Spring in Spitsbergen

Days 2–8: Expedition trip

You’ll start by exploring Longyearbyen. In the afternoon, you’ll board your expedition ship and sail through Isfjord. You are now in a part of the world where you are completely dependent on ice and weather conditions. The exact itinerary will depend on these factors and the wildlife you encounter. Depending on weather and ice conditions, you may take an initial excursion before heading south or north.

Here are some examples of places we can visit:

Alkhornet:

At the entrance to Isfjorden lies the distinctive Alkhornet cliff. You will go ashore to enjoy the beautiful tundra and its birdlife, including barnacle geese, guillemots, glaucous gulls, snowfinches, and tens of thousands of black-legged kittiwakes. Arctic foxes can sometimes be seen in the crevices around the mountain, and with a little luck, we may observe these cute little animals in their frantic search for food.

Prince Carl's Foreland:

This narrow strip of land is dominated by an impressive, snow-covered mountain range. The island is also an important habitat for numerous seabirds and seals.

Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden: 

The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is located in Kongsfjord. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile set off on their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. In nearby Krossfjord, you can admire the beautifully shaped front of the 14th of July Glacier and listen to the sounds of the many kittiwakes and guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs.

Raudfjord:

The breathtaking Raudfjord offers beaches and glaciers. There is a large population of seals and wild birds there. So a good view is guaranteed!

Vigorhamna:

Vigorhamna on the island of Danskøya is known for its bold attempts to conquer the North Pole. The Swede Andrée tried it with a hydrogen balloon, while the American Wellman used an airship. To this day, there is fascinating evidence of these adventures at this location.

Bellsund:

Tens of thousands of small auks nest at beautiful Vårsolbukta in Bellsund. You can go ashore and walk across the tundra to see these charming birds up close.

Hornsund:

The majestic Hornsund consists of several magnificent fjords along the west coast of Spitsbergen, where huge glaciers spew out shimmering blue ice. This is one of the favorite haunts of Spitsbergen's polar bears, and you may be lucky enough to see one of them on the fjord ice.