EXTENSIVE SPITSBERGEN – NORTHEAST GREENLAND – AURORA BOREALIS  

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23 DAYS

ITINERARY SUMMARY
DayPlaceHighlights
Day 1Longyearbyen, SpitsbergenEmbark, settle in and relax onboard
Day 2KrossfjordenGreat views on glacier fronts, arctic fox, Ny Alesund, barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, and Arctic terns
Day 3LiefdefjordenMonaco Glacier, kittiwakes, polar bear
Days 4 - 5Seven IslandsChermsideøya, and Phippsøya. Polar bears, pack ice and walrus
Day 6Nordaustlandet Sail eastside of Austfonna on Nordaustlandet and stop by Isisøya
Day 7BarentsøyaSundneset, Kapp Waldburg, Rindedalen
Day 8HornsundGlaciers, seals, beluga whales, polar bears
Day 9Bell SundOne of the largest fjord systems, belugas, reindeer
Day 10LongyearbyenDisembark in the early morning
Day 11RaudfjordenExpansive fjord spilling with glaciers, ringed and bearded seals, seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears
Days 12 and 13Sailing to East GreenlandKeep an eye out for seabirds and marine life
Day 14Approach GreenlandYou may sail through the sea ice, Foster Bay and land at Myggebugten, tundra, musk oxen and geese floating the small lakes
Day 15The Islands of Antarctic SoundTeufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), Antarctic Sound, the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella
Day 16Turner Sound and Rømer FjordSegelsällskapets Fjord, hike and an opportunity to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans. Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier
Days 17 and 18Antarctic Havn and ScoresbysundSeek out groups of musk oxen and enjoy the fiery colors of Autumn in the sparse vegetation, glaciated Boons Kyst
Day 19Colours of the CapeZodiac cruise near Røde Ø iceberg and Røde Fjord
Day 20SydkapEncounter colossal icebergs and land at Sydkap providing a good chance to see Arctic hares
Day 21Ittoqqortoormiit Visit the largest settlement in Scoresbysund
Day 22Northern LightsEnjoy this sea day to spot wildlife and enjoy the night sky putting on a show
Day 23AkureyriDisembark in the early morning

Ship Offering This Itinerary

Hondius
Hondius Antarctica landscape

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 accommodations 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 Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen is 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 a minke whale.

Day 2 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 Liefdefjorden

Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long face of the precipitous Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent sailing here early in the season, an alternate route along the west coast of Spitsbergen can be implemented.

Days 4 and 5 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 from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before wheeling around west again.

When the edge of this sea ice is tens of miles north of the Seven Islands (mostly in August), you can spend a second day in this area. Alternatively (mostly in July) you may turn to Sorgfjord, where you have the chance to find a herd of walruses not far from the graves of 17th-century whalers. A nature walk here can bring you close to families of ptarmigans, and the opposite side of the fjord is also a beautiful area for an excursion.

Day 6 Nordaustlandet

Nordkapp, Norway

We sail by the eastside of Austfonna on Nordaustlandet and stop by Isisøya (formerly a Nunatak surrounded by glaciers but now an island in the sea) for a circumnavigation by Zodiac cruise. You then may pass Kapp Mohn, part of the largest ice cap in Europe and famed for its meltwater waterfalls. From there we head for the never visited waters of Kong Karls Land, where we sail at a distance of more than half a kilometer from the shores. It is a famous denning area for polar bears.

Day 7 Barentsoya

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 Hornsund

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, 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 Bellsund

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 Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen

Today disembark in Longyearbyen. Enjoy a land day today exploring Longyearbyen. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden.

Day 11 Raudfjorden

Spitsbergen

Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.

Days 12 and 13 Sailing to East Greenland

Stellers eider duck

You may eventually see the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice flashing into sight ahead, depending on the conditions. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds here.

Day 14  Approach Greenland

Franz Josef Land

Sail through the sea ice, weather permitting into Foster Bay and land at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters’ hut (where Norwegian trappers hunted for polar bear and Arctic fox in the first half of the 20th century), there is a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen, with geese floating the small lakes. From here you sail through Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.

For those who choose to attend, we have our first long walk (6-7 hours) of the voyage today. We start at Myggbukta station and head into Badlanddal, then turn south to Fangsthytte near Kap Bennet. A Zodiac will sail ahead of the walking party and parallel to the coast to watch out for bears.

Day 15 The Islands of Antarctic Sound

You arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt and the intended landing site. In the afternoon you head into Antarctic Sound, where you find the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most likely spot for a landing.

Day 16 Turner Sound and Rømer Fjord

Arctic Hare Arctic Wildlife

In the morning you enter Segelsällskapets Fjord, with the streaked slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering the north side. You land on the south shore, where ancient sedimentary formations lie right at your feet. A hike takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans. In the afternoon the ship ventures into Alpefjord, aptly named for the spire-like peaks that thrust up around it. You may then embark on a Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier, which once blocked access to the interior of these waters. Continuing deep into the fjord, you experience a definitive Greenland adventure.

Days 17 and 18 Antarctic Havn and Scoresbysund

Greenland glaciers

The first half of the day you spend in Antarctic Havn, an extensive valley where you can spot groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is dressed in the fiery colors of autumn.

Today you reach Scoresbysund, sailing along the glaciated Boons Kyst. You may also enjoy a Zodiac cruise past one of the glacier fronts, along with a visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt.

In the afternoon, we plan to sail by the east coast of Milne Land among a multitude of giant icebergs. If we can also land at Charcot Havn, we will make a walk to the Charcot Glacier. We will then continue by Bjørneør and sail into Øfjord, where we might also make a landing.

Day 19 Colours of the Cape

The goal is a Zodiac cruise near Sorte Ø, surrounded by icebergs. Their austere blue-white contrasts sharply with the sediment slopes nearby. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord and into Harefjord, with the chance to see musk oxen and warm autumnal foliage.

Day 20 Sydkap

In the morning you encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters and more than a kilometer long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep. You then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.

Today’s long walk goes from Sydkap to Nordøstbugt, where the river coming from Holger Danskes Briller flows into the sea. We plan to walk south along the shore to Satakajik, seeing whale vertebrae and the remains of Thule summer houses. Passengers who opt out of the long walking group will join us at this location for their second excursion of the day.

Day 21 Ittoqqortoormiit

Today you make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about five hundred inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. In the afternoon you sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.

Day 22 Northern Lights

Northern Lights

A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds – and at night, the magical northern lights.

Day 23 Akureyri

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Akureyri, where on request you can transfer by chartered bus (a six-hour drive that you must book in advance) to the bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavík, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

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

We will tailor the perfect holiday to suit your needs.