DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | QUAD | TRIPLE PORTHOLE | TWIN PORTHOLE | TWIN WINDOW | TWIN DELUXE | SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Jun 20, 2024 | Jul 04, 2024 | 8,000 | 10,000 | 11,200 | 12,100 | 12,800 | 13,700 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
QUAD | (Mid-range)
TWIN WINDOW | (High-end)
SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Jun 20, 2024 | Jul 04, 2024 | 8,000 | 12,100 | 13,700 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Largest town, biggest island
You
touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen,
the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around
this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make
for fascinating attractions.
Though
the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant
have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of
Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
Day
2: Spectacular Hornsund
We
start the day by quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular
Hornsund area in southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of towering
mountain peaks. The mountain of Hornsundtind rises to 1,431 meters
(4,695 feet), while the peak of Bautaen testifies to why early Dutch
explorers gave this island the name Spitsbergen, meaning
“pointed mountains.”
There
are 14 magnificent glaciers in the area, and we have a fair chance of
encountering seals and polar bears.
The
nearby cliffs of Sofiakammen are also home to thousands of pairs of
nesting kittiwakes and little auks, and in the evening, we might see
thousands of harp seals rutting on ice floes at Sørkapp.
Long
hike - If
conditions permit, we land at Treskelodden, then walk from Treskelen to
Adriabukta. From there we walk west to Hyrneodden and north to the
glacier in Wibewika (about 16 km / 10 miles), where we will be picked
up. The other guests will have their program in Brepollen (morning) and
Luciakammen or Sofiakammen (afternoon). We might also do this program
in reverse.
Day
3: Long excursion at Diskobukta
After
navigating the drift ice of Storfjorden, where we sometimes see harp
seals, we land in northwest Edgeøya at the northern bank of
Rosenberdalriver. Here on the raised beach, we have the opportunity of
walking to Rosenbergdalen, which is teeming with grazing reindeer.
Afterward
we plan to walk by a cliff with nesting black guillemots on our way to
Stretehamna, where we often find a herd of walruses on the beach near
an octagonal trapper’s cabin built in 1905.
We
can also see the remains of a 19th-century Pomor house as well as the
bones of walruses hunted in previous centuries.
Long
hike - If
conditions permit, we land at Blankoddden, near a large kittiwake
colony in a beautiful canyon, then walk north along the coast to Kapp
Lee (about 20 km / 12.4 miles) or to the south side of Rosenbergdalen
(about 17 km / 10.6 miles), where we will be picked up. We might also
do this program in reverse.
If
this long hike is not possible, we might offer an alternative hike on
day 4.
Day
4: Trapper´s history in Freemansundet
Sailing
into the waterway of Freemansundet, we plan to land at the tundra
lowland of Sundneset, on the island of Barentsøya.
Here
we will visit the hut of a German scientific expedition
(Würzbugerhütte) from sixty years ago, then take a
brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen reindeer and
barnacle geese. After that, we plan to go on a Zodiac cruise near
Freeman Glacier and visit a kittiwake colony in a canyon close by.
In
case of heavy ice in Freemandundet, however, we will instead sail to
Negribreen, one of the most extensive glacier fronts on the east side
of Spitsbergen. Here we can take a Zodiac cruise and land on Walrus
Island, which became ice-free at the end of last century.
Long
hike - If
conditions permit, we land in Barentsøya, near small lakes
with wildfowl and waders, then walk east along the coast of
Barentsøya to Freemanbreen. After about 10 km (6.2 miles),
we will pass a colony of kittiwakes. After another 10 km walk, we will
be picked up at the west side of Freemanbreen. This is a good area to
spot polar bears. We might also do this program in reverse.
Day
5: Ivory gulls in Agardhfjellet
Today
we sail to the east side of west Spitsbergen (west side of Storfjorden).
Here
we plan to walk to breeding places for ivory gulls in Agardhfjellet,
which stands about 300 meters (980 feet) high.
The
valley leading to the outcrops that house the nests is littered with
fossils of belemnites and ammonites.
Day
6: South Spitsbergen
Today
we aim to land at the mountain of Stellingfjellet, near the largest
colony of Brünnich’s guillemots in Spitsbergen.
Later in the day, we will make landings at the rarely visited coast of
south Spitsbergen, at the bay of Isbukta.
Day
7: Bell Sund’s flora, fauna, and haunting history
We
continue our voyage 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, we can explore tundra where
reindeer like to feed as well as rock slopes where little auks are
breeding.
Long
hike - If
conditions permit, we land at Recherchelagune and walk along the
eastern shore of Recherchefjord, by Laegerneset (17th century whaling
station). Our goal is to reach Ahlstrandhalvøya, and from
there to Ingebrigtsenbukta. If need be, our Zodiacs can help us at the
mouth of the river. We might also do this hike in reverse or land at
Ingeborgfjellet, then walk along the coast to the west side of van
Muydenbukta, along a shore with many whale skeletons.
Day
8: There and back again
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.
Day
1: Largest town, biggest island
You
touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen,
the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around
this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make
for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more
than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early
evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first
minke whale of your voyage.
Day
2-7: North Spitsbergen’s natural beauty, wildlife, and
pack-ice
This
voyage will take you into the pack ice and along the remote shorelines
of rugged north Spitsbergen.
Places
we might visit include the following:
Raudfjord
On
the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can enjoy this expansive fjord
spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and
bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline also support thriving seabird
colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.
Monaco
Glacier
Depending
on the weather and sea ice, we could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise
within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of Monaco
Glacier. The waters in front of this precipitous 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 us from
sailing here early in the season, we may sail along the west coast of
Spitsbergen.
Highlights
of Hinlopen
We
aim to sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals,
and polar bears. At the entrance, there is even the possibility to spot
blue whales. After cruising among the ice floes of
Lomfjordshalvøya in the Zodiacs, you can view the bird
cliffs of Alkefjellet, with their thousands of
Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopen
Strait, we may attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet. Here we may see
reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses. We can take an alternate
route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen.
The
Seven Islands
The
northernmost point of the voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in the
Seven Islands. Here we may 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.
Sailing
the continental shelf
While
retracing our route west, keep watch for polar bears and elusive
Greenland (bowhead) whales. About 40 nautical miles west of
Spitsbergen, we sail the edge of the continental shelf. Here fin whales
forage during the summer in the upwelling zones (where cold,
nutrient-rich water wells up from below the sea’s surface)
that run along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of Kongsfjorden, you
have a good chance of sighting minke whales.
Forlandsundet,
St. Johns Fjord, or Alkhornet
Walruses
sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet. Alternatively, we might sail into
St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at
Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for
fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
Day
8: There and back again
Even
great adventures must eventually come to an end. The vessel arrives
back in Longyearbyen in the early morning, and bus transportation to
the airport will be provided.
Plancius (Expedition, 108-guests)
MV Plancius offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view. The vessel has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 4), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V 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 snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels
and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from
Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout
the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
Excluded
from this voyage
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is
strongly recommended).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature
such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for
stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be
provided).
