Explore Svalbard on an 8-day sailing voyage aboard Noorderlicht starting from the former mining town of Longyearbyen. Visit the former whaling station and the remains of a Pomor house and the base of Alkhornet Mountain in Trygghamna. You can also enjoy the beautiful glaciers and spectacular wildlife as you sail from one fjord to another.
Highlights
Stroll around the town of Longyearbyen and see its fascinating attractions
Visit the former whaling station and the remains of a Pomor house in Trygghamna
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Your voyage begins in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in the surrounding area. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first whale of your voyage.
Your aim for the morning is Trygghamna. From this mountain-fringed bay, you may make excursions to a former English whaling station, the remains of a Pomor house, and the base of Alkhornet Mountain. In addition to the seabirds, you might see Arctic foxes and reindeer here. Later that afternoon, you sail to the Russian mining town of Barentsburg, Svalbard’s second-largest town. Here you’ll encounter the world’s northernmost brewery, a heated seawater swimming pool, a historic statue of Lenin, the must-see Barentsburg Pomor Museum – and some very friendly Russians.
The goal is to spend the morning exploring the jagged blue glacier front at Borebukta, our first close encounter with the immense Arctic inland ice. You may also pay a visit to the east coast of Bohemnaflya in the afternoon, a peninsula with striking geological formations.
Your next morning introduces you to another glacier front: Sveabreen in Nordfjord, the most impressive in the Isfjord area. Afternoon finds you at the head of Dickson Fjord, the northernmost point of the voyage. This fjord branch also happens to be the place with the most stable weather and optimal conditions for seeing the northern lights.
This day is reserved for sailing the extent of Isfjord, Svalbard’s second largest fjord and a vast panorama of snow, ice, slopes, and sea. Depending on the conditions, you’ll then sail into one of the other nearby fjords for further Arctic exploration.
The morning’s mission is to visit the glacier front of Nordenskiöld, an enormity of Arctic ice that has every reason to leave you breathless. On the agenda for the afternoon is Pyramiden, a deserted Soviet settlement that provides a hauntingly complete time capsule detailing how its resident coal miners lived many years ago.
On the second-to-last day, you tour the valley of Skansbukta and its beautiful geological formations. Enjoy the splendor of these stratified multicolored peaks, each one rising out of wide slopes of sediment like the guard towers of some ancient, eroded castle. Your return to Longyearbyen is planned for the early evening.
Day 8: Longyearbyen | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Every adventure, no matter how great, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home a wealth of memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,100
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Twin Non Private
The ‘Noorderlicht’ provides accommodation for 20 travellers in comfortable twin cabins.
All cabins have upper and lower berths, a cupboard and wash basin with hot and cold water. Shared shower (4) and toilet (5) facilities are conveniently located.
Notes
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.
- Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the double occupancy rate.
- Due to the extreme nature of itinerary destinations, travel insurance is mandatory for all cruises aboard the Noorderlicht - including medical, accident and repatriation/evacuation insurance.
Initial deposit is 20%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
