Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland

Why Join This Cruise:

• Fantastic 14 day expeditionary cruise combining the extraordinary wildlife of Spitsbergen with the dramatic scenery of East Greenland


• For any wildlife enthusiast,Spitsbergen is arguably the best place in the whole Arctic to see polar bears in their natural habitat, as well as walrus, seals, reindeer and a plethora of birdlife


• Voyage aboard a smaller ice strengthened ship, renowned for their excellent guides, informal atmosphere, expeditionary feel and ease of logistics. Optional kayaking available.

Trip Overview
This unique High Arctic expeditionary voyage incorporates the jewels of The Arctic: Spitsbergen, East Greenland and an introduction to Iceland at the end. Spitsbergen, the most wildlife-rich part of the entire Arctic region, with its sheltered fjords, dazzling glaciers and rich history is an extraordinary destination in its own right. Little visited and ice-locked for much of the year, enigmatic East Greenland's great draw is its magnificent scenery, gigantic icebergs and a good chance of seeing The Northern Lights. There are very few polar voyages available which offer any like such variety in terms of wildlife and landscapes, which is what makes this particular trip so compelling.




Daily Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive into Longyearbyen, deep inside The Arctic Circle and only 600 miles from The North Pole. Longyearbyen is the seat of government for the archipelago of Svalbard, Norway's Arctic islands.

Located on the picturesque island of Spitsbergen, the community has a modest population of just over two thousand. You should have time to explore this remote outpost prior to boarding of the ship in the late afternoon and the beginning of your Arctic odyssey.

Once onboard you will be introduced to your expeditionary staff and have time to settle into your cabin before the ship gets underway. Evening briefing by wish expeditionary leader followed by dinner.

Days 2-4
Exploring Spitsbergen and the islands of Svalbard
Over the course of the next few days the ship will make its way up the western edge of the island of Spitsbergen, exploring as you go with regular daily landings and excursions by zodiac to explore. Where possible there will be opportunity to explore the tundra on foot.

The Expedition Team plans all your activities to take advantage of local weather and ice conditions. Anticipate visits to the stunning 14th of July Glacier, a vast wall of ice, the settlement of Ny Alesund, a base station of international Arctic research, and the Monaco Glacier.

Be on the alert at all times for wildlife, in particular polar bears, who hunt along the edges of the pack ice for seals. With a bear population of approximately 3,000 between Spitsbergen and Franz Josef land, there are excellent chances of sightings and your expeditionary staff will be doing their best to ensure a successful sighting.

Sightings of Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Ducks, Kittiwakes, Glaucous Gulls and reindeer are possible. Moffen Island is a renowned walrus sanctuary, and if the conditions are right you may see walrus hauled out on shore or swimming in the protected waters.

Days 5 & 6 Greenland Sea
During the crossing from the west coast of Spitsbergen to north-eastern Greenland, your Expedition Team will deliver illustrated presentations about the wildlife and cultures they anticipate you will encounter in Greenland.

Days 7-10 Eastern Greenland
The coast of eastern Greenland is remote, wild, rugged and ice-bound for much of the year, barring travel to this pristine area for almost all of the year, apart from a narrow window between August and October.

Over the course of the next few days you will travel southwards exploring the inlets and fjords of this ragged and striking coastline. Daily excursions will be undertaken, exploring the land on foot and iceberg choked waterways by zodiac. Please note that every expedition is different in that local weather and ice conditions will directly affect the daily itinerary agreed between the captain and expeditionary leader.

This area is less prolific in terms of wildlife than Spitsbergen, but with opportunity for sightings of the elusive musk ox, gyr falcon and arctic hare.

One of the greatest attractions of any trip to Greenland is the chance of seeing the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), being further from The North Pole than Spitsbergen with darker nights. Clear skies are required, so hopefully you'll be lucky, as it really is the most incredible phenomenon.

Before you leave Greenland you will hopefully have the opportunity to sail into Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord in the world and from where vast icebergs are born. This really is a little visited area of stunning fjords and serrated mountain ranges, where you are unlikely to meet anyone else.

Days 11 & 12 Denmark Strait
While crossing Denmark Strait en route to Iceland, we'll watch for whales, and learn about the extraordinary geology and history of Iceland.

Day 13 Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
The history of the Westman Islands is as shrouded by the mists of time as a Norse Saga. The name refers to a term used by the Norse to refer to Irishmen, or west men. Like the rest of Iceland, the Westman Islands are volcanically active. As recently as 1963, a new island, Surtsey, was created.

Day 14
This expedition disembarks in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, from where you can fly home from either Reykjavik or nearby Keflavik.

Important Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programmes 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

** Please note that the kayaking carries a supplementary cost



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

Small Adventure:
Polar Pioneer
Akademik Shokalskiy

Medium Adventure:
Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Cruise dates for 2009

Polar Pioneer
23rd Jul - 5th Aug

Akademik Sergey Vavilov
24th Aug - 6th Sept*

Akademik Shokalskiy
31st Aug - 13th Sept*

Kayaking
*Kayaking is offered on two of the departures for a limited number (additional supplement), please ask for further details.

Guide Price for 2009

Cabin Type (from guide price quoted per person)	Vavilov	Polar Pioneer	Shokalskiy
Triple cabin	£2,895	£3,590	£3,750
Twin cabin with shared bathroom	£4,035	£4,260	£4,435
Twin cabin with semi shared bathroom	£4,260	N/A	N/A
Twin cabin with private bathroom	£4,550	£4,995	£5,175
Superior	£4,830	£5,575	£5,970
Suite	£5,060	£6,095	£6,770
Cook Suite	£5,460	N/A	N/A

Notes
Please note that these prices are a guide only and are subject to exchange rate fluctuations and fuel surcharges.

Single Supplement
For those solo travellers wishing to secure their own cabin, typically a multiplier of 1.7 a single berth is used to calculate the single supplement. Please contact the office for a quotation.

Includes

• 14 day voyage based on full board


• All lectures and guide services on board


• On shore and zodiac based excursions


• Complimentary parka jacket for those travelling on Shokalskiy & Vavilov

Excludes

• All flights


• Pre/ post voyage accommodation and any additional arrangements not mentioned in the itinerary


• Travel insurance, vaccinations and visas


• Gratuities on board & any Items of a personal nature


• Additional fuel surcharge if levied by the boat's operators

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