Spitsbergen expedition into the pack ice

Days 2–11: Expedition

In the morning, you will have time to explore Longyearbyen on your own. You will meet up with your guides for lunch. In the afternoon, you will depart by ship through the spectacular Isfjorden – the Arctic expedition begins!

In this part of the world, we are completely dependent on ice and weather conditions. The exact itinerary will be adjusted according to rapid weather changes. Whenever the opportunity arises, Zodiac excursions will be undertaken.

Below are some examples of places you can visit:

Northwest Spitsbergen: 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. Two further courageous attempts to reach the North Pole began on the island of Danskøya. Swedish explorer Andrée attempted it with a hydrogen balloon, and American journalist Wellman set off in an airship. Interesting remnants of these expeditions can still be found at this location.

Fjords of Svalbard: Spitsbergen offers visitors numerous spectacular fjords. During your trip, you will explore some of them, such as: Liefdefjord, which means "The Fjord of Love," is lined with snow-capped mountain peaks. Here, we hope to sail along the front of the imposing Monaco Glacier. Many eider ducks and pink-footed geese nest in the region. In Krossfjord, you will enjoy the sight of the beautifully shaped front of the 14th of July Glacier and be greeted by the many black-legged kittiwakes and thick-billed murres nesting in the nearby cliffs. Raudfjord is an area of immense natural beauty, dominated by magnificent glaciers. It is also a popular spot for seals, and the bird cliffs are teeming with life.

Northern Spitsbergen: We continue towards the North Pole and the pack ice north of Spitsbergen, where we will spend about two days. This floating, ever-changing landscape is an impressive experience that few ships can reach. In the silent expanse of ice, keep an eye out for Arctic animals such as polar bears, seals, and ivory gulls.

Sjuøyane: These islands lie north of Nordaustlandet and form the northernmost outpost of Svalbard. On one of the islands, Rossøya, Andrée and his companions established a supply depot in the late 19th century in case their now legendary balloon expedition failed.

Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet: If ice conditions permit, you will enter Hinlopen Strait. There you will find Alkefjellet, an impressive basalt cliff that is home to an estimated 200,000 Brünnich's guillemots. The journey continues to the beautiful Palanderbukta bay on Nordaustlandet.

Eastern Spitsbergen: The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by a vast ice cap and fascinates both naturalists and historians alike. Here, the massive Bråsvellbreen Glacier stretches over 180 kilometers! The ice edge, which is 15 to 20 meters high, is crisscrossed by hundreds of waterfalls.