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9 days

Spitsbergen Encounter

Spitsbergen Encounter

The groans of 14th of July Glacier

On board to a strange new world at Longyearbyen

Polar bears

The Walrus of Moffen Island

Walk or kayak around Blubber Town: Smeerenburg

Trip rating

  • Overview

    Spitsbergen is the larger of the two main islands that make up the bulk of the Svalbard archipelago. From the moment we throw the lines and start our voyage we are in the land of the polar bear, the beluga, the walrus and the reindeer, so keep your eyes peeled for wildlife.
    We stop in Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay) and visit the town site of Ny Alesund. One of the northernmost communities in the world, Ny Alesund is rich in history and scientific discovery. At Phippsoya we reach our northernmost point at around 80 degrees North latitude. Over the course of the voyage we visit numerous bird colonies showcasing Brunnich’s guillemot (also known as the thick-billed murre), little auk (dovekie), barnacle and pink-footed geese and the Arctic tern.

    Note: Weather, ice and other mitigating factors may result in changes to our itinerary and alteration to certain shore excursions.

    Itinerary

    Day 1 - Longyearbyen - Embarkation Day

    Step aboard your expedition cruise vessel, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, in Longyearbyen and sail out of Adventfjorden into Isfjorden during the early evening. On board, gather for an introductory briefing and then head to the dining room for your first meal aboard. Accommodation:
    No pre voyage hotel accommodation is included in the voyage price. If you arrive prior to embarkation day and need accommodation please ask Peregrine or your agent for details and costs.
    Dinner

    Day 2 - Bourbonhamna

    Beluga whales often transit the narrow sound near Bourbonhamna. We search for belugas and then hope to go ashore at Bourbonhamna. A hunter’s cabin, grinding wheel and two overturned boats are points of interest a short walk away at Ingebrigstenbukta. However, it is the massive piles of beluga whalebones that catch everybody’s attention. While wandering among these bone relics we also expect to glimpse dozens of reindeer in the area.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 3 - Kapp Lee

    Land at Dolerittneