Spitsbergen - Northern Lights
Lying some 650 kilometres north of Norway, the Spitsbergen archipelago (or Svalbard, as it is known in Norway) is by far the largest wilderness area in Europe. It covers an area of around the same size as Ireland, much of which lies under icy glaciers; some 3,000 people live in just four settlements, and there are only 50 kilometres of road. The name - given by Dutch explorer Willem Barents, who discovered it in 1596 on a mission to find a northern sea route to the fabled land of Cathay - refers to the jagged peaks in the north-west of the island. The onset of winter from late-September to mid-October is an ideal time to observe the unforgettable spectacle of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), when the night skies glow green and/or red due to a solar wind of charged particles colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere. This phenomenon is one of Mother Nature's most extraordinary displays!
- SOUTH SPITSBERGEN - 8 days - Itinerary
- Day 1.
- Embark in Longyearbyen and set sail for Alkhornet, a seabird cliff with a large colony of kittiwakes. Continue to Tryghamna and visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station.
- Days 2-5.
- Sail to Bell Sund; continue to Fridtjofhamna - the calving glacier Fridtjofbreen is surrounded by picturesque mountains, and the rich wildlife of the area has attracted hunters for several centuries. Polar bears are likely to be present anywhere in this area, so keep your eyes peeled!
- Day 6.
- Visit Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen.
- Day 7.
- Sail into the inner reaches of the Isfjord system; when the nights are clear here the temperature may drop to minus 10degrees Celsius, and new ice will form at the heads of the fjords.
- Day 8.
- Arrive Longyearbyen and disembark.
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- NORTH SPITSBERGEN - 8 days - Itinerary
- Day 1.
- Embark in Longyearbyen and set sail for Alkhornet, a seabird cliff with a large colony of kittiwakes. Continue to Tryghamna and visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station.
- Day 2.
- Sail through the Forlandsundet; weather permitting you will go ashore at Fuglehuken where the first western Europeans set foot on Spitsbergen. Nearby you may be able to visit a haul-out of harbour seals and walruses.
- Days 3-5.
- Visit Ny Alesund, the northernmost permanently inhabited village in the world, a centre for polar research and the starting point of many North Pole expeditions (e.g. those of Amundsen and Nobile). Although late in autumn, you should still see several species of eider ducks, seabirds, waders and snow buntings at the 14th of July Glacier.
- Days 6-7.
- Sail south into Engelskbukta and St Johnsfjorden or Sarstangen and Poolepynten, where walruses are often hauled out. Continue to Isfjord; weather permitting, make a landing. In the evening head for Longyearbyen.
- Day 8.
- Arrive Longyearbyen and disembark.
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- WEST SPITSBERGEN - 6 days - Itinerary
- Day 1.
- Embark Longyearbyen and overnight in port.
- Day 2.
- Early morning set sail for Alkhornet, a seabird cliff with a large colony of kittiwakes. Continue to Tryghamna and visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station.
- Day 3.
- Visit Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen. It is interesting to experience how the miners live through the polar winter.
- Day 4.
- Sail into the inner reaches of the Isfjord system to Ekmanfjord, along some beautiful glacier fronts. The first new ice will be forming at the heads of the fjords.
- Day 5.
- Kap Thordsen; arrive into Longyearbyen in the evening.
- Day 6.
- Arrive Longyearbyen and disembark.
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Note: Itineraries may vary according to departure date, local ice and weather conditions, the availability of landing sites and opportunities to see wildlife.
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Dates and Prices :
Aboard Noorderlich - Click here - Embark : Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
- Disembark : Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
- Voyage Duration : 6 or 8 days
- Departures : Late September to mid October
- Single Supplement : Please ask about our share programme which enables solo travellers to share a cabin with another solo traveller.
- What's Included : Voyage based on twin-share cabin; all meals on board; guided shore and Zodiac excursions; transfers.
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Flight & Accommodation Package : Please check with us for the latest flight prices to Longyearbyen and any additional accommodation you may require before and/or after the cruise.
