the remains of a former marble quarry, its machinery and some of the huts.
Magdalenafjord This majestic fjord is normally accessible year-round because of the influence of the West Spitsbergen Current or Gulf Stream. A ship’s cruise will permit closer looks at the glacier with in the fjord. Landing via Zodiac, you will walk along the beach and search for wildlife. Remains of graves from the whaling times are found here, too.
Liefdefjorden At the entrance to Liefdefjorden are several smaller island groups. On the Andøyane (Duck Islands) you may encounter polar bears looking for bird’s eggs. With your Zodiacs you will circumnavigate several of the islands, always on the lookout for active birdlife –when Arctic Terns circle specific areas it usually is a sign for polar bear presence on the islands. Cruising past majestic red Devonian sandstone mountains you will reach the end of Liefdefjorden for a Zodiac cruise along the front of two different glaciers: Monacobreen and Seligerbreen. Monacobreen has a 5 kilometre long front and is a good place to look for seals, Black-legged Kittiwakes and Ivory Gulls. Make your first stop at Djúpalónssandur for a short, refreshing walk to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean where strange rock formations are found. After a short drive past the cliffs of Londrangar, arrive in the tiny fishing village of Arnarstapi. Here find an idyllic setting with interesting lava formations and an abundance of birdlife. Many stories and sagas are connected to this area, lending an even more mysterious appeal to these stunning surroundings. At Arnarstapi, a refreshing walk takes you along a pathway with many interesting geological phenomena and rich bird life. A scenic drive takes you to Budir, famed not only for its dramatic, black lava surroundings but also for its yellow sand beach. You might be lucky enough to spot seals as they bask on the skerries out in the bay. Continuing over “The Old Hag’s Pass” or Kerlingarskard, head towards Stykkisholmur, where you will make a short spiritual stop at Helgafell.
The Holy Mount. A lot of local history and charm is attached to this stop. Even those not up to the climb will be sure to enjoy listening to the guide tell tales of local heroines and the combination of spiritual forces connected to this holistic site. A short visit to Stykkisholmur, before returning to Grundarfjördur and lunch at Hotel Búdir.