The landscape of Hornsund is largely alpine with the majestic Hornsundtinden mountain soaring highest of all. Let your imagination run wild while spending the day in these extraordinary surroundings.

In Bellsund we will attempt to land on either Ahlstrands peninsula or in Calypsobyen. Later we may sail towards the beautiful Vårsolbukta, named after the motor cutter “Vaarsol” that was used by the Norwegian Svalbard Expedition in 1914.

Kings Bay is the largest fjord on the North West coast of Spitsbergen. The landscape varies from large tundra plains to alpine peaks with dramatic glaciers calving into the ocean. At 78º 55’ N, Ny Ålesund is the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited community, where a number of countries run their own national research stations. Activity here is particularly high in the summer. We hope to reach Moffen, a high latitude islet at 80°N with a walrus colony and bird sanctuary. The atoll-like shape of the island made it a perfect safe harbour for any early whalers caught in bad weather.

These large fjords in North Spitsbergen are striking in varied landscape. We will
cruise towards the Monaco Glacier, passing a number of small islets where eider ducks nest during the summer. If we are lucky we might spot a polar bear searching for eggs.

Known locally as the North West Corner, this area has a long history of exploration. When Dutchman Willem Barents first found Svalbard in 1596, the name he gave to this new land was ‘Spitzbergen’ (“Spitz” meaning sharp) reflecting the sharp and steep mountains in the area. Magdalenefjorden is home to a very important piece of cultural heritage; a whaling station from the 16th century, including a graveyard of whalers that died during the first “oil adventure”.

In central Spitsbergen, Isfjorden is the largest fjord system in Svalbard. One of the most prominent mountains here is Alkhornet, where thousands of Brünnich guillemots nest during the summer season.

Sadly, every explorer voyage has to come to an end. Hopefully you will be recalling the memory of that polar bear, the calving glacier front or the buzzing birdlife – or simply enjoying the subtle, odd feeling of having spent time on top of the globe, just a few hundred kilometres from the Geographical North Pole.