Wildlife - Polar Bears - Norway Spitsbergen Svalbard

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Oslo, Norway
Upon arrival transfer to our hotel in Oslo. Our group will gather for dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
Today you fly to Longyearbyen. If time allows, we will explore this charming and colourful former mining village and the current administrative centre of Spitsbergen.

More than 100 species of plants have been identified in the area around town and it enjoys the midnight sun from April 20th to August 20th. In the early evening the ship will set sail out of Isfjorden.

Day 3: Krossfjorden / Ny Aalesund
In the morning we sail into Krossfjorden, boarding our Zodiacs and cruising along the 14th of July Glacier. On the green slopes near the glacier, a colourful variety of flowers bloom and large numbers of kittiwakes and Brunnich's guillemots nest on the cliffs. There is a good chance to see Arctic fox and bearded seals. In the afternoon we'll sail to Ny Aalesund, the northernmost settlement in the world. Near this scientific research community we may find barnacle geese, pink-footed geese with young, and Arctic terns. A pleasant walk takes us to the point from where Amundsen departed to reach the North Pole in 1926.

Day 4: Smeerenburg / Fuglesangen / Moffen
At Smeerenburg on Amsterdamøya, we will walk among remnants of the Dutch whaling era of the 17th century. We'll spend the afternoon in and around the Little Auk colony of Fuglesangen. We will cruise by Moffen, a resting place for walruses.

Day 5: Hinlopenstrait
We turn south into Hinlopenstrait (if the pack-ice allows) having reached our most northerly position. On and around the ice we should see bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears, and ivory gulls. On the east side of Lomfjordshalvøya we will navigate the ice floes in our Zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet. The basalt pillars rise to hundreds of feet and are capped with ice, which creates a brilliant waterfall and creating a nesting site for thousands of Brunnich's guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait we will attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls, and walruses.

Day 6: Nordaustlandet
Today we will explore the polar desert of Nordaustlandet. This area receives so little precipitation that not even hardy tundra plants can survive. The sandy, barren hills lie in strong contrast to the world's third largest ice cap, which plunges into the sea nearby.

Day 7: Kong Karls Land
Cruising south-east,just north of Svenskøya, the westernmost island in the totally protected Kong Karls Land, we may encounter patches of pack-ice, harp and ringed seals, ivory gulls and pomarine skuas. This is the most important polar bear denning site in the Arctic and we have a good chance of seeing them as well. Sailing southwest through Olgastreet, we will keep our eyes open for the rare and magnificent bowhead whale, which was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century.

Day 8: Barentsøya / Edgeøya
In Freemansundet we land at Sundneset on Barentsøya, visiting an old trapper's hut where reindeer reside. We'll then cruise south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya. A Zodiac ride takes us to the beach and we then climb up a narrow gully where we can view thousands of pairs of kitttiwakes, glaucous gulls and black guillemots. At the bottom we may see Arctic fox and polar bears waiting for young birds that often fall from the cliffs.

Day 9: Bölscheøya / Aekongen
In the morning we'll land on the charming island of Bölscheøya, in the archipelago of Tusenøyane. Here we will see the remains of many walrus and Greenland whales and have the chance to spot gray phalaropes, Arctic skuas, red-throated divers and possibly the light-bellied Brent goose. In the afternoon we may make a landing on Aekongen to view a complete Greenland whale skeleton, and common eiders with chicks nesting on spectacular basalt rock-columns. At night we will set sail for Sørkap, the southern tip of West-Spitsbergen.

Day 10: Horsund / Polish Research Station
We will begin our day quietly cruising through the side-fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area, beneath towering mountains, snow-covered slopes and magnificent glaciers. In the afternoon we will visit the Polish research station, where the staff will tell us about their research projects.

Day 11: Ahlstrandhalvøya / Recherchefjorden
Disembark on Ahlstrandhalvøya, a fascinating peninsula at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden. Piles of beluga bones remain from a 19th-century slaughter, highlighting the consequences of thoughtless exploitation. Fortunately, belugas managed to survive in these waters and we have a fair chance of sighting small pods. In the afternoon, we'll explore Recherchefjorden, home to large populations of reindeer.

Day 12: Longyearbyen / Home
Upon arrival in Longyearbyen we’ll disembark and transfer to the airport for our onward flights.

Please note: This itinerary is only a guideline as all is dependent on weather and ice conditions, which will dictate our final travel itinerary.

There are a number of small cabins on board with shared toilet facilities which are not chartered. These may be available on request - please ask.

What is Included
Accommodation for one night in Oslo and aboard the ship, dinner & breakfast in Oslo, Return air travel from Oslo to Longyearbyen, all meals aboard the ship, services of our professional tour leader and local naturalist guides, and transfers to and from ship at Longyearbyen.

What is Not Included
Travel to and from Oslo, additional hotel nights (first night in Oslo is included), transfers in Oslo, soft drinks, beer, wine and liquor, tips, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.), and travel insurance.

Getting There & Getting Home
Arrive in Oslo anytime on day 1. We fly to Longyearbyen on day 2 and board the ship at approximately 4:00pm. You will return to Oslo at approximately 7:00pm on day 12. We will provide guidance for your travel arrangements or book it for you if that is required.

Extend Your Stay in Oslo, Norway
Spend some extra days in this historic and bustling northern city, known for its wonderful museums, shops and friendly people.