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Categories Svalbard Spitsbergen Small Ship Cruises Arctic Cruises Adventure & Eco Travel Cruises

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Spitsbergen Odyssey reveals the diversity of this island archipelago and takes us into the kingdom of the polar bear. We explore the coastline, with no open sea crossings, against a backdrop of spectacular glacier covered peaks. We discover deep fjords in the west; mysterious, fossil-rich desert plains in the east; and best of all, seals and whales in the Arctic pack ice. This voyage offers the best chance for seeing reindeer and polar bears, and features wildflower walks across sweeping tundra, trapper camps and historical remains of whaling stations.

Mighty polar bears create an unforgettable spectacle, whether hunting seals on pack ice, shepherding cubs along a beach or swimming near our Zodiacs. High above the Arctic Circle, we explore deep fjords, polar deserts, tundra tinged with wildflowers and vast glaciers calving into the sea. On foot and by Zodiac, we visit abandoned whaling settlements, search for walrus, Arctic fox and reindeer and revel in millions of migratory birds, including little auks, guillemots and puffin. The seas are alive with whales, bearded and possibly ringed seals. Kayaking is available on this voyage.

We will ‘adopt a Polar Bear’ on behalf of each passenger booked on our ‘Spitsbergen Odyssey’ voyages in 2014. The new ‘adopt a Polar Bear’ initiative will support the WWF wildlife adoption program, assisting to conserve the Arctic’s rich biodiversity and maintaining a healthy environment for the Polar Bears; specifically targeting the bears in the Svalbard archipelago, the region that Aurora visits each year. Each passenger will receive a complimentary polar bear adoption pack, including certificate and updates on how the donations are being spent throughout the year.

Optional kayaking package available at additional cost.

Itinerary

Explore Longyearbyen’s art galleries and museum before being welcomed on Polar Pioneer.

Wake to spectacular alpine peaks and glacier valleys of Spitsbergen’s rugged west coast. In Magdalenefjorden we Zodiac cruise a safe distance from the aqua-blue ice cliffs of 14th July Glacier or Waggonway Glacier, and take long walks among summer flowers, alert for reindeer and Arctic fox. Thanks to the nutrient-rich Gulf Stream and relatively mild temperatures Atlantic puffins and thick-billed murres fill the cliffs. We may visit the remains of a 350-year-old Dutch whaling settlement on Amsterdam Island and hear of Swedish explorer Andrée’s ill-fated attempt to balloon over the North Pole.

We enter the Arctic Ocean and the world of pack ice. Ghostly beluga whales rise up in open leads, walrus impossibly crowd ice floes, and polar bears stalk ringed, bearded and harp seals. In coastal mountains, we visit trapper huts and stay alert for reindeer and Arctic fox. Delightful walks reveal exquisite tundra berries and flowers including purple saxifrage, yellow spider plants and Svalbard poppies. We attempt to cross latitude 80° North before turning south to Woodfjorden.

We attempt to pass through narrow Hinlopen Strait, a channel flanked by austere, cream-coloured slopes rich in fossils between Spitsbergen and ice-capped Nordaustlandet. This polar desert is a landscape eroded by severe frost. Even in summer, pack ice could bar our way, but there is much to strive for. We Zodiac beneath Alkefjellt, sheer basalt cliffs rising more than 250 metres – literally buzzing with some 200,000 nests of Brunnich’s guillemots. On walks we seek eider ducks, Arctic foxes and elusive Svalbard ptarmigan. As we pass Barents and Edge islands, we cross polar bear migration routes.

If ice conditions allow, we round South Cape and sail north toward Hornsund and Bellsund, deep fjords with stunning glaciers and wildlife. If ice bars our way, we simply adjust our itinerary, backtrack and delve deeper into the wonders of Spitsbergen’s north and west coasts.

A midnight cruise of glorious Isfjorden returns us to Longyearbyen, the end of our voyage and a group transfer to the airport.

Notes