Spitsbergen, Land of the Ice Bear | Overseas | Spitsbergen

Overseas: Spitsbergen, Land of the Ice Bear

©Pete Smart: 2007

£3,495.00

Venue:

Spitsbergen (12 day)

Event Description:

Commonly known as Spitsbergen, the Norwegian name for this Arctic Archipelago is Svalbard. This unspoilt wilderness covers an area almost as big as the Republic of Ireland, yet has a population of only 3500 inhabitants in five settlements and nearly twice as many Polar Bears!

Only 600 miles from the North Pole there is surprisingly diverse scenery including, the rugged mountains in the west rising to over 1524 metres, deep fjords, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers. From time to time the coastal glaciers expel icebergs into the sea with a noise like thunder.

Spitsbergen’s abundant marine wildlife once drew many whalers and trappers to this remote area. Fortunately now whaling is banned several whale species can be found in these waters again. Visitors to Spitsbergen are now more discerning, appreciating and enjoying the natural attractions and taking the opportunity to capture only photographs. Most of the mammal species living on Spitsbergen rely in part or entirely on the sea, only the Spitsbergen Reindeer is entirely terrestrial. Spending their time between land, ice or sea we have the opportunity to see Spitsbergen’s wildlife close up including huge seabird colonies, Brünnich’s and Black Guillemot, Puffin, Little Auk, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, four species of Skua, the Svalbard Ptarmigan and the elusive Ivory Gull and mammals such as Walrus, Whales, Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Bearded, Harp & Ringed Seals, and of course, Polar Bear.

Spitsbergen has typical tundra vegetation of mosses and lichens, but there are also 250 species of fungi, 7 species of ferns and 164 flowering plants. We visit in the summer season, taking advantage of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, the resulting long hours of daylight, relatively high temperatures and the amazing variety of summer flora.

This trip undertakes a complete circumnavigation of archipelago and offers excellent opportunities for seeing Polar Bears, as well as Walruses and a variety of seabirds rarely found outside the High Arctic. We visit fjords where we may walk across tundra dotted with an astonishing array of wild flowers; Magdalenafjord is claimed by many to be the most beautiful place in the Arctic.

This voyage uses a relatively small, ice-strengthened vessel, ideal for exploration voyages allowing us to navigate safely through the pack ice and remote narrow waterways. The total number of participants aboard ship is limited to about 50 offering us a friendly, comfortable and intimate atmosphere. Educational lectures are offered onboard covering topics such as bird life, marine mammals, vegetation and landscapes. Our trip is priced on the basis of twin sharing cabins with private facilities.

Our itinerary is flexible to make the best of wildlife viewing and local conditions. By using inflatable Zodiacs we can readily go ashore to spend time exploring, embark on cruises among the ice floes or get close to Whales, Seals and Walruses. While cruising and walking in the Arctic region you will become more and more fascinated by this pure wilderness, a place with so much life, colour, peace and true emotion.

Our voyage visiting Spitsbergen’s Artic region offers us the unique opportunity to enjoy and photograph one of the last great wildernesses on earth. Experiencing the atmospheric midnight sun, the magical frozen landscape, gleaming blue glaciers, resilient wildlife, yet nothing will prepare you for your first sight of the indisputable King of the Arctic…the Polar Bear.

Peter Smart from Wild Arena will accompany you. Peter is a wildlife photographer, escorting tours to a variety of countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, India, Spitsbergen and the Galapagos Islands. Peter treats it as a genuine privilege to introduce people to the wildlife, landscapes and people of the countries he visits and his knowledge, organisational skills and sense of fun ensures that not only will you have excellent photographic and game-viewing opportunities but also a highly enjoyable holiday!

View our exciting itinerary overleaf or visit our website to see tour reports and some amazing images from our previous tours. Please contact us regarding any questions you may still have or to discuss the possible extensions to this tour. You are advised to make your reservation immediately once you have decided to join us, as places are strictly limited on our expedition to Spitsbergen: Land of the Ice Bear.

The Price of this tour does NOT include flights.

Spitsbergen:

Spitsbergen:
This unspoilt wilderness covers an area lmost as big as the Republic of Ireland, yet has a population of only 3500 inhabitants in five settlements and nearly twice as many Polar Bears!

Only 600 miles from the North Pole there is surprisingly diverse scenery including, the rugged mountains in the west rising to over 1524 metres, deep fjords, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers. The voyage is a complete circumnavigation of Spitsbergen.

Itinerary

Tutors

Gallery:

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Itinerary:

Day 1
Depart London Heathrow for Oslo, Norway. Overnight hotel (1 night)

Day 2
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 wellworth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden. Overnight ship (7 nights)

Day 3
Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we take to the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly fertile slopes near the glacier, a colourful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brunnich's Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, patrolling the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny Alesund, the world's most northerly settlement. Once a mining village - served by the world's most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Alesund is now a research centre. Close to the village is abreeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. 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 4
Depending on the weather we may now sail to the mouth of Liefdefjorden and go ashore for a walk on the tundra island of Andoya.Many Common Eiders and Pink-footed Geese nest here, and the rarer King Eider may also be seen. We hope to sail intoLiefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favouritefeeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes and on previous voyages Polar Bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography.

Day 5
Today we will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, polar bears, and ivory gulls. We will navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvoya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brunnich's guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, we will attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, breeding ivory gulls, and walruses.

Day 6
Today we will reach our northernmost point at Phippsoya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, along with ivory gulls. We may sit for several hours in the pack ice, taking in our spectacular surroundings and seeing a Ross gull, before we turn south again.

Day 7
Retracing our route westwards, we visit Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated byspectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots. On the offshore island of Ytre Norskoya, we visit a 17th century Dutch whaling site, whose large graveyard is a poignant reminder of the hardships and dangers of life here at the time. The island's bird life is prolific, with colonies of Little Auks, Black Guillemots, Brunnich's Guillemots, Puffins and Arctic Skuasaccessible to visitors.

Day 8
We land at the northern tip of Prins Karls Forland near Fuglehuken, where Barentsz probably set foot on Spitsbergen for the first time. Seabirds nest on the cliffs and along the coast we see Harbour Seals the only population in Spitsbergen. Further we also will observe the remains of the Polar Bear hunting era, with demolished set guns and bear traps. At the opposite site of Forlandsundetat Sarstangen is a haul out place for Walruses. Alternatively we sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden and land at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on its cliffs and Arctic Foxes search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks, while Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. The reindeer may seem unbothered by human presence, but this is not really the case. The animals must survive the harsh winter, when temperatures plummet and food is hard to find, so they preserve what energy they can, fleeing only when it is absolutely necessary. In the afternoon we cruise through beautiful Borebukta, following aglacier front before continuing to Longyearbyen

Day 9
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the afternoon flight to Oslo and the connecting flight to London Heathrow, arriving early evening.

Itinerary is for guidance only. Program may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage ofopportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Summary:

Duration 12 days

Single supplement Subject to availability. If you are a single person booking this holiday you do not have to pay single supplements, if you are happy to share. Neither will you be asked to pay a single supplement onboard ship if you end up with single occupancy because of odd numbers, however your booking is accepted only on the understanding that if no roommate is available in Oslo then you accept a single supplement of £50 will be levied. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired with another single client of the same gender. Single supplements are payable if you specifically request to have a room to yourself. If you have requested single accommodation we will do our best to secure this although this may not always be possible.

Deposit £600 required to confirm booking

Travel insurance You must be covered by insurance, which must include adequate cover for baggage, medical expenses and the cost of repatriation should you become too ill to continue, including air ambulance. Group size 6 to 10 plus one photographic guide

Cost includes Hotel/cabin on a twin share basis (unless single has been requested) for the nights listed in the itinerary, All meals included, Transfers for group departures using our chosen airline, All internal transport as per the itinerary, Sightseeing tours where specified, All wildlife activities escorted by expedition staff, Services of Wild Arena photographic guide throughout tour

Cost excludes Internal and international flight from the UK, Airport taxes, Transfers for Land Only packages and group tours when choosing your own flight arrangements, Visa fees, Medical examination (if required) & vaccination costs, Personal expenditure, bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, etc, Porters, guides & other tips, Meals not specified & mineral water, Personal clothing & equipment, Travel insurance, Optional trips, Increases in park fees and taxes levied by the Government on the tourism sector, Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond Classic Journeys control, Anything not specified in the Cost Includes

Wild Arena Polar photographic tours are organised through Classic Journeys, a fully bonded UK tour operator holding ATOL licence 3022. Your financial protection when travelling with us.

All clients will be required to complete a Classic Journeys Booking Form and booking will be subject to acceptance of the Classic Journeys Booking Conditions, which will be provided, and supersedes any information presented on Wild Arena’s web site or other Wild Arena promotional literature. In addition, in the unlikely event that Peter Smart is unable to escort the tour, Classic Journeys reserve the right to send a suitable replacement if available. In such circumstances, the tour will not be cancelled and no compensation will be paid.