ARCTIC OCEAN EXPEDITION, ABERDEEN, FAIR ISLE, JAN MAYEN, ICE EDGE & SPITSBERGEN

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12 DAYS

Search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife of the land, sea, and air on an adventurous voyage from our home port of Vlissingen to our favorite Arctic island group.

ITINERARY SUMMARY
DayPlaceHighlights
Day 1VlissingenEmbarkation midday headed north. Far north.
Day 2At Sea - North Sea Doggersbank, possible sightings of white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, and orcas
Day 3AberdeenVlissingen excursion by bus to Fowlsheugh (emarked Vlissingen), a seabird cliff south of Aberdeen or excursion to the Ythan Estuary
Day 4Fair Isle - ShetlandsAccessible to seabird breeding grounds, and you may even spot grey seals
Days 5 & 6At Sea - Jan Mayen300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. A couple of days at sea. Look out for blows, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale
Day 7Jan MayenMt. Beerenberg, visit the weather station, walk to the remains of a 17th- century Dutch whaling station
Days 8 - 10Midnight SunSail north, sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds. At about 79° north cut west to the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen
Day 11SpitsbergenForlandsundet, walruses sometimes haul out here. Alternatively sail into St. Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet
Day 12LongyearbyenDisembark in Longyearbyen

SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY

Hondius
Hondius

The Hondius (176 guests)  launched  in June 2019. She has an Ice class rating of 6, the most advanced to date. The Hondius offers deluxe accommodation for a total 176 guests. One deck has been entirely reserved for lectures and presentations in one large observation lounge. The ship’s main focus remains discovery, taking advantage of wildlife opportunities and the related shore activities. Efficient zodiac embarkation is guaranteed with two separate gangways and in addition a zodiac embarkation indoor-platform which can also be used for special activities such as kayaking.

Day 1 Vlissingen

Hondius

Your journey begins at midday, boarding your vessel in Vlissingen, headed north. Far north.

Day 2 At Sea – North Sea

Gannet Barents Sea resized

Crossing the North Sea and sailing by Doggersbank, we hope to be lucky enough to spot such species as white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, and orcas.

Day 3 Aberdeen

Arctic Tern

Passengers who boarded in Vlissingen will be offered an excursion by bus to Fowlsheugh, a seabird cliff south of Aberdeen. Over 100,000 pairs of seabird of different species can be seen here. Alternatively, you can join an excursion to the Ythan Estuary, where the beaches are teeming with harbor seals, grey seals, and birds that keep to the shorelines. Both outings are included in the price of booking.

Day 4 Fair Isle – Shetlands

Little-Auks-Arctic-Hayley

We plan to stay the day on Fair Isle, an island in the Shetlands whose seventy-odd inhabitants are known for their beautiful knitwear. This is a fantastic location with accessible seabird breeding grounds, and you may even spot grey seals.

Days 5  & 6 At Sea – Jan Mayen

Iceland Pro Cruises - Ilulissat

You sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. Your two days at sea do not pass idly, however. Keep a close lookout for any spouts of water from the surrounding seas, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale.

Day 7 Jan Mayen

Jan-Mayen_102657194

Jan Mayen is a stark volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg. From the slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high (7,545 feet) volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, you can now visit the weather station. You can also walk to the remains of a 17th- century Dutch whaling station amid the thick moss beds of this stark volcanic landscape.

Days 8 – 10 Midnight Sun

Basking in the midnight sun, you sail north along the edge of the sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds. You then change direction after about 79° north, cutting west to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of west Spitsbergen. Here you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and – near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords – surfacing minke whales.

Day 11 Spitsbergen

Shutterstock_1095510842_Beerenberg volcano on a foggy morning on Jan Mayen

Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses sometimes haul out here.  Alternatively, you might sail into St. Johns Fjord or head 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.

Day 12 Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies. But if you’re still craving additional chances to spot the Arctic’s most iconic apex predator, stay on board for our seven-night north Spitsbergen voyage, “in search of polar bears & pack ice.”

To book this cruise contact us on 1300 784 794 or email: contact@arctictravelcentre.com.au

We will tailor the perfect holiday to suit your needs.