__________________
Day | Place | Highlights |
Day 1 | Longyearbyen – Spitsbergen | Longyearbyen Museum |
Day 2 | Embarkation Longyearbyen | Isfjorden |
Days 3-10 | West Spitsbergen | Exploring the many fjords and bays for wildlife including Polar bears, walrus and seals |
Day 11 | Disembark Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen | |
Longyearbyen is the administrative capital of the Norwegian territory of Svalbard and starting point of your expedition. Be sure to see the excellent Svalbard Museum. Your hotel is included in the voyage price.
The Sea Spirit was built in Italy in 1991. She’s a very comfortable ice-strengthened, small (114 guests), all-suite expedition ship. The vessel was updated in late 2010 and is going into dry-dock for additional refurbishment in April 2017. All suites have private facilities and exterior views. Some of the suites feature private balconies for enjoying fantastic landscapes of the Arctic. She has a fleet of ten rubber inflatable zodiac boats for landings, an experienced crew, and a set of retractable fin stabilizers for smooth sailing. This ship features an open bridge, 2 rear outdoor viewing areas, an outdoor viewing area at the front of the vessel, a bar, lounge, presentation room and dining area all lined with windows. There is also a gym, a library and media centre.
In the afternoon you are welcomed aboard the luxury expedition ship M/V Sea Spirit. You’ll have time to explore the ship and get comfortable before the ship weighs anchor. Savor the anticipation of your Arctic dreams coming true as we slip our moorings and sail into the Arctic wilderness where wildlife abounds. The scenery as we sail through Isfjorden on our first evening is spectacular and there is already the possibility of whales, seals and even polar bears.
This is a real expedition in the wilderness of the High Arctic. The voyage route and opportunities to explore are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice conditions encountered. The Sea Spirit’s experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented to us by nature in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic.
Polar bears, walrus, seals, whales and numerous species of migratory birds can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Svalbard. You’ll also have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the historic polar expeditions that came before us. We anticipate exploring the spectacular fjords, coasts, and islands in the northwestern part of Svalbard. This area contains the archipelago’s most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Deep fjords and narrow channels are flanked by jagged snowy mountain peaks. On ice floes and on fast ice several species of seals watch vigilantly for polar bears. The tundra is home to reindeer and Arctic fox. The whole area is alive with migratory birds, including numerous rare species, all making the most of 24-hour daylight.
This wild corner of Svalbard is one of the best places in the world to observe polar bears hunting in their preferred habitat: the pack ice. We take the ship as close as safely possible to the edge of the polar ice cap, where polar bears search the frozen sea in search of seals.
To complete the Arctic experience we also explore places rich with history. Our area of exploration contains the historical remnants of whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers’ cabins, staging areas for historic attempts to discover the North Pole, and even an abandoned polar research station. Human habitation in this area is only found at Ny Ålesund, a former mining town that is now home to an international community of Arctic researchers. This is one of the world’s most northerly settlements, complete with museum, gift shop, and post office. The days are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by our experts, and enough stunning scenery and wildlife to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions.
After breakfast farewell your fellow expeditioners in the town of Longyearbyen. A transfer is provided to the airport or to the town center if you wish to spend more time in Longyearbyen (or your flight is the next day).