DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
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Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
ITINERARY
PLEASE NOTE:
N.B. The chances that we can reach Kvitøya and complete a
full Svalbard circumnavigation (based on our experiences from
2013—2019) are about 70%. In case we cannot complete a full
circumnavigation, we may make a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen through
Hinlopen Strait. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may
vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are
subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns
per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are
scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the
expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount
for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is
10.5 knots.
Day 1: 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: Cruising Krossfjorden
Heading north along the west coast, you arrive by morning in
Krossfjorden. Here you might board the Zodiacs for a cruise near the
towering blue-white face of the Fourteenth of July Glacier. On the
green slopes near the glacier, colorful flowers bloom while flocks of
kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nest on the
cliffs. You have a good chance of spotting an Arctic fox scouting for
fallen chicks, or a bearded seal paddling through the fjord.
In the afternoon you sail to Ny Ålesund, the northernmost
settlement on Earth. Once a mining village served by the
world’s most northerly railway – you can still see
its tracks – Ny Ålesund is now a research center.
Close to the community is a breeding ground for barnacle geese,
pink-footed geese, and Arctic terns. And if you’re interested
in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the anchoring mast used by
polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their airships, Norge (1926) and
Italia (1928).
Day 3: 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 and walrus
inhabit this stark desolate landscape. Later in the day the ship may
roam for several hours among the pack ice in search of wildlife.
Day 4: The great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen
Pushing east to Nordaustlandet, you reach the area where the Italian
captain Sora tried to rescue the Nobile Expedition in 1928. The focus
here is the great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen, though you may
also land at Firkantbukta, getting the chance to gain some altitude and
take a few higher-elevation photos. Alternately, you could make a
Zodiac cruise near Storøya, where you might encounter
walruses.
Day 5: Ice cap at Kvitøya
Today you try to reach the rarely visited Kvitøya, far to
the east and close to Russian territory. The enormous ice cap covering
this island leaves only a small area bare. You land at the western tip
of Andréeneset, where the Swedish explorer S. A.
Andrée and his companions perished in 1897. Another
objective for the day is Kræmerpynten, where a sizable group
of walruses reside.
Day 6: The longest glacier in Spitsbergen
South of Nordaustlandet you may land on Isisøya, formerly a
Nunatak area surrounded by glaciers but now an island surrounded by the
sea. You then may pass by Bråswellbreen, part of the largest
ice cap in Europe and famed for its meltwater waterfalls.
Day 7: Barentsøya’s many bounties
The plan is to make landings in Freemansundet, though polar bears
sometimes make this impossible. Potential stops on
Barentsøya include Sundneset (for an old trapper’s
hut), Kapp Waldburg (for its kittiwake colony), and Rindedalen (for a
walk across the tundra). You might also cruise south to Diskobukta,
though Kapp Lee is more likely your destination. On Kapp Lee is a
walrus haul-out, Pomor ruins, and the chance for hikes along
Edgeøya.
Day 8: Land of the pointed mountains
You start the day by cruising the side fjords of the Hornsund area of
southern Spitsbergen, taking in the spire-like peaks: Hornsundtind
rises 1,431 meters (4,695 feet), and Bautaen is a perfect illustration
of why early Dutch explorers named this island Spitsbergen, meaning
“pointed mountains.” There are 14 sizable glaciers
in this area as well as opportunities for spotting seals, beluga
whales, and polar bears.
Day 9: Bell Sund’s flora, fauna, and haunting history
Today you find yourself in Bell Sund, 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. A 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 have a good chance of
coming across a pod. Alternately, while cruising the side fjords of
Bellsund, you can explore tundra where reindeer like to feed as well as
rock slopes where little auks are breeding.
Day 10: 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.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Included in this voyage
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the
itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including
snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage
by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by
experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels
and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from
Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout
the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
Excluded from this voyage
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is
strongly recommended).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature
such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for
stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be
provided).