Norway Spitsbergen Cruise

This 6-day expedition voyage features naturalist guides, and Zodiac landings. The MS Nordstjernen sails close to shore for viewing rugged mountains, glaciers, icebergs, fjords and polar bears, wild reindeer, whales, seals and migratory bird species.

Scantours offers Expedition Voyages to Spitsbergen, aboard the MS Nordstjernen. Passengers cruise under the Midnight Sun exploring Spitsbergen's Arctic landscapes and abundant wildlife: massive glaciers covering 60% of the land, fjords lined with steep cliffs, rugged mountains, and polar bears, wild reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, whales, seals and many species of migratory birds.

Arrive in Longyearbyen, where you'll be met by your guide and transferred to the Spitsbergen Hotel. In the afternoon an informational welcome meeting will be held. Time on your own before dinner.

After breakfast you'll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Longyearbyen. Embark on the MS Nordstjernen around noon. Now your adventure begins-seals, whales, an abundant birdlife, unique Arctic flora, and hopefully, polar bears, will fill your days. On you way out of the Isfjord, you'll call at Barentsburg, a Russian mining community and the headquarters for Russian activities in Svalbard, where you'll enjoy a guided tour. Continue northward along the coast of the Prins Karl Forland Island, one of the many national parks in Svalbard, with sharply-peaked mountains on all sides surrounded by massive glaciers, and remarkable wildlife, including walruses, seals, wild reindeer, and Arctic foxes.

This morning you'll reach northern parts of Prins Karl Forland Island. Continue north passing the majestic Kongsfjord, then proceed to the famous Magdalenefjord, one of the most beautiful fjords in Spitsbergen, with its steep, towering rock faces edged by surrounding rugged mountains interrupted by several glaciers. Thousands of rare little auks can be found here, and whale spotting is possible.

We will cruise further north in the afternoon, making landings using the fleet of PolarCirkel boats.

Weather permitting, we will sail to the Woodfjord area. In the Lefdefjord you will experience the awe inspiring Monaco glacier via Polarcirkel boat. Depending on ice conditions we will cross the 80th parallel and reach Moffen Island. We then continue south into stunning Smeerenburgfjord and Magdalenefjord.

Today you'll visit Ny Alesund and Blomstrandhamna, then continue south along Prins Karls Forland, return to Longyearbyen after midnight and spend the night on the boat.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home.