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North Spitsbergen in Search of Polar Bear & Pack Ice

8 Days / 2 locations in Svalbard, Norway

Start your North Spitsbergen cruise with a trek around historic Longyearbyen, then join our expedition to the north of the island to take in the fantastically beautiful landscapes, the thousands of seabirds, and of course the star of the show, the polar bear.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Longyearbyen
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Dinner

Largest town, biggest island

You 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.

 
Day 2     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Route to Raudfjorden

Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.

 
Day 3     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The massive Monaco Glacier

Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of the precipitous Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent sailing here early in the season, an alternate route along the west coast of Spitsbergen can be implemented.

 
Day 4     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Highlights of Hinlopen

Today you sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, and polar bears. At the entrance there is even the possibility to spot blue whales. After cruising among the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in the Zodiacs, you can view the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with their thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopen Strait, you may attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet. Here reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses are likely sights. You can take an alternate route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen.

 
Day 5     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Stop at the Seven Islands

The northernmost point of your voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in the Seven Islands. Here you reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before wheeling around west again.

 
Day 6     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Sailing the continental shelf

While retracing your route west, keep watch for polar bears and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales. About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, you sail the edge of the continental shelf. Here fin whales forage during the summer in the upwelling zones (where cold, nutrient-rich water wells up from below the sea’s surface) that run along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of Kongsfjorden, you have a good chance of sighting minke whales.

 
Day 7     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Reindeer, foxes, and so many seabirds

Walruses sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet, your next stop. Alternatively, you might sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation. You arrive in Longyearbyen later at night.

 
Day 8     Longyearbyen
Meals: Breakfast

There and back again

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

 

Notes

PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. The on-board expedition leader determines the final itinerary. Average cruising speed for m/v Hondius is 10,5 knots.

Also Note

May 31 , June 12 & June 19 departure is on the M/V Ortelius

JUne 17 & 24 departure is on the M/V Plancius

Price Includes
Voyage Aboard the Designated Vessel As Indicated in the Itinerary.
All Meals Throughout the Voyage Aboard the Ship Including Snacks, Coffee an
All Shore Excursions and Activities Throughout the Voyage by Zodiac.
Program of Lectures by Noted Naturalists and Leadership by Experienced Expe
Use of Rubber Boots and Snowshoes
All Miscellaneous Service Taxes and Port Charges Throughout the Program.
Aeco Fees and Governmental Taxes.
Comprehensive Pre-Departure Material
Price Does Not Include
 Air Flights
 Government Arrival and Departure Taxes.
 Baggage, Cancellation and Personal Insurance (which Is Strongly Recommended
 The Customary Gratuity at the End of the Voyages for Stewards and Other Ser
OCE-1269