Spitsbergen Explorer: WildLife Capital Of Arctic (11 Days)
Our Spitsbergen Explorer tour is perfect if you prefer short sea voyages with frequent shore landings and Zodiac cruises. Here you'll find enough polar bears, reindeer, walrus and whales to keep your camera constantly clicking. A bounty of seabirds, including Arctic terns, skua, barnacle geese and snow buntings are found here as well.
Expedition in Brief:
- Snowshoeing on selected expeditions
- Hiking
- Polar desert exploration
- Unique Arctic wildlife – polar bears, walrus, reindeer
- Continuous daylight
- Zodiac cruising
- Optional kayak adventure on selected expeditions
Day 1
Embarkation Day in Longyearbyen
Day 2 - 10
Exploring Spitsbergen
Each expedition presents new opportunities so we have no fixed itinerary, however we do hope to visit some of our favorite destinations, including 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Phippsoya, Alkhornet and the Hinlopen Straight.
The destinations visited on your voyage will be selected for optimum wildlife viewing and appreciation of the history and geology of Spitsbergen. Polar bear viewing is almost guaranteed, with Phippsoya being one of their preferred hunting areas since the towering cliffs of Alkefjellet provide many free bird egg meals for both them and the Arctic fox.
Torellneset and Phippsoya are great places for walrus photography. Coming across a walrus haul-out is a moment you won’t forget either. These giant pinnipeds of the Arctic create quite a noisy scene as each walrus vies for a choice spot of coastline.
If you’re itching to get a little closer to the action, you can book the kayaking option and take an excursion to some of the more isolated pockets of Spitsbergen. Smeerenburg is a great place for snowshoeing (optional and complimentary outings on selected voyages), where you can visit a memorial erected in 1906. This historical site remembers the whalers who lost their lives in the 17th and 18th centuries while working in extreme Arctic conditions.
There is no shortage of natural beauty in Spitsbergen. The tundra can be surprisingly colorful in summer, with wildflowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Each day you’ll see something new, whether it is a rare bird species or an abandoned site from centuries ago.