High Arctic ...

The Trip of a Lifetime

from GALAPAGOS TRAVEL

In both 2005 and 2006 we escorted groups north, to the High Arctic. While we do not currently have any group departures scheduled, we do keep our finger on the pulse of the region, and the programs and ships going.  As you can imagine, there are variations in the itineraries and vessels and we would be delighted to match you with your perfect trip!

As with Galápagos and Antarctica, we again recommend a longer itinerary if it can fit into your schedule - typical Spitsbergen routings range between 8 and 12 days, with the longer voyages circumnavigating the archipelago (ice permitting).  The season is fairly short, with expeditions offered between early-June and late-August.

If you have any questions on the area, or are interested in an expedition to the High Arctic, please drop us a note...

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Overview..

Expedition Cruises to Spitsbergen & the High Arctic

The Arctic and North Atlantic islands and coastlines offer some of the finest scenery and wildlife experiences in the world. Visitors to the region can witness enormous colonies of seabirds thronging the cliffs and shores, and enjoy the thrilling antics of whales and dolphins at sea, and seals and walrus hauled out on the rocks and ice floes. You may even encounter the very symbol of the Arctic - the Polar Bear. Though remote and sparsely populated today, many of the places we explore have been inhabited in the last 5000 years, and thousands of unique prehistoric and historic sites are a testimony to the thriving cultures of the past.

Spitsbergen (Svalbard), with its rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers, is a true High Arctic archipelago, and only 600 miles from the North Pole. Its abundant wildlife was once a huge draw for whalers and trappers but now discerning visitors are discovering the attractions of huge Arctic seabird colonies and the chance to enjoy and photograph species like Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and of course, Polar Bear.

Spitsbergen at midnight

Longyearbyen (the administrative center of Spitsbergen, with 1400 residents), and the Russian community of Barentsburg (with 400 residents) are the main settlements - most of Svalbard's 62,000 sq km are unspoilt and incredibly beautiful. Outside of the settlements, there are no roads on Spitsbergen, so this world of natural wonders is most easily and safely explored on an expedition cruise, using Zodiacs for shore landings. The coast is mostly ice free in the summer and colorful wildflowers, mosses and lichens abound.

Sample itinerary...

Around Spitsbergen
(Longyearbyen - Longyearbyen)

These are the most Natural History rich of the Spitsbergen routings, including the rarely visited eastern portion of the archipelago. Depending on ice conditions, our aim on these voyages is to circumnavigate Spitsbergen, with the emphasis on exploring key locations in the east, where Polar Bears abound. Late in the summer, the ice has usually broken up sufficiently to allow passage through Hinlopen Strait or via Kvitøya, a remote island east of Nordaustlandet, to give access to the wildlife-rich eastern shores and islands of Barentsøya and Edgeøya.

These voyages are wonderful for observing Walruses, Ringed and Bearded Seals and may even yield sightings of the elusive Greenland Whale near Kong Karls Land. While Polar Bears may be encountered on the ice, we also go ashore on the tundra, where Reindeer graze and scavenging Arctic Foxes roam. The chicks are fledging at the seabird colonies and we may witness the spectacular jumps of the young Brünnich's Guillemots starting their autumn migration.

During these voyages we will encounter a lot of sea ice and have a chance to observe impressive calving glaciers at close quarters.

Day 1
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the surrounds of Longyearbyen more than 100 species of plants have also been recorded. Svalbard Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting & Reindeer are frequently seen around the town. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Day 2
During the evening we will travel up the west coast to Krossfjorden, where we will have our first morning excursion - a exhilarating Zodiac cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly green slopes near the glacier a colorful variety of flowers bloom. This is in part due to the large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich's Guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, who patrol the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny Ålesund, the world's most northerly settlement. Once a mining village served by the world's most northerly railway (which can still be seen), Ny Ålesund is now a research center. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Long-Tailed Ducks are frequent visitors to the ponds as well. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926, and again by Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928, before their flights to the North Pole.

Day 3
At Smeerenburg on Amsterdamøya, we visit the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station, the blubber pots now surrounded by hundreds of tree trunks washed ashore after floating from Siberia. Our voyage continues around the north coast Spitsbergen as we head for the Hinlopen Strait.

Day 4
Before turning south into Hinlopen Strait (if the pack-ice allows us) we will have reached our most northerly position. On and around the ice at the entrance to the strait, which divides West Spitsbergen from ice-clad Nordaustlandet, there is a good chance of seeing Bearded and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls. We will take a Zodiac cruise through the ice floes to the spectacular bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, where thousands of Brünnich's Guillemots nest. These basalt pillars, rising hundreds of meters, and the overhanging ice cap with its waterfall are an awe-inspiring sight. Finally, on the eastern side of Hinlopen Strait we intend to make an evening landing in Augustabukta. Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the sparse vegetation of the largely ice-covered island of Nordaustlandet, where Pink-footed Geese, Walrus and a rare Ivory Gull colony are also found.

