Spitsbergen In Depth

Day 1
The transfer to the ship takes place in the afternoon. Once on board there is a get together for introductions to the expedition team, to learn about the ship and its layout, talk about the itinerary for the next 10 days and participate in the obligatory lifeboat drill. Departure from Longyearbyen is normally around 6:00 p.m.

Day 2
We sail towards the 14th July Glacier, where on Zodiacs we cruise past the spectacular cliffs, home to a small population of Atlantic puffins, before reaching the front of the glacier. Often Bearded seals can be spotted in this scenic fjord. There will also be time to go ashore and the naturalists will help you identify the many species of plants. One of the reasons for the rich vegetation of this site is the large quantity of natural fertilizer supplied by the large kittiwake colony that nest in the cliffs above. We continue on to Ny Alesund - one of the northernmost communities in the world. Once a mining village served by the world's most northerly railway, which can still be seen, Ny Alesund now serves as a base station for international Arctic research. There is a chance to visit the station shop where you will be able to send mail from the most northerly mailbox in the world! 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. Bird-watchers should see Arctic terns, Arctic and Long-tailed skuas, Purple sandpipers, Common eiders, Barnacle geese, Long-tailed ducks, kittiwakes, Glaucous gulls and Snow buntings. Arctic foxes and reindeer are often seen on the periphery of the community.

Day 3
At Smeerenburg, or Blubber Town as it was known, there are the remains of a 17th Century Dutch whaling station. Blubber ovens, whalebones and other remnants can be observed in the shadow of the mountain that the Basque whalers used as a lookout for the Bowhead whale, often called the Right whale as it was the right one to pursue, being a slow moving animal which could be approached closely. Unfortunately it was hunted to the brink of extinction.

Day 4
In the morning we sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes and on previous voyages Polar bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography. Later, we'll sail to Worsleyneset to hike and learn more about the human history of Svalbard. In the early evening, we will visit a small atoll-like island further to the northeast called Moffen Island. Moffen Island is a wide gravel plain with a lagoon in the middle, not more than a few metres above sea level. The island is a protected walrus sanctuary, and there are often walruses seen hauled out on the shore, and others usually come out to greet the ship! In the past, there have been frequent sightings of the Sabine gull and, quite often, Polar bears on the shore.

Day 5
An archipelago within an archipelago, Seven Islands comprises the northernmost portion of Svalbard. They lie about 10 degrees from the North Pole. Ice seldom completely disappears from the islands during the Arctic summer. Polar bear and walrus exploit the ice, as did trappers. There is a small hunters' hut with large whale vertebrae and bones strewn about, and an old boat adding to the antiquity of the place.

Day 6
Here we'll hike through one of the most striking landscapes on Earth - a polar desert. Characterized by scant rainfall and summer temperatures no higher than 10°C, these sweeping plains of hard bedrock and gravel are unique to the polar regions. Be on the lookout for the beached skeleton of an ancient whale, and for evidence of 'isostatic rebound' - the rise of a landmass after its covering ice sheet retreats

Day 7
Today, we'll sail past the towering cliff-face of Alkefjellet - a truly remarkable site, crowded with thousands of nesting Brunich guillemots and Thick-billed murres. Arctic fox and Polar bear are often seen patrolling the cliff base, hoping for a meal to drop from the sky!

Day 8
Today we'll visit yet another unique Arctic landscape - the tundra meadow. Sundneset, found at the southeastern corner of Barents Island, enjoys surprisingly lush vegetation, including many beautiful wildflowers. Learn about this fascinating Arctic ecosystem and keep an eye out for reindeer that enjoy the meadow for more than its beauty

Day 9
We visit a colony of kittiwakes that have chosen to nest in a cavern, approaching at rising tide for the best view. We'll lower the Zodiacs so you can cruise along the cliff face as the tide rises, for the best view.

Day 10
The name means 'ice bay', and there should be plenty of 'fast ice' (sea ice that has frozen fast to the coast) during our visit. This means a good chance of spotting Polar bears on the hunt, as the seals rest along the ice edge. This is also another good location for spotting the rare Ivory gull, as they are known to dine on a Polar bear's leftovers.

Day 11
Abundant natural resources brought miners to Spitsbergen a century ago. We'll visit an historic mining site, then hike the tundra in search of delicate flowers that bloom under the midnight sun.

Day 12
Today we'll sail past Alkhornet - a brooding rock face crammed with nesting guillemots, or murres. There will also be time for another tundra hike where we will keep watch for reindeer and Arctic fox.

Day 13
We arrive back into Longyearbyen early this morning and on disembarking after breakfast you are either transferred to your hotel or the airport.