Arctic Holidays: Arctic Expedition cruises to the Siptsbergen and Bear Island aboard expedition vessels and schooners

Spitsbergen Archipelago with its rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers only 600 miles from the North Pole, is the northernmost permanently inhabited area in the world. Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen has a population of over 3000, and about 1000 people live in the Russian settlement Barentsburg, but the island's 62,000 sq.kms. is still a pure wilderness area, vast parts being protected as Nature Reserves.The coasts are ice free in the summer and colourful wildflowers, mosses and lichens abound. Spitsbergen is also home to Polar Bears, Walruses, Arctic Foxes and Svalbard Reindeer, and to over 170 species of flowering plants.
Despite the northern position of the islands (76 - 81° N), the climate is relatively mild due to the influence of the Atlantic Gulf Stream. Summer temperatures range from 0°C to 10° C. Occasionally there will be rain and fog, but many days will have sunshine - and many nights as well due to the midnight sun. Winds can be variable in direction and force.
Polar Bears can be spotted on the ice or on land and you also see many walruses. Smeeren-burg and Danskoya are of great archaeological interest with remains of 17th century whaling activities and 19th century polar explorations.

On specific Spitsbergen trips we also offer scuba-diving to experienced dry-suit divers, a unique chance to explore the fascinating underwater ice floes and marine wildlife of the Arctic. INQUIRE

Below is the 16 days main itinerary around Spitzbergen (and Bear Island for September departure) This sailing expeditions are aboard the beautiful two-mast sailing schooner, Noorderlicht.

At the bottom of the page, in the "Other cruises" section, we also present shorter cruises targeting a specific Artic area between the Spitzbergen and Greenland. itineraries.(Click on the map to enlarge in a new window)

Day 1
Arrive in Longyearbyen, Spitzbergen island, the administrative centre for Spitsbergen, and a former mining town. There will be a chance to visit the Museum, which has an interesting collection on the history of Spitsbergen, the mining industry and polar exploration. In the afternoon we sail through scenic Isfjorden, setting course for Alkhornet at the mouth of the fjord, whose cliffs are home to a large colony of Kittiwakes. Below the cliffs is a den of Arctic Foxes, who scavenge on fallen eggs and chicks. We continue to Trygghamna to visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and an 18th century Russian Pomor station.

Arctic - White bear

Day 2
Leaving Tryghamna early in the morning, we sail through Forlandsundet, the sea passage that divides the island of Prins Karls Forland from the mainland. Weather permitting, we will go ashore at Fuglehuken, where the expedition of Willem Barentsz landed, and in doing so became the first Europeans to set foot on Spitsbergen. Here we can see the graves of whalers and observe impressive colonies of Common Guillemots, Brunnich's Guillemots, Little Auks and Kittiwakes. Nearby, Harbour Seals and Walruses often haul out and prove popular subjects for photography.

Day 3
Today we visit the remains of Smeerenburg, the largest 17th century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen, and Ytre Norskoya, where there are many graves dating from whaling days. In spite of the isolation, great danger and hardship, many thousands of people have sought to exploit Spitsbergen's wildlife through the centuries, and whaling proved both successful and lucrative.

Arctic - Your ship and a walruss

Days 4-15
Today we sail either to Sorgfjord, where we have a good chance of seeing Walruses, or to Murchison Bay, on the north side of which there is an extensive dry tundra, home to many Reindeer. There is also is a Swedish research station here. As we continue through Hinlopen Strait we are surrounded by icecaps. We land in Lomfjord, a beautiful fjord surrounded by high mountains. Augustabukta is a lovely bay close to a glacier which is crevasse-free, allowing us to walk without difficulties. On a nearby cliff the rare and beautiful Ivory Gull nests, together with Black Guillemots. Reindeer, Polar Bears and Walruses are usually seen in this area. We next sail towards the impressive Brasvell glacier. We may take an excursion on Svartknausflya, a desolate polar desert almost devoid of vegetation, or visit Wilhelmoya, which has raised beaches littered with sub fossilised whale skeletons, and where encounters with Polar Bears are likely. Sailing through the narrow Heleysundet between Spitsbergen and Barentsoya can only be done against the current, a very spectacular journey. As an alternative if conditions do not favour us we sail through Freemansundet.
Arctic - Whale tail

At Kapp Lee, we visit cliffs where the colonies of Black Guillemots are accessible to photographers, and walk in beautiful Rosenbergdalen to see Reindeer. For walkers it is great hike from here to Diskobukta. In Diskobukta we visit a large colony of Kittiwakes which nest in a canyon. Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears with young, often roam through the canyon, scavenging on young, flightless birds which fall from the ledges. On the raised beaches there are many sub fossilised whale skeletons.
Kong Ludvigoyane are breeding places for Walruses. On the islands there are also many remains of the whaling, Walrus and Polar Bear hunting periods. Close encounters with Polar Bears are virtually guaranteed here. Isbukta on the south coast of West Spitsbergen is a bay surrounded by glaciers, offering a great opportunity for zodiac cruising. Continuing our exploration of southern Spitsbergen, we sail into the labyrinth of side fjords in Hornsund. Behind Brepollen, a large glacial deposit at the head of the fjord, we sail along a beautiful glacier front with good chances of seeing Bearded Seals and Polar Bears. The geological formations in this area are very spectacular and colourful. We also pay a visit to the Polish research station at Isbjornhamna, where the friendly crew discuss their scientific programs. On our way to Longyearbyen we sail into Bell Sund to reach Midterhuken, with its interesting geological formations and the remains of the 17th century English whaling industry. Bell Sund is a good area for observing Belugas. If time allows we pay a visit to Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen, or to Colesbukta, an abandoned Russian coal mining settlement. From Colesbukta it is possible for good walkers to walk to Longyearbyen in six hours meeting the ship due to arrive in the evening.

Day 16
Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo to return home.

Aboard Noorderlicht
July 17 - August 1, 2006
August 1 - August 16, 2006
August 16 - August 31, 2006
August 31 - September 15, 2006
Deck	Cabin Type	16 days
-	Twin without bathroom	$ 3509
		€ 2648
		£ 1965
On board there is a maximum of 20 passengers

Rates are per person
Standard twin cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the per person share price.

Included:
* 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. * Transfers and baggage handling between the hotels, airports and ship only for those passengers on the group flights in Spitsbergen and in Greenland. * All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme. * Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Not included:
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; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard ( guidelines will be provided).

Special booking & cancellation conditions
A deposit of 15% of the expedition rate is required to confirm a reservation with final payment due 45 days prior to departure. In case the contracting party books more than 9 travel participants or more than 9 berths on a ship voyage in one reservation, the following payment conditions apply: 25 % deposit on the effecting of the travel contract, 35 % of the total price 4 months prior to departure, the remainder (40 %) of the total price 45 days prior to departure
All requests for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received till 60 days (180 days for groups of 9 and more passengers) prior to departure are fully refunded except for the deposit.

Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 30 participants (12 participants only for expeditions onboard the Noorderlicht)

Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

"Spitsbergen - Bear Island"