South Spitsbergen - Bear Island

Touch down 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 it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

Bell Sund is one of the largest fjord systems in Svalbard. The ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other areas in the archipelago, which shows in the relatively lush vegetation. Here there are excellent opportunities to enjoy both history and wildlife.
One possibility is Ahlstrandhalvøya, at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden, where piles of beluga skeletons can be found. These remains of 19th-century whale slaughter are a haunting reminder of the consequences of rampant exploitation. Fortunately, belugas were not hunted into extinction, and you may still see them in the area.

In Recherchefjord at Lagerneset, the Dutch had a 17th-century whaling station, and in the Recherche lagoon you see often ringed seals. Alternatively, you may land at Millarodden at the north side of Bell Sund, where you may see walruses hauling out.

Though the bird mountains of Ingeborgfjellet are deserted in September, a landing on the northern shore of Bell Sund makes for a good walk among whale bones, while the southern shore has fantastic geological formations.

Start the day by quietly cruising Brepollen in the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of glacier fronts and towering mountain peaks. The mountain of Hornsundtind rises to 1,431 meters (4,695 feet), while the peak of Bautaen testifies to why early Dutch explorers gave this island the name Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains.”
There are 14 magnificent glaciers in the area, and have a fair chance of encountering seals and polar bears. In late afternoon, try to reach Palfylodden, a walrus haul-out site at the southern entrance of the fjord.

Depending on the prevailing winds, sail in the morning along the east coast of Bear Island by Myserifjellet. Also, plan to land in Kvalrossbukta, and see the remains of a whaling station from early in the previous century.
Afterward you may land in the shallow valley of Rendalen, where you still might see great skuas with their fledging young. Just south of this is the rock formation Perleporten, where in very calm weather you can sail through by Zodiac. The high seabird cliffs are deserted by this time.

Spend a whole day sailing south on the Barents Sea en route to Norway, possibly encountering different species of whales in the mixing zones of the Gulf Stream and Barents currents. Later in the night, have the first chance to see the aurora borealis while the skies get darker.

You disembark in Tromsø at 09:00 AM at the latest. From here you can take a shuttle to the airport, departing for home or wherever your next adventure lies.