Hurtigruten
Spitsbergen Voyages - Polar Encounters
Polar Encounters - Spitsbergen Adventure Cruise
6 days 5 nights / Full board on ship
Unspoilt nature, polar bears and puffins in Spitsbergen’s northwest corner
This voyage from Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, takes us on MS Nordstjernen, navigating northbound from Longyearbyen to the remote Moffen Island, taking in fjords, glaciers and Arctic settlements along the way. Known as the ‘land of the cold coasts’, Svalbard is rich in wildlife and dramatic scenery and we will watch in awe as we sail through the bays and channels of this starkly beautiful outreach of northern Europe. Arctic fox, reindeer, seal and walrus abound and there is an excellent chance of spotting whales, as well as the solitary overlord of these Arctic regions, the polar bear.
Coastal settlements
Our journey begins in Spitsbergen’s capital, Longyearbyen, once a coal mining settlement but now a major centre for polar research. We will learn some of the history of the area and life on the island today before embarking on our voyage. After sailing to the Russian settlement of Barentsburg, we proceed through the Icefjord and along the coast of Prins Karl’s Forland, before reaching the northwest corner of Spitsbergen. Passing magnificent glaciers, including the stunning Monaco Glacier and the ‘seven icebergs’, we travel beyond 80° north and enter a world of ice sculptures and towering granite mountains.
Birdlife and bears
As fierce as the wastes and weather, is the sole king of this realm, the polar bear, who shares this distant, beautiful wilderness with any number of kittiwakes, seals, Arctic foxes, whales and walruses. There are estimated to be some 3,000 polar bears in the Svalbard archipelago. Magnificent and solitary, these animals grow to a staggering 700 kilograms and there is every chance that we will come across one of these awe-inspiring beasts as we cruise through the ice floes. There are also estimated to be more than 110 types of migratory birds in this region and our on board team of experts will ensure that we get the best out of our wildlife viewing, both from the deck of MS Nordstjernen and from our daily shore visits by Polar Cirkel boats.
Glaciers and Ice
Continuing south we enter the poetically named Smeerenburgfjord (meaning ‘Blubbertownfjord’) a stark land of barren mountains that was once the home to a whaling station. Passing Magdalenefjord and the Wagonway glacier we visit Moffen Island, where we enter the realm of the walrus and at the Krossfjord birdcliffs we will stand beneath swirling, teeming flocks of Arctic tern, guillemot and puffin and maybe a razorbill or two. We will also explore the glacier walls, towering ramparts of blues and turquoise that constantly roar as they calve into the frozen waters below. Finally we travel to Ny-Ålesund, the most northerly permanently inhabited settlement on Earth, with a rich history in polar exploration and the world’s most northerly post office.
Voyage Itinerary
Weekend departures
Day 1
Arrive Longyearbyen. Overnight stay at Spitsbergen Hotel.
Day 2
Embark on MS Nordstjernen. Sail to Barentsburg and visit this Russian settlement, optional visits to the Pomor Museum and a folklore show. Sail out of the Icefjord, along the coast of Prins Karl’s Forland and past the Kongsfjord heading north.
Day 3
Sail through the Woodfjord area, via the Monaco glacier to Moffen Island, Smeerenburgfjord, Magdalenefjord and the Wagonway glacier.
Day 4
Krossfjord. Visit birdcliffs and glacier fronts. Sail to Ny-Ålesund.
Day 5
Arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to Spitsbergen Hotel.
Evening meal in hotel restaurant.
Day 6
Tour ends Longyearbyen.
Midweek departures
Day 1
Arrive Longyearbyen; transfer to Spitsbergen Hotel.
Day 2
Sightseeing tour of Longyearbyen with visits to the Svalbard Museum and the Svalbard Gallery. Embark on MS Nordstjernen, your home for the next three days. Visit Russian settlement of Barentsburg, optional visits to the Pomor Museum and a folklore show. Sail out of the Icefjord, along the coast of Prins Karl’s Forland and past the Kongsfjord heading north.
Day 3
Past the ‘seven icebergs’ to Magdalenefjord and Raudfjord.
Day 4
In Woodfjord area, past the front of the Monaco glacier. Sail on to Moffen Island, home of the walrus.
Day 5
Arrival at Ny–Ålesund.
Day 6
Early morning arrival at Longyearbyen. Tour ends.
Spitsbergen Ultimate voyage
31 May - 12 June 2008
Voyage prices from £1995.
Join our one-off special departure from the heart of the Norwegian fjords to Spitsbergen. Please call us for a Dossier and more details.
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