North Spitsbergen

Why Join This Cruise:

• Only 8 days in length and operates in June only, one of the best times to visit The Arctic with the most sunshine and maximum birdlife in the colonies


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


• Spitsbergen is the best place in the whole Arctic for wildlife, with an almost guarantee to see polar bears, as well as walruses, whales, seals and birdllife

Trip Overview
Spitsbergen, or Svalbard in Norwegian, is almost universally acknowledged as THE best place in the whole of the High Arctic to see wildlife. Covering an area almost as big as Ireland, Spitsbergen, with its tiny population of 3500 living in five settlements, is still virtually unspoilt, and offers wonderful opportunities for those seeking a combined wilderness and wildlife adventure.



Daily Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 2
Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded.
Our exact itinerary depends on weather, ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter. Each day we make several landings with our rigid Zodiac craft and thanks to the midnight sun we can go ashore day and night. Here are a few of the many places we hope to visit:

Barentsburg
We plan to visit the Russian enclave Barentsburg.A local guide shows us around this fascinating coal mining settlement founded here in 1932.

Ny Ålesund
This is a unique opportunity to send a card from the world`s northernmost post offi ce. Svalbard reindeer roam through this town seemingly unaware of our presence and Arctic terns nest along the roads. It was here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole by airship.

Danes`Island
Two of the most courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started here. Swedish balloonist Andrée made an attempt with hydrogen balloon and American journalist Wellman started out with airship. We are guided around the site, which islittered with remnants from the heroic era.

East Spitsbergen
Heading east we meet the massive pack ice border. We are now off the beaten track in a wilderness virtually untouched by man. We enjoy the silence and the grandeur of this icy landscape. Here our odds of fi nding polar bears are the greatest, and we will keep a constant lookout on the bridge during our time in the ice.

Nordaustlandet
We cruise along a massive icecap stretching down to the sea where it forms a long glacier front intersected by hundreds of melt-waterfalls. This is a favourite area for seals and bears.

Storöya
When ice conditions are light we can land on this isolated island east of Nordaustlandet. Storöya is a real gem and one of our favourite spots. We see large groups of walrus lounging on the beaches and polar bears are frequently spotted here.

Hinlopen Strait
It is exciting sailing though this strait, an area of very heavy ice concentrations. The waters here are especially nutritious, which explains the large quantities of sea birds. We visit a colony of 600 000 guillemots nesting on vertical cliffs.

Day 8
We retrace our route back to Longyearbyen. In the evening we anchor in a bay and celebrate the completion of the expedition with a farewell dinner.

Day 9
We retrace our route back to Longyearbyen. In the evening we anchor in a bay and celebrate the completion of the expedition with a farewell dinner.

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



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

Adventure:
Antarctic Dream

MS Quest

Cruise dates for 2009

Antarctic Dream
12th - 19th June
19th - 26th June*

*Please note that this departure is planned as bilingual departure ( English - German)

MS Quest
14th - 22nd June
21st - 29th June
5th - 13th July
12th - 20th July
19th - 27th July
26th July - 3rd August

Guide Price for 2009
(based on cruise only)

	Prices from:
Sharing twin Inside view cabin with private facilities	£2,310pp*
Sharing twin Outside view cabin with private facilities	£2,745pp*
Sharing superior cabin with private facilities	£3,050pp*
Sharing suite with private facilities	£3,395pp*

*These prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

Single Supplements on board
Single supplements available, 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