Travel Scandinavia Baltic Tours Antarctica Expedition Cruises

Join us early season to experience the endless days of the Midnight Sun while exploring this stunning Arctic archipelago. The pristine scenery will astound and early in the season, the ice is at its most spectacular before the summer melt. The birdlife is remarkable and sightings of whale, walrus and the “king” himself – the Polar Bear abound in their natural habitat. Experience Arctic nature “up close” through Zodiac cruising and landings on the tundra and along the shores of the fjords.

Please note that the 2012 departure will be a 10 day cruise

Itinerary

Embark M/V Polar Star in the charming Arctic town of Longyearbyen

The ship first visits the settlements of Barentsburg and Ny-Alesund. Barentsburg is a Russian community and a coal mining town. Ny-Alesund is the centre for scientific study in the high Arctic and was named by great grandfather Karlsen after his hometown, Alesund in Norway. It was from here that Amundsen and Noble set off by balloon to North Pole in 1926. From there civilization is left behind and to a large extent the ice and weather will dictate the program. Some of the landing places and cruising areas may include Magdalenefjord, Amsterdamøya, Danskøya, Kongsfjorden, Forlandsundet, Bellsund, Hornsund and Isfjorden. The ship will first head north with the goal of reaching Moffen Island. Although it is forbidden to land, the island is famous for its walrus haul out. In spring as the winter pack ice begins to break up seals are breeding and birdlife returns to the icy wastes. Polar Bear females emerge from snow dens with their new cubs to patrol the pack ice and the ocean teams with life. Seabird colonies fill up with breeding Little auks, Guillemots, Puffins, Kittiwakes and Arctic terns and Barnacle geese return to the tundra. On land there are historic huts, remains from the whaling era and the chance to see the diminutive Svalbard Reindeer, Arctic foxes and birdlife. In open water and along the ice edge a look out is kept for marine mammals including pods of Beluga – white whales. The warm Gulf Stream reaches the west coast of Spitsbergen allowing navigation much further north than elsewhere in the Arctic, the ship hopes to get up to 80° North.

Our journey concludes with a very early arrival to Longyearbyen so that those wishing to take the early flight can be on time.

Notes