trip specifics

price

The wildlife was once a huge draw for whalers and trappers, but now discerning visitors are discovering the attractions of huge Arctic seabird colonies and the chance to enjoy and photograph species such as walrus, the indigenous Svalbard Reindeer, Arctic Fox and, of course, Polar Bear. Several whale species, such as the magnificent Beluga, Minke Whale and Fin Whale, are also found in the waters surrounding Spitsbergen.

Day 1 - Longyearbyen

Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Accommodations: Plancius, Noorderlicht, or Ortelius
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Krossfjorden

Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we take to the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly fertile slopes near the glacier, a colorful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich's Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, patrolling the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny Ålesund, the world's most northerly settlement.

Once a mining village - served by the world's most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a research center. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928 before their flights to the North Pole.

Accommodations: Plancius, Noorderlicht, or Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Andoya

Depending on the weather we may now sail to the mouth of Liefdefjorden and go ashore for a walk on the tundra island of Andøya. Many Common Eiders and Pink-footed Geese nest here, and the rarer King Eider may also be seen. We hope to sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes and on previous voyages Polar Bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography.

Accommodations: Plancius, Noorderlicht, or Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Alkefjellet/Palanderbukta

Today sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to Bearded Seals, Ringed Seals, Polar Bears, and Ivory Gulls. We'll navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich's guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, we'll attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to Reindeer, Pink-footed Geese, breeding Ivory Gulls, and Walruses.

Accommodations: Plancius, Noorderlicht, or Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Phippsøya

Today reach the northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar Bears inhabit this region, along with Ivory Gulls. We may sit for several hours in the pack ice, taking in our spectacular surroundings and seeing a Ross Gull, before we turn south again.

Accommodations: Plancius, Noorderlicht, or Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Raudfjord

Retracing our route westwards, we visit Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favored by Ringed and Bearded Seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. On the offshore island of Ytre Norskøya, we visit a 17th century Dutch whaling site, whose large graveyard is a poignant reminder of the hardships and dangers of life here at the time. The island's bird life is prolific, with colonies of Little Auks, Black Guillemots, Brünnich's Guillemots, Puffins and Arctic Skuas accessible to visitors.

Accommodations: Plancius, Noorderlicht, or Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Prins Karls Forland

Land at the northern tip of Prins Karls Forland near Fuglehuken, where Barentsz probably set foot on Spitsbergen for the first time. Seabirds nest on the cliffs and along the coast we see Harbour Seals the only population in Spitsbergen. Further we also will observe the remains of the Polar Bear hunting era, with demolished set guns and bear traps. At the opposite site of Forlandsundet at Sarstangen is a haul out place for Walruses. Alternatively we sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden and land at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on its cliffs and Arctic Foxes search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks, while Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. The reindeer may seem unbothered by human presence, but this is not really the case. The animals must survive the harsh winter, when temperatures plummet and food is hard to find, so they preserve what energy they can, fleeing only when it is absolutely necessary. In the afternoon we cruise through beautiful Borebukta, following a glacier front before continuing to Longyearbyen.

Accommodations: Plancius, Noorderlicht, or Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Longyearbyen

Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Alternative Itinerary: In addition to the 8-day itinerary listed above, there is a 10-day Basecamp option aboard Plancius that includes kayaking, snowshoeing, a photo workshop and optional scuba diving (added cost); a longer 12-day itinerary; as well as 8-day Polar Bear Special sailings. Please call for more detailed information about each voyage.

10-day Basecamp Itinerary: July 3
Day 1 - Arrive Longyearbyen
Day 2 - Krossfjorden, 14th of July Glacier & Ny Ålesund
Day 3 - Ytre Norskøya & Raudfjord
Day 4 - Raudfjord
Day 5 - Liefdefjorden
Day 6 - Bockfjord
Day 7 - Hinlopen Strait & Palanderbukta
Day 8 - Phippsøya
Day 9 - Prins Karls Forland & Borebukta Day 10 - Disembark Longyearbyen

12-Day Noorderlicht Itinerary: May 30, June 10, 21, July 2, Sept 11
Day 1 - Arrive Longyearbyen
Day 2 - Tryghamna to Fuglehuken
Day 3 - Ny Ålesund
Day 4 - 14th July Glacier
Day 5 - Magdalenafjord
Day 6 - Ytre Norskøya
Day 7 - Raudfjord
Day 8 - Reindyrfla
Day 9 - Smeerenburg
Days 10-11 - Forlandsundet
Day 12 - Depart Longyearbyen

8-Day Polar Bear Special: June 17, 24, 26, Aug 18
Day 1 - Arrive Longyearbyen
Day 2 - Raudfjord
Day 3 - Liefdefjorden
Day 4 - Hinlopen Strait & Palanderbukta
Day 5 - Laagoya & Phippsoya
Day 6 - At Sea, Wildlife Viewing
Day 7 - Prins Karls Forland & St Johns Fjord
Day 8 - Disembark Longyearbyen

Itinerary Notes: Read this itinerary as a guide only. As this is an expedition to a remote part of the world, the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditions, wildlife, availability of anchorages, political conditions and other factors beyond our control. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Included: Shipboard accommodation, meals, shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage; Leadership by experienced Expedition Leaders and staff, including shore landings; Zodiac cruising and transfers to and from the ship for shore excursions; Presentations by noted naturalists and other experts; Comprehensive pre-departure information kit; Hair dryer in every cabin; Group transfers and baggage handling as per itinerary; All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges.

Exclusions: Airfares to the embarkation point and from the disembarkation point; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; hotel accommodations; Rubber boots on all other vessels not specifically listed above; Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance, including mandatory emergency evacuation insurance; excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature ie: laundry. Possible fuel surcharges; It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 120 per Barrel Brent, 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US $ 25 per passenger per night.

Room Configurations: Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a quadruple, triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth or berths goes unsold, you will not be penalized. For those who desire single occupancy, cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the twin rate.

Families & Children: Children under 16 years old in Superior, Family Triple and/or Family Quadruple cabins receive a 40% discount. Parents are entirely responsible for their children at all times, on land and on board; there is no onboard day care or nursery facility.

Arrival & Departure: The North Spitsbergen cruise begins and ends in Longyerbygen. Embarkation time is between 4:00 – 5:00pm on day of departure. The ship sails around 6:00pm on day of departure. Disembarkation is after breakfast on final day between 8:30 – 9:00am.

Payment & Cancellation: In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% the trip total is required at the time of booking. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 60 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 90 days - 20% of total trip cost
89 to 60 days - 50% of total trip cost
59 to 0 days - 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $100,000 per person. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Activities: Snowshoeing and kayaking are available on select departures: June 19, June 26 and July 3 (Basecamp). On these departures snowshoes will be provided for everybody on board which fit all boot sizes and can be used in combination with Oceanwide rubber boots. Snowshoe hiking is free of charge. Kayaking is free on Basecamp, and available on June 19 and 26 departures for a $360 per person charge; subject to weather and prevailing ice conditions. Kayaks and neoprene wesuits provided. Basecamp departure also includes a complimentary Leica Akademie photo workshop and optional scuba diving for $450 per person. Contact us for more information on North Spitsbergen activities.

Qualifications: North Spitsbergen will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has full mobility, and leads an active life. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join any off-vessel excursions, passengers must be able to navigate the steep, 30-stair, gang-way, un-assisted both down and up. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in Zodiacs. Trip members will take excursions to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study and photograph. Some landings are dry but many are "wet," requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. You are traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.


return to top of page

AdventureSmith Explorations

Travel Specialists  |  Contact Us