Day 1: Departure for Spitsbergen
Flight to Norway.
Accommodation: in a hotel
Day 2: Longyearbyen
Free morning, then boarding at the port of Longyearbyen, between 4pm and 5pm. Sailing out of Isfjord in the evening.
Day 3: Krossfjorden and Ny-Ålesund
Visit to Krossfjorden and Ny-Ålesund. Zodiac outing along the “Fjortende Juli” (Fourteenth of July) glacier, discovered on 12 July 1906 by the expedition of Albert I, the “Prince of the Seas”. The mountain slopes are covered with flowers in full bloom. A good chance of spotting arctic foxes near the cliffs where black-legged kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nest. In the afternoon, a visit to the former mining settlement of Ny-Ålesund, now a polar research centre.
Days 4 to 6: Circumnavigation: Monaco Glacier and the Seven Islands
The voyage continues, with stops organised according to weather, sea and ice conditions, and points of interest: beaches where walruses come to rest, remnants of winter pack ice where bears watch for prey, bird cliffs, and historic sites revealing the saga of whaling or the life of trappers. Bearded seals are most often found resting on drifting ice floes, nonchalantly watching our ship pass by. The “lord of the land”, the polar bear, will be ever-present, all the more so as it is fully protected throughout the Svalbard archipelago. It lives close to the coasts, on the pack ice, and we will very likely have the chance to observe it on ice floes and along certain coastal stretches.
During this circumnavigation, depending on weather conditions, we will sail up Liefdefjorden to pass along the impressive Monaco Glacier front, more than 5 km long. We will then head north to reach the northernmost point of our itinerary at 80° North, just 870 km from the geographic North Pole: the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet, home to polar bears and ivory gulls among others.
Day 7: Hinlopen Strait
Crossing of the strait. We follow the north coast to the narrow Hinlopen passage. Possible encounters with bearded seals and harp seals, polar bears and birds such as ivory gulls. The strait is lined with high cliffs where thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots nest. Depending on ice conditions, we follow the eastern shore by Zodiac to navigate through the ice blocks. In the evening, a possible landing on the west coast, at Augustabukta. Numerous reindeer and walrus herds present.
Day 8: Barentsøya Island
Visit to former trappers’ huts, and a hike across the tundra to encounter reindeer and barnacle geese. Zodiac excursion in Diskobukta Bay: numerous whale bones on the shore. Possible hike to a ravine occupied by thousands of black-legged kittiwakes. The beach is often frequented by foxes and bears watching for prey.
Day 9: Hornsund Fjord
Discovery of the jagged mountains. The bay is dominated by Mount Hornsund, which rises to 1,431 m and gave the region its name, “the jagged mountains”. Fourteen glaciers converge in the fjord.
Day 10: Bellsund Fjord
Sailing up Van Keulenfjorden. Landing at the mouth of the fjord, at Ahlstrandhalvøya, a former hunting ground. A hike near Recherchefjorden, where reindeer herds can be seen.
Day 11: Disembarkation
Return to Longyearbyen and disembarkation in the morning. Return flight to France.
Important
This voyage offers the chance to discover the Svalbard archipelago aboard an expedition ship with English-speaking guides. It may run in the reverse direction, so the itinerary is given for guidance only. The final programme will be determined on board by the ship’s captain and the expedition leader.
Please note that you will be in one of the most remote regions on Earth. No landing can be guaranteed. In this region, weather and ice conditions can change very quickly and may rule out a Zodiac outing. Your safety will always come first.
