North Spitsbergen Svalbard Polar Tall Ship Wildlife Sailing expedition Arctic fox bear whale walrus cruise holiday- Aqua-Firma

Arctic Sailing Voyage - North Spitsbergen

The northern limit of Spitsbergen, is just 600 miles from the North Pole. As summer arrives, the ice flows recede so that by the end of May we can gain access to some of the most biologically-rich parts of this Arctic Archipelago. By sailing on this trip; along the glacier-filled fjords of Spitsbergen's north-western coast, the doors to a fabled Arctic wilderness are thrown open to you.

As you sail along the coastline, the opportunity to see Arctic mammals is high with one in particular being at the top of people's lists - the polar bear. The enigmatic lord of the ice, the polar bear is both a formidable and beautiful animal and has invariably been observed on this voyage. In 2009, a dead fin whale in a bay on the north-western coast attracted the attention of several hungry polar bears, which flocked to feast on the carcass. As we anchored overnight to watch the spectacle, we witnessed unforgettable scenes before us.

Both harbour seals and the charismatic walrus are to be found along this coast, using regular haul-out sites. Sit quietly as you watch these massive members of the seal family bicker and sway their long tusks towards each other or enjoy the sight of them rubbing their huge, blubbery bodies over rough stones to scratch themselves. An encounter with the walruses is a wonderful experience which will linger in both your memory and nostrils. Along with bearded seals and fin whales breaking the surface, you have good chances of seeing the beautiful beluga whales, which are commonly encountered along this coast. These ephemeral white whales are highly gregarious and are often seen in large pods, close to the shore.

Our North Spitsbergen sailing trip provides some of the best opportunities to see Arctic birdlife. Species such as the king eider, Sabine's gulls and Arctic skuas are all found alongside the more common guillemots, puffins and little auks. Birds nest in colonies exceeding one hundred thousand in number who come to this coast every year to breed and feed in the rich coastal waters. At places such as Trygghamna, where sheer cliffs tower overhead and are crowded with thousands of guillemots and their chicks, you may be lucky enough to see opportunistic Arctic foxes dashing around, collecting those fledgling chicks which have fallen short of the sea, to store for the winter ahead.

Alongside the stunning landscapes and incredible wildlife are sites of historical and cultural significance. As you sail to the famed research station at Ny Ålesund to see the site from which Amundsen set off to conquer the North Pole in his air ship, you enter Kongsfjord, which is often said to be the most beautiful and picturesque fjord on Spitsbergen. As you sail through the iced waters to the end of the fjord, you reach a pair of immense glaciers which meet and share a calving icefront. As the boat slows to a halt, you are left to stare up at the towering wall of ice in a silence only punctuated by the deep rumbling from within the glaciers themselves.

Both your expedition leader and skipper are permanently on hand, offering the benefits of their experience and knowledge whilst in the Arctic. Whilst ashore, your expedition leader will impart a wealth of knowledge on flora and fauna, geology and history. Whilst sailing, there may be opportunities to help with sailing the charismatic one hundred year old ice-strengthened schooner. With comfortable cabins, hot showers, good food and a comfy 'pilot house' in which to relax, you can experience the Arctic realm from the comfort of a unique Arctic vessel.

Whilst on this trip, photographic opportunities are superb; with the 'Midnight Sun' offering unique lighting twenty four hours a day. The ship and the Arctic wildlife provide wonderful photographic subjects, whilst it is probably the vast, desolate surroundings which shall leave the greatest impression.

Photographs kindly provided by: Sonia van Berlkel, Jan Belgers, Ralph Pannell, Troels Jacobsen, Rolf Stange, Derek Wilson, Samantha Ross and Chris Dobbs

North Spitsbergen - Svalbard - Arctic - Sailing Voyage - Tall ship - Polar - Wilderness & Wildlife - Carbon Climate Neutral - Responsible Travel - Polar bear - Noorderlicht - Walrus - Arctic Birds - Birdwatching

Please note that our polar itineraries are written to provide a flavour of each voyage. Sailing rather than motor-only will be undertaken where and when conditions allow. The actual route will be decided by the captain and expedition team in accordance with prevailing ice, weather and sea conditions and opportunities to see wildlife and wilderness scenery. We aim to provide the highest quality trips, providing you with the most rewarding experience possible and as a result, our itinerary may need to change at short notice. Itineraries have been changed in the past on account of instances such as impassable pack ice and the discovery of a dead whale with numerous polar bears feeding on it. Please remember that any changes in our itineraries are made with you in mind.

