HIGHLIGHTS
- Cruise
narrow arctic fjords, past the towering faces of massive glaciers
- Visit
arctic research stations and historic settlements
- Travel
to within 540 miles of the North Pole
- Experience
thronging seabird colonies and walrus haul outs
- Watch
the solitary arctic hunters—polar bears, ringed and bearded
seals and arctic fox
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Quad Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin Porthole Deck 4 | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior |
|---|
| Jul 10, 2024 | Jul 19, 2024 | 5,400 | 6,550 | 7,700 | 8,300 | 9,000 | 10,000 |
| Jul 19, 2024 | Jul 28, 2024 | 5,400 | 6,550 | 7,700 | 8,300 | 9,000 | 10,000 |
| Jul 28, 2024 | Aug 06, 2024 | 5,400 | 6,550 | 7,700 | 8,300 | 9,000 | 10,000 |
| Jul 12, 2025 | Jul 21, 2025 | 5,650 | 7,000 | 8,200 | 8,850 | 9,500 | 10,650 |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Jul 30, 2025 | 5,650 | 7,000 | 8,200 | 8,850 | 9,500 | 10,650 |
| Jul 30, 2025 | Aug 08, 2025 | 5,650 | 7,000 | 8,200 | 8,850 | 9,500 | 10,650 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Quad Porthole | (Mid-range)
Twin Window | (High-end)
Superior |
|---|
| Jul 10, 2024 | Jul 19, 2024 | 5,400 | 8,300 | 10,000 |
| Jul 19, 2024 | Jul 28, 2024 | 5,400 | 8,300 | 10,000 |
| Jul 28, 2024 | Aug 06, 2024 | 5,400 | 8,300 | 10,000 |
| Jul 12, 2025 | Jul 21, 2025 | 5,650 | 8,850 | 10,650 |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Jul 30, 2025 | 5,650 | 8,850 | 10,650 |
| Jul 30, 2025 | Aug 08, 2025 | 5,650 | 8,850 | 10,650 |
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive in
Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago
of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there
is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose
parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the early
evening, the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.
Day 2: Heading north
along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we
board the Zodiacs for a cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of
July Glacier. On the green slopes near the glacier, a colourful variety
of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwake and
Brünnich’s Guillemot nest on the nearby cliffs.
There is also a good chance of spotting Arctic Fox, who patrol the base
of the cliffs in case a chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seal,
who cruise this fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny
Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement.
Once a mining village - served by the world’s most northerly
railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a
research centre. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle
Goose, Pink-footed Goose and Arctic Tern. Visitors interested in the
history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast
used by Amundsen and Nobile, in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in
the airship Italia in 1928, before their flights to the North Pole.
Day 3: Depending on
the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight
of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of the precipitous Monaco
Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a favorite feeding
spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular
polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent sailing here early
in the season, an alternate route along the west coast of Spitsbergen
can be implemented.
Days 4-5: The
northernmost point of your voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in
the Seven Islands. Here you reach 80° north, just 870 km (540
miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region,
so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before
wheeling around west again.
When
the edge of this sea ice is tens of miles north of the Seven Islands
(mostly in August), you can spend a second day in this area.
Alternatively (mostly in July) you may turn to Sorgfjord, where you
have the chance to find a herd of walruses not far from the graves of
17th-century whalers. A nature walk here can bring you close to
families of ptarmigans, and the opposite side of the fjord is also a
beautiful area for an excursion.
Day 6: Today we will
sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to Bearded Seal, Ringed Seal, Polar
Bear, and Ivory Gull. We’ll navigate the ice floes of
Lomfjordshalvøya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs
of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s
Guillemot. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, we’ll attempt
a landing at Augustabukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer,
Pink-footed Goose, breeding Ivory Gull, and Walrus. Near Torrelneset,
we will explore the polar desert of Nordaustlandet, next to the
world’s third largest ice cap, which meets the sea nearby. We
will walk along beautiful coastline covered in smooth rocks, sculpted
by the surf over thousands of years. We may encounter Walrus along the
way.
Day 7: We will plan
to make landings in Freemansundet, though polar bears sometimes make
this impossible. Potential stops on Barentsøya include
Sundneset (for an old trapper’s hut), Kapp Waldburg (for its
kittiwake colony), and Rindedalen (for a walk across the tundra). You
might also cruise south to Diskobukta, though Kapp Lee is more likely
your destination. On Kapp Lee are a walrus haul-out, Pomor ruins, and
the chance for hikes along Edgeøya.
Day 8: We 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 also 14 magnificent
glaciers in the area and very good chances of encounters with seals and
Polar Bear.
Day 9: Today we will
arrive in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in Svalbard. The
ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other areas in the
archipelago, which shows in the relatively lush vegetation. Here there
are excellent opportunities to enjoy both history and wildlife. A
possibility is Ahlstrandhalvøya, at the mouth of Van
Keulenfjorden, where piles of beluga skeletons can be found. These
remains of 19th-century whale slaughter are a haunting reminder of the
consequences of rampant exploitation. Fortunately, belugas were not
hunted into extinction, and you have a good chance of coming across a
pod. Alternately, while cruising the side fjords of Bellsund, you can
explore tundra where reindeer like to feed as well as rock slopes where
little auks are breeding.
Day 10: Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You
disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you
wherever your next adventure lies.
Ortelius (Expedition, 108-guests)
Ortelius offers a comfortable hotel standard, with a u-shaped, a bar and a lecture room. Our voyages are primarily developed to offer our passengers a quality exploratory wildlife program, trying to spend as much time ashore as possible. As the number of passengers is limited to approximately 116 on the Ortelius, flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities. Ortelius carries 10 zodiacs
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff
- Free
use of rubber boots and snow shoes
- Transfers
and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for
those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen
