Spitsbergen - NE Greenland - 13D/12N

Fauna in the Arctic, courtesy of Oceanwide ExpeditionsThe Norwegian name for this archipelago including Bear Island and Jan Mayen is Svalbard.
However it is usually known as Spitsbergen. Covering an area almost as big as the Republic of Ireland, Spitsbergen with its population of 3,500 in five settlements is still today virtually unspoilt wilderness.
With its rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers, it is a true High Arctic archipelago, and only 600 miles from the North Pole.
Its abundant wildlife was once a huge draw for whalers and trappers but now discerning visitors are discovering the attractions of huge Arctic seabird colonies and the chance to enjoy and photograph species like Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and of course, Polar Bear.


Ship: Professor Multanovskiy, Plancius, Professor Molchanov, or Antarctic Dream.

Embarkation: September 5th, 2008 ; August 25th, 2009 ; August 27th, 2009 ; September 5th, 2009
Longyearbyen.
Debarkation:September 17th, 2008 ; September 6th, 2009 ; September 8th, 2009 ; September 17th, 2009
Akureyri.

Rates from: $9,000.00 USD per person based on double occupancy. Single occupancy: All cabin types 1.8 times the 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 Longyearbyen - Spitsbergen. Transfers and baggage handling between ship and airport after arrival of the ship in the morning in Keflavik – Iceland (not v.v. between airport and ship). Transfers and baggage handling between ship and hotels in Reykjavik after arrival of the ship in the morning in Keflavik - Iceland (not v.v. between Reykjavik and ship). 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). A net fuel surcharge of EURO 32 per person per night will apply on all reservations, except for Noorderlicht voyages.

Note: All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 30 participants on the Prof. Molchanov and Prof. Multanovskiy and the Grigriy Mikheev and Aleksey Maryshev, 50 participants on the Antarctic Dream, 70 participants on the Plancius and 14 participants on the Noorderlicht.

Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Flora in the Arctic, courtesy of Oceanwide ExpeditionsItinerary:

  • Day 1 - Arrive in Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to visit this former mining village. The Parish Church and the Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the country around the village more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.
  • Day 2 - We sail into Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers. It is home to Ringed and Bearded Seals, seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation. We have good chances to see Polar Bears, for instance near Hamilton Glacier, or more to the head of the fjord. From there we continue to Moffen island on which Walrus haul out. If we have not seen bears on this day we may spend an other day in Liefdefjord near the Monaco glacier, where we also often see bears.
  • Day 3 & 4 - At sea, on our way to Greenland, along the impressive East Greenland Ice. Keep watch for Fin Whales, Humpback Whales and Minke Whales, and also for migrating seabirds, especially the Brünnich’s Guillemots, which swim with their small young from Spitsbergen, along the sea ice to South Greenland.
  • Day 5 - Approaching Greenland we will attempt to sail through the sea ice into Foster Bugt, making our first landing at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters’ hut (in the first half of last century Norwegian trappers hunted here for Polar Bears and Arctic Foxes) there is an extensive tundra populated by Musk Oxen and Arctic Hares. The small lakes are home to geese. We sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, a magnificent fjord with towering mountains on both sides, its inner reaches choked with huge icebergs and an excellent place to encounter Narwhal. An alternative is Sofia Sund, which is much narrower, and where we can see Muskoxen from the ship.
  • Day 6 - We will land at Blomster Bugt to view the beautiful geological formations. Arctic Hares are usually seen here, and there is a lake with Great Northern Divers with young. In the afternoon we sail along Teufelschloss and Ella Ö and maye land at a beautiful spot in the early evening.
  • Day 7 - The first half of the day we spend in Antarcticahavn, a wide and extensive valley where we also could see groups of Musk Oxen. At this time of year the autumnal colours of the sparse vegetation make the landscapes even more beautiful.
  • Day 8 - Today we reach the Scoresby Sund and sail in the morning along the ragged and glaciated Volquart Boons Coast, a good place for seeing Narwhal. Here we may organise a zodiac cruise along one of the glacier fronts of this coast, and have our first landing near a glacier. Later we land on Danmarks Ø where there are the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular ‘tent rings’ of stones indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are excellently preserved, allowing entrances and even bear-proof meat caches to be identified. There are also grave sites. In the evening we continue our sailing through the beautiful fjords to the west, choked with ice-bergs.
  • Day 9 - We go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvø, a reliable spot for viewing Musk Oxen. We may also spot Rock Ptarmigans, and Great Northern Divers at sea. The landscape here is particularly beautiful, especially during autumn when the Dwarf Willow and Dwarf Birch change colour. Arctic Blueberry and Crowberry add their own colourful touch - the berries are tasty too ! Later, during a Zodiac cruise along the 3km wide face of the Eielson Glacier, we will come close to huge icebergs and may also see Ringed Seals, as well as distant views of Musk Oxen on shore. In the evening we sail through the fjord towards Scoresby Land, hoping to see Narwhal again and enjoying the contrast between the warm autumnal colours of the vegetation on shore, backed by huge dark mountains, and the cold blue of the icebergs.
  • Day 10 - In Northwest fjord in Scoresby Land in the morning, we encounter huge icebergs, some over 100m high and more than a kilometre in length. Most of the bergs are grounded as the fjord is only about 400m deep here. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter houses. As many as 20 people lived in these tiny houses, hunting Greenland Whales and using their vertebrae to build the houses. We may also land at Gurreholm on Jameson Land. The landscape here is gently undulating, but the climate is harsh - sometimes snow lies throughout the summer - but some animals - Musk Oxen and Collared Lemmings - survive on the meagre vegetation.
  • Day 11 - In the morning we land at a lagoon near Kap Stewart and walk from there to Kap Stewart, following the banks of a winding river through an autumnal tundra. In the afternoon we land at Illoqqortoormiut, the biggest settlement in the Scoresby Sund with about 500 inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just wander around to see the sledge dogs and the drying skins of Seal, Musk Ox and Polar Bear. After dinner we will sail south passing the amazing landscape of the Blosseville Coast.
  • Day 12 - We are the whole day at sea and will have splendid opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, in the night, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
  • Day 13 - Arrive in Akureyri (North Iceland) and transfer for the flight home, or take a bus to Reykjavik.

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Also tagged with: Cruise Expeditions, Adventure Expeditions, Escorted Journeys, Antarctica / Arctic, Arctic, Trekking, Active Travel, Educational, Nature / Ecology, Hosted Tours, Arctic, Exploration Cruise, Oceanwide Expeditions


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