Around Spitsbergen

Day 1 Longyearbyen / Embark

After arriving in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, you may wish to visit the Svalbard Museum which has an interesting collection on the history of Spitsbergen, the mining industry and polar exploration. In the afternoon sail, setting course for Alkhornet, a seabird cliff with a large colony of Kittiwakes. Below the cliffs is a den with Arctic Foxes which scavenge off fallen eggs and chicks. Continue to Trygghamna to visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and an 18th century Russian Pomor station.

Day 2 Forlandsundet - Fuglehuken

Leave Tryghamna early in the 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 you may be able to visit a haul-out of Harbour Seals and Walruses.

Day 3 Smeerenburg and Ytre Norskya

Today visit the remains of Smeerenburg, the largest 17th century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen. Land on Ytre Norskøya where there are many graves dating from whaling days.

Days 4-15 Continue around Spitsbergen

Today sail either to Sorgfjord, where you will have a good chance of seeing Walruses, or to Murchison Bay, on the north side of which there is an extensive dry tundra, home to many Reindeer. There is also is a Swedish research station here. As you continue through Hinlopen Strait you will be surrounded by icecaps. Land in Lomfjord, a beautiful fjord surrounded by high mountains. Augustabukta is a lovely bay close to a glacier which is crevasse-free, allowing you to walk without difficulties. On a nearby cliff the rare and beautiful Ivory Gull nests, together with Black Guillemots. Reindeer, Polar Bears and Walruses are usually seen in this area.

Next sail towards the impressive Brasvell glacier. Take an excursion on Svartknausflya, a desolate polar desert almost devoid of vegetation, or visit Wilhelmøya, which has raised beaches littered with sub fossilised whale skeletons, and where encounters with Polar Bears are likely. Sailing through the narrow Heleysundet between Spitsbergen and Barentsøya can only be done against the current, a very spectacular journey.

As an alternative if conditions do not favour us sail through Freemansundet. At Kapp Lee, walk in beautiful Rosenbergdalen to see Reindeer. For walkers it is great hike from here to Diskobukta. In Diskobukta visit a large colony of Kittiwakes which nest in a canyon. Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears with young, often roam through the canyon, scavenging on young, flightless birds which fall from the ledges. On the raised beaches there are many sub fossilised whale skeletons.

Kong Ludvigøyane is a breeding place for Walruses. On the islands there are also many remains of the whaling, Walrus and Polar Bear hunting periods. Close encounters with Polar Bears are virtually guaranteed here. Continuing your exploration of southern Spitsbergen, sail into the labyrinth of side fjords in Hornsund. Behind Brepollen, a large glacial deposit at the head of the fjord, sail along a beautiful glacier front with good chances of seeing Bearded Seals and Polar Bears.

The geological formations in this area are very spectacular and colourful. Pay a visit to the Polish research station at Isbjørnhamna, where the friendly crew will discuss their scientific programs.

On your way to Longyearbyen sail into Bell Sund to reach Ahlstrandhalvøya, with its interesting geological formations and the remains of the 20th century Beluga hunting. It is still a good area for observing Belugas. If time allows pay a visit to Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen, or to Colesbukta, an abandoned Russian coal mining settlement.

Day 16 Longyearbyen / Disembark

Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo.