Day 1 Tromso | Embark
In the north of the Arctic circle discover Tromsø, a secluded town located in the county of Troms. Norwegians call it the “Paris of the north”. You soon see why when you discover its extensive neoclassical architectural heritage. A stunning example is the Arctic cathedral, a major monument whose stylistic purity echoes the outline of the mountains surrounding the town.
Day 2 At Sea
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Day 3 Sailing by Bjornoya (Bear Island)
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Halfway between Norway and Spitsbergen, sail not far from the coastlines of Bjørnøya, the southernmost island of Svalbard. From your ship, observe this isolated piece of land discovered in 1596 by the Dutch navigator Willem Barents, then looking for the Northwest Passage. Following a tough fight between a polar bear and the members of the expedition, he dubbed the place Bear Island. Regularly covered by a thick layer of fog, Bjørnøya shelters a meteorological station built in 1923, which is still in operation. Declared a nature reserve in 2002, the island is above all home to an enormous colony of sea birds: skuas, guillemots, puffins, Tridactyl gulls, petrels, gulls and little auks all coexist here.
Day 4 Gnalodden | Hornsund
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Gnålodden Cliff culminates at over 700 meters high and is home to over a thousand species of sea birds. Tridactyl gulls, northern fulmars, and thick-billed murres are lords and masters in this often deafening commotion, particularly during the nesting season. Polar bears and actic foxes also frequent the site, a delight for lovers of the animal kingdom. The “bird cliff”, as it is known, is surrounded at its foot by very rich vegetation, unfurling its carpet of moss across a décor of wild tundra. During your visit, stop at the former hunter’s cabin, which was also used as a satellite station during the 1930s.
Nestling between millennial glaciers and carved mountains, and considered to be “the crown of Arctic Norway”, Spitsbergen is a place that never sees the night. Your ship takes you closer to this fascinating archipelago and, more particularly, the Hornsund fjord. Considered to be Svalbard’s southernmost fjord, it is especially reputed to be its most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, 8 great glaciers slowly make their way down to the sea before giving way to the many icebergs elegantly drifting along its cold and mysterious waters.
Day 5 Gasbergkilen | Recherchefjorden
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Day 6 Magdalena Bay | Ytre Norskoya
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Nestled in northwestern Spitsbergen, Magdalena Bay is one of Svalbard’s unmissable sites. In a spectacular landscape of snow-topped Alpine mountains, deep fjords, beaches, and majestic glaciers, it offers multiple opportunities for wonderment. Observe whales, walruses, seals, common eiders, terns, polar bears and arctic foxes there. The site of Gravneset, located in Magdalenafjorden, is home to the remnants of a former whaling station used during the 17th century, as well as the graves of many sailors buried here up until the end of the 18th century. Not far from here, the Gully Glacier offers a magnificent view, a delight for photographers.
At first sight, the small island of Ytre Norskøya seems to be sterile and arid land. But once you are ashore, you are welcomed by a thick carpet of golden moss, dotted with pygmy buttercups, Svalbard poppies, and lichen. On the beach are the remains of the ovens that were used to melt whale blubber, precious evidence of the history of the whalers who came and set up in this area as of the 17th century. Another trace of the past: the presence of one of the largest cemeteries in Svalbard, with no fewer than 165 tombs. The Ytre Norskøya cliff is home to many sea birds, including little auks, barnacle geese, Atlantic puffins, and thick-billed murres.
Day 7 Sailing Toward The Ice Floes
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your captain sails right up to the limit of the ice, to the edge of the ice floe. Weather conditions and state of the ice allowing, go out in a Zodiac® dinghy for a unique experience in the middle of these floating slabs of ice. In addition to this grandiose journey through the middle of these floes with their cut and blue-tinged edges, sometimes over 2 meters thick, it is also often an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe: birds, seals, and polar bears.
Day 8 14th July Glacier | Ny-Alesund
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
At the entrance to Cross Bay, between tundra, plutonic rocks and mountains covered with a surprising endemic flora, set off to discover the 14th July Glacier. It was thus named by Prince Albert I of Monaco, following an expedition that he led there at the beginning of the 20th century. The glacier’s surroundings are frequented by numerous birds (Tridactyl gulls, thick-billed murres, barnacle geese, common eiders, Atlantic puffins…), as well as arctic foxes and reindeer. As you arrive in front of the glacier, admire the impressive wall of ice and the reflection of the cliffs in the water. It is quite common to see a section of ice come loose, or a bearded seal lounging on an iceberg.
During your cruise, discover Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town that has been transformed into a scientific base. Founded in 1916, this small town was the departure point for many Arctic expeditions, including those of the famous explorer Roald Amundsen. Don't miss a visit to the museum and its famous post office, considered to be the most northerly in the world!
Day 9 Alkhornet | Nordenskiold Glacier
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
At the northern entrance of Isfjorden, there is a small paradise for bird lovers: the Alkhornet Cliff. It is home to a very rich avifauna, made up of thousands of birds frolicking in a joyous tumult: gulls, guillemots, pink-footed geese, terns, seagulls, puffins, arctic skuas… The Alkhornet Cliff, easily recognizable by its rhinoceros-horn shape, is also frequented by reindeer, which are not overly timid. Attracted by the tundra that covers the foot of the mountain, they come to graze in peace in a verdant setting covered with grass and moss. With a little luck, perhaps have the opportunity to see some seals and Arctic foxes, who are also regular visitors.
Situated deep inside Isfjorden, the Nordenskiöld Glacier is one of the very beautiful discoveries of your cruise. Its front of ice, nearly 5 km wide, is one of the most spectacular in the Svalbard Archipelago. 30 meters high, the glacier, like a gigantic frozen statue whose sections of ice sometimes come spectacularly loose, is impressive. The polar bear, the king of the Arctic, perhaps makes an appearance in these parts, which are also frequented by reindeer and seals.
Day 10 Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see, and the untouched nature make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.
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