Around Spitsbergen

Why Join This Cruise:

• Explore one of the world's last pristine wilderness regions, the High Arctic, an area that annually receives fewer visitors than Antarctica


• Spitsbergen is the best place in the whole Arctic to see polar bears, as well as other wildlife including walruses, whales, seals and birdlife


• Travel aboard a small (max. 48) ice-strengthened vessel, ensuring a very personalised expeditionary experience and ease of logistics on landings

Trip Overview
For those travellers who have set their heart on seeing the great white bear in its natural habitat, this is undoubtedly the trip for you. With a population of bears thought to be in the region of 3,000 between Svalbard and Franz Josef land, this is arguably the best pace in the whole of The Arctic in which to see them, and no expedition for the last +5 years having not managed to achieve this. On this great voyage, you will also cruise along the face of vast glaciers, have ample opportunity to walk the tundra and experience other Arctic fauna and flora and learn about the history and geology of this pristine area.



Daily Itinerary

Day 1 Longyearbyen/ Embarkation
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Time to explore prior to embarkation of your expeditionary ship in late afternoon.

Day 2 Krossfjorden/ 14th of July Glacier/ Ny Ålesund
Heading north along the west coast, your first port of call is Krossfjorden where we take to the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the slopes, a colourful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich's Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, patrolling the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord.

Afternoon sail to Ny Ålesund, the world's most northerly settlement and now a research centre. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile for their airships (1926 & 1928) before their flights to the North Pole. Those into birdlife can enjoy the nearby breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns.

Day 3 Smeerenburg/ Hinlopen Strait
At Smeerenburg on Amsterdamøya, visit the remains of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station. The voyage continues around the north coast of West Spitsbergen as you head for the Hinlopen Strait.

Day 4 Hinlopen Strait
Before turning south into Hinlopen Strait (if the pack-ice allows) you will have reached the most northerly position. On and around the ice at the entrance to the strait, there is a good chance of seeing Bearded and Ringed seals, Polar bears and Ivory gulls. On the eastern side of Lomfjordshalvøya take a Zodiac cruise through the ice floes to the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, where thousands of Brünnich's guillemots nest in a spectacular setting. The basalt pillars, rising up hundreds of metres, and the overhanging ice cap with its waterfall, are an awe-inspiring sight. Evening landing in Augustabukta on the island of Nordaustlandet, the most northerly of the major Spitsbergen islands. Spitsbergen reindeer graze the sparse vegetation of this largely ice-covered island, where Pink-footed geese, walrus and a rare Ivory gull colony are also found.

Day 5 Nordaustlandet
Go ashore at Svartknausflya, a 'polar desert' that receives so little precipitation that not even hardy tundra plants can survive. The bare, sandy hills contrast with the backdrop of the world's third largest ice cap, which plunges into the sea nearby.

Day 6 Olgastreet
Sailing southwest through Olgastreet, you may encounter the magnificent, but now rare Greenland whale, which was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century.

Day 7 Freemansundet/ Edgeøya
In Freemansundet the plan is to land at Sundneset on the island of Barentsøya to visit a trapper's old hut and then take a brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen reindeer and Barnacle geese. Later, cruise south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya. After a Zodiac cruise through the shallow bay, land on a beach littered with whale bones. During the breeding season, the base of the cliffs here are patrolled by Arctic foxes and Polar bears, especially females with cubs, searching for young birds that have fallen from the nesting ledges.

Day 8 Bölscheøya/ Aekongen
Morning landing on the attractive island of Bölscheøya, to the south of Edgeøya. Look out for a variety of birdlife. In the afternoon the intention is to land on Aekongen where there is a complete Greenland whale skeleton. There are also spectacular basalt rock-columns here, and you may also see Common eiders with chicks. At night sail to Sørkap, the southern tip of Spitsbergen.

Day 9 Hornsund
Start the day quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the 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 14 magnificent glaciers in the area and a very good chance of encounters with seals and Polar bears.

Day 10 Ahlstrandhalvøya/ Recherchefjorden
Today land on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden. Here, piles of Beluga skeletons are yet another reminder of the ravages of 19th-century whaling.
Fortunately, Belugas were not hunted to extinction and may still be seen locally. Cruising into Recherchefjorden during the afternoon you can explore the tundra at the head of the fjord where many reindeer feed.

Day 11 Longyearbyen/ Embark
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight home via Oslo.

Note
All 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.

Adventure Activities on some departures

• Kayaking

*Only available on departures on Akademik Shokalskiy
**Please note this optional activity carries a supplementary cost



The Boats
The following boats are available for this cruise, please refer to the 'Arctic Boats' section for full details:

Expeditionary:
Professor Molchanov
Akademik Shokalskiy

Adventure:
Antarctic Dream
Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Cruise dates for 2009

Akademik Sergey Vavilov
5th - 15th Jun
5th - 15th Jul
4th - 14th Aug
14th - 24th Aug
24th Aug - 6th Sep

Akademik Shokalskiy
12th - 22nd Jun
22nd Jun - 2nd Jul
12th - 22nd Jul
22nd Jul - 1st Aug
1st - 11th Aug
11th - 21 Aug
21st - 31st Aug
31st Aug - 13th Sep

Professor Molchanov
25th Jul - 4th Aug

Antarctic Dream
6th - 16th Jul
16th - 26th Jul
26th Jul - 5th Aug
5th - 15th Aug
15th - 25th Aug

Plancius
28th Jun - 8th Jul
8th - 18th Jul
18th - 28th Jul
28th Jul - 7th Aug
7th - 17th Aug
17th - 27th Aug

Guide Price
(based on Cruise only)

	Prices from:
Sharing triple cabin without private facilities (not available on some departures)	£2,450pp*
Sharing twin cabin without private facilities	£3,195pp*
Sharing twin cabin with private facilities	£3,465pp*
Sharing superior cabin with private facilities	£3,995pp*
Sharing suite with private facilities (not available on some departures)	£4,160pp*

*These prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

Single Supplements on board
Single supplements are typically 1.8 times the cost of twin berth. Please ring for a quote.

To discuss this trip, for further details or to check boat availability, please either:

Call 01285 880981
Email voyages@steppestravel.co.uk

Steppes Travel cruise destinations include: Alaska, Amazon, Antarctica, Arctic, Baja Mexico, Galapagos, Papau New Guinea, Nile