Spitsbergen Expedition

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the group hotel for your overnight stay. This evening you’ll meet your expedition leaders and other members of the group for a trip briefing.

Meals:  Nil

Today is yours to explore Longyearbyen. Recommendations include The North Pole Expedition Museum, the local brewery and a reindeer burger in one of the local restaurants. Board the Polar Pioneer in the late afternoon. Cruising out of the beautiful Isfjorden, we’ll be escorted by gliding fulmars and perhaps the occasional puffin. The sea kayakers will attend a briefing to distribute dry suits, poggies (paddling mitts for your hands), lifejackets and dry bag.

Meals:  B,D

Over the next eight days we will explore the amazing wilderness of Svalbard. Our aim is to experience as much time as possible outside, be it zodiac cruising, paddling, hiking or wildlife viewing or all four! Our experienced Arctic team will use their know-how to design a day-to-day itinerary that makes the best use of the weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Following are locations that we will potentially visit and should be understood as a guide only. NORTH WEST AND THE PACK ICE Our journey takes us to the spectacular north west coast of Spitsbergen where we spend hours out and about in the wild Arctic scenery. We’ll explore the protected waters of the glacier filled Kongsfjorden or Krossfjorden, either by zodiac cruising, kayaking or walking the gentle tundra, where we take extra care not to disturb delicate wildflowers. Venturing further north, we may visit an old Dutch whaling station settled in the early 1600s, aptly named Smeerenburg (blubber town). Heading further north, right to the top of Svalbard, we’ll encounter amazing vistas in places such as Woodfjorden and Leifdefjorden, where magnificent glaciers end their journey to the sea. Paddlers and zodiac cruisers will wind their way through ice floes while walkers will take to the slopes, on the lookout for reindeer and even encountering rustic huts and remains from the bygone trappers’ era. We will always be on alert for polar bear sightings on the pack ice and on land! On board we may experience the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean and a favourite occupation is to stand at the bow and look below at the ice being parted by our sturdy ship. A highlight for all is the sight of a bobbing walrus feeding on clams or wallowing, slug like, on shore. At our northernmost point it’s time for the polar plunge, where hardy souls will shed their winter woolies, strip down to their bathing suits and dive (or jump) into the freezing Polar waters. A hot shower and a shot of vodka awaits! BELLSUND AND HORNSUND Heading south takes us first to Bellsund, a 20 kilometre sound situated on the south west coast of Spitsbergen and named after a nearby bell-shaped mountain. Bellsund was once a lucrative whaling site, used in the 1600s by the Dutch and the English. There are many opportunities for history buffs as we explore old trapping huts and an old cabin once used for whaling. Continuing the journey south, we plan to visit Hornsund, a stunning fjord that marks the southwestern corner of Spitsbergen. The English explorer, Jonas Poole, visited “Horn Sound” in 1610, giving the fjord its name after his men had brought back a reindeer antler. We hope to land at Gnalodden, and its adjacent bird cliff of Gnalberget, translating to ‘Nagging Mountain’ in honour of the continual cry of resident seabirds. This dramatic towering face of rock is home to one of the biggest kittiwake colonies in Spitsbergen (as well as a significant number of Brünnich’s guillemots). Facing south and close to the water’s edge, the stupendous peak rises from nutrient rich permafrost on shore, to a needle-like pinnacle. Below Gnalberget, there is an old trapper’s cabin used the 1930s by Wanny Woldstad, Svalbard’s first female trapper, and her working partner Anders Sæterdal. ISFJORDEN Heading closer to home, we spend our final day in Isfjorden, the second longest fjord in the Svalbard Archipelago. We continue our search for polar bear, Arctic fox and pods of whales, such as Beluga and the occasional Minke, all from the ship’s numerous viewing points, during zodiac outings and for those paddling, from their trusty kayaks. High on the slopes, reindeer graze, intent on getting their fill on mosses, herbs and grasses. Our last full day of exploring is often in Ekmanfjorden, an 18 km long fjord branching north from inner Isfjorden. Lying within Nordre Isfjorden National Park, we’ll cruise it’s often mirror waters, broken only by shards of brash ice, creating a picturesque, natural mosaic across the water surface. We spend our last night on board the Polar Pioneer reliving each special moment of the trip and reflect on our collective experiences of awe-inspiring scenery, majestic wildlife and the rich history and culture of the Svalbard archipelago.

Meals:  B,L,D

During the early morning we cruise back towards the docks in Longyearbyen. After a hearty breakfast, it is time to say your farewells to the crew and expedition leaders before a transfer to the airport.

Meals:  B