Day 5
Today we go ashore at Svartknausflya, a 'polar desert', an area of Nordaustlandet that gets so little precipitation that not even hardy tundra plants can survive. The bare, sandy hills are a strong contrast to the world's third largest ice cap, which plunges into the sea not far away.

Day 6
Cruising south-east we pass just north of Svenskøya, the westernmost island in the totally protected Kong Karls Land. This is the most important denning area of Polar Bear in the Arctic. There may be patches of pack-ice and, if so, there is a good chance we will see Polar Bears, Harp and Ringed Seals, Ivory Gulls and Pomarine Skuas. Later sailing south-west we may encounter the magnificent, but rare, Greenland Whale, which was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century.

(Photo: R. van Meurs / Oceanwide Expeditions)

Day 7
In Freemansundet Strait we plan to land on the island of Barentsøya to visit an old trapper's hut and search for Spitsbergen Reindeer and Barnacle Geese. Later we cruise south to Diskobukta. After a Zodiac cruise through the shallow bay we land on a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks. We can also climb to the rim of a narrow gully which is inhabited by thousands of Kitttiwakes, together with Black Guillemots and piratical Glaucous Gulls. During the breeding season, the base of the cliffs is patrolled by Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears (especially females with young cubs).

Day 8
In the morning we land on the small island of Bölscheøya, to the south of Edgeøya. Here we may find a variety of interesting birds, including Grey Phalaropes, Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Divers and, if we are lucky, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose - a sub-species found only on Spitsbergen, Franz Josef and, occasionally, in Greenland. In the afternoon we hope to land on Aekongen where there is a complete Greenland Whale skeleton. Around these spectacular basalt rock-columns Common Eiders are often found with chicks. At night we sail to the southern tip of Spitsbergen.

Day 9
We start the day quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area and taking in the majestic scenery of towering mountain peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch explorers gave the name 'Spitsbergen' - pointed mountains - to the island. There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area and very good chances of encounters with seals and Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research projects. Behind the station the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks.

Day 10
At the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden we land on Ahlstrandhalvøya. Here piles of Beluga skeletons (the Beluga is a small white whale), the remains of 19th century slaughter, are yet another reminder of the consequences of thoughtless exploitation. Fortunately, Belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and may still be seen locally. Indeed, there is a good chance that we will come across a pod. Cruising into Recherchefjorden during the afternoon we can explore an area of tundra at the head of the fjord where many Reindeer feed.

Day 11
Return to Longyearbyen this morning and disembark for your transfer to the airport and return flight to Oslo, and home.

Itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Sample vessel...

There are quite a number or small expedition ships - typcially between 46 and 110 passengers - exploring the remote corners of the High Arctic each summer. An example of one of the smaller ships is the 236 ft long polar oceanographic research vessel Profesor Molchanov.

The ship, built in 1983 and recently refurbished in the Netherlands, carries a maximum of 52 passengers. Constructed with an ice-strengthened hull; her smaller size allows us to navigate scenic waterways with ease, venturing into areas closed to larger vessels. Powerful twin engines provide the speed capabilities to maintain our full itinerary. Designed to explore remote corners of the world, she is equipped with sophisticated navigation equipment and stabilizers for smoother cruising. The ship meets all international environmental and safety standards. A western physician trained in emergency medicine is on-board. She has a crew of 20, largely Russian, all highly experienced in polar / ice navigation.

Shore excursions and zodiac cruises are led by a team of expert naturalist guides, who will also provide Natural History lectures to round out the experience.

Passenger accommodations are in exterior cabins, each with a desk/study area and ample storage space (Deck Plan).

There are 9 twin cabins, and 2 triple cabins, with shared bath ("down the hall") on Deck 3; these cabins have two lower twin berths (triple cabins have an additional upper berth) and wash basins. There are 12 twin cabins with private facilities (located on Decks 4 and 5), most with upper and lower berths. There are also 2 superior cabins with private facilities located on Deck 5; each has a double bed plus a separate double sofa-bed. The deck 5 suite has a double sofa-bed and a separate bedroom with a double bed.

Common areas include a lounge/library, infirmary, sauna, and dining room/lecture hall. In addition to the bridge, which is typically open to us, viewing is excellent from the large, open decks. Superb, varied, and abundant international cuisine is prepared by European chefs.

Each cruise offers a full program of shore excursions, using Zodiacs to search out the best wildlife encounters and photographic opportunities available. The itineraries have been meticulously researched to offer exciting, rewarding and incredibly varied experiences, but above all else the crew and expedition staff believe that flexibility is the key to a successful voyage. By constantly assessing and responding to environmental conditions at the time, they are confident of fulfilling visitors' well-deserved expectations of an experience of a lifetime.

About Our: Trips | Yachts | Itineraries | Departure Dates and Prices | Guidebook
About: Natural History of the Galápagos | Conservation in the Galápagos | Visiting Mainland Ecuador
Special Stuff: Photo Gallery | Frequently Asked Questions
Special Trip: Other Destinations | Madagascar | Antarctica | Arctic | Easter Island

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