Spitsbergen Adventure Cruise - Polar Encounters

See pristine nature, polar bears and puffins in Spitsbergen’s northwest corner

This adventurous voyage from Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, takes us on MS Nordstjernen, navigating northbound from Longyearbyen to the remote Moffen Island, taking in fjords, glaciers and Arctic settlements along the way.

Known as the ‘land of the cold coasts’, Svalbard is rich in wildlife and dramatic scenery and we will watch in awe as we sail through the bays and channels of this starkly beautiful outreach of northern Europe.

Arctic fox, reindeer, seal and walrus abound, and there is an excellent chance of spotting whales, as well as the solitary overlord of these Arctic regions, the polar bear.

Coastal settlements
Our journey begins in Spitsbergen’s capital, Longyearbyen, now a major centre for polar research.

We will learn some of the history of the area and life on the island today before embarking on our voyage. After sailing to the Russian settlement of Barentsburg, we proceed through the Icefjord and along the coast of Prins Karl’s Forland, before reaching the northwest corner of Spitsbergen.

Passing magnificent glaciers, including the stunning Monaco Glacier and the ‘seven icebergs’ we travel beyond 80 degrees north and enter a world of ice sculptures and towering granite mountains.

Birdlife and bears
As fierce as the wastes and weather, is the sole king of this realm, the polar bear, who shares this distant, beautiful wilderness with any number of kittiwakes, seals, Arctic foxes, whales and walruses. There are estimated to be some 2,500 polar bears in the Svalbard archipelago.

Magnificent and solitary, these animals grow to a staggering 700kg and there is every chance that we will come across one of these awe-inspiring beasts as we cruise through the ice floes. There are also estimated to be more than 110 types of migratory birds in this region and our on board team of experts will ensure that we get the best out of our wildlife viewing, both from the deck of MS Nordstjernen and from our daily shore visits by Polar Cirkel boats.

Glaciers and Ice
Continuing south we enter the poetically named Smeerenburgfjord (meaning ‘Blubbertownfjord’) a stark land of barren mountains that was once the home to a whaling station.

Passing Magdalenefjord and the Wagonway glacier we visit Moffen Island, where we enter the realm of the walrus and at the Krossfjord birdcliffs we will stand beneath swirling, teeming flocks of Arctic tern, guillemot and puffin, and maybe a razorbill or two. We will also explore the glacier walls, towering ramparts of blues and turquoise that constantly roar as they calve into the frozen waters below.

And finally we travel to Ny-Ålesund, the most northerly permanently inhabited settlement on the planet, with a rich history in polar exploration and the world’s most northerly post office.

View information about your adventure cruise ship, the MS Nordstjernen

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UK: 0845 226 2475
Overseas: +44 1756 693609

Itinerary Weekly Tuesday Departures
Click here for the Sunday Departures Itinerary
DAY 1	Fly to Oslo to spend a night at an airport hotel.
DAY 2	Fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen; transfer to Spitsbergen Hotel.
DAY 3	Optional guided walk to the Plateau Mountain and visits to the Svalbard Museum and the Svalbard Gallery. Embark on MS Nordstjernen, your home for the next three days. Visit Russian settlement of Barentsburg, optional visits to the Pomor Museum and a folklore show. Sail out of the Icefjord, along the coast of Prins Karl’s Forland and past the Kongsfjord heading north.
DAY 4	Past the ‘seven icebergs’ to Magdalenefjord and Raudfjord.
DAY 5	In Woodfjord area, past the front of the Monaco glacier. Sail on to Moffen Island.
DAY 6	Arrival at Ny–Ålesund.
DAY 7	Early morning arrival at Longyearbyen. Transfer to airport for UK flight.
The itinerary and excursions for the Spitsbergen cruise are preliminary and subject to change depending on ice and weather conditions.

Departure dates from UK for 2006 Tuesdays 13 June - 15 August 2006 Sundays 18 June - 20 August 2006 Daytime/evening flights with Scandinavian Airlines between London Heathrow and Longyearbyen (via Oslo).

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