Day 1
Upon your arrival in Longyearbyen, you are free to spend the morning exploring this old mining town; where you could visit the museum, which has an interesting collection on Spitsbergen's natural history and its rich history of exploration.

The ship will sail in the early evening, leaving Isfjorden and sailing for Alkhornet; a seabird cliff where a large colony of kittiwakes and Brünichs guillemots come to breed. Hopefully, you can catch a glimpse of the Arctic foxes emerging from their dens around the base of the cliffs to look for fallen eggs or chicks. We continue to Trygghamna to visit the remains of an 18th century Russian Pomor hunting settlement and a 17th century English whaling station, where some of Spitsbergen's best-preserved 'blubber ovens' can be seen.

Day 2-4
After leaving Tryghamna early in the morning, we sail through Forlandsund, between the island of Prins Karls Forland and the Spitsbergen mainland. Weather permitting, we will go ashore at Fuglehuken; where western Europeans (on the expedition of Willem Barentsz) first set foot on Spitsbergen. Here, we can see the graves of whalers who succumbed to scurvy and visit the large colonies of common guillemots, Brünnich´s guillemots, little auks and kittiwakes. Whilst at Fuglehuken, the highlight is the walrus haul-out site, where (if we are lucky), we may be able to see these immense tusked seals bellowing and sparring on the shore. Seeing walruses from the shoreline itself is an amazing experience.

Ny Ålesund, the northernmost permanent settlement on Earth, is another destination we may visit. Now, the settlement is a centre for polar research, Ny Ålesund was the starting point for many North Pole expeditions, including those of Amundsen and Nobile. The local bird life has adapted itself to human presence and is exceptionally tame here. Barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, common eiders, Arctic terns and several species of wader can be observed and photographed at close quarters and reindeer can be seen in the vicinity - they are smaller than their mainland relatives here and do not form large herds.
Sailing from Ny Ålesund deep into what is generally recognised as the most beautiful fjord in Spitsbergen: Kongsfjord; we head towards a pair of glaciers which have come together as a single, huge calving icefront. Listen as the glacial ice groans and rumbles from deep within. Not far from the glacier we visit a breeding site for Brünnich's Guillemots, Little Auks and Puffins. The guano of these bird colonies and the southward exposure and the sheltered situation of this area give rise to relatively rich vegetation occurring with many species of flowering plants.

Day 5-7
Sailing northwards, we hope to visit Magdalenafjord, one of the most picturesque places on Spitsbergen, with many impressive glacier fronts. During a shore visit we will see the remains of 17th century English whaling activities and hopefully get some great sightings of little auks.

Ytre Norskøya, a small island which was used for many years as a lookout point for Dutch whalers is our next stop. There, we can follow the trails made by whalers to the summit of the island, passing by cliffs with nesting birds along the way. Close to the shore, the remains of 17th century blubber ovens can be seen and Arctic skuas and eiders breed among the graves of 200 Dutch whalers, which have been pushed to the surface by the permafrost.
Raudfjord on the north coast of Spitsbergen is a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers and an exceptional variety of wildlife. It is a favourite for Ringed and Bearded Seals and offers some of our best chances for spotting Polar Bears and Belugas. Jermaktangen, at the fjord's eastern entrance, shows the power of this ocean to erode the land.

Day 8-9
If sea-ice conditions allow, we may land on the northern-side of Reindyrfla, the largest tundra area on Spitsbergen. Its vast undulating plain provides good grazing for Reindeer and several species of waders also breed here. On the tundra lakes there is a good chance of spotting Red-throated Divers and King Eiders, whose breeding plumage is delightfully, colourful.

Smeerenburg, the largest 17th century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen may be visited when permission is attained. Danskøya: where many historical remains are to be found of the 19th century expedition by the Swedish explorer Andree who tried to reach the North Pole in a balloon. He crashed on the pack ice three days after its launch. The first temporary whaling station was established on Danskøya by the English in 1614 before they abandoned it and the Dutch took over and then finally the Danish.

Days 10 & 11
On our way south, we will try to make a landing on the coast of Forlandsund, at Engelsbukta or Sarstangen, where walruses are often hauled out. From there we head straight for Longyearbyen, with the possibility of making one last landing along the way.

Day 12
After a farewell breakfast, you will be free to catch your flight from Longyearbyen airport. Please refer to your individual Itinerary for further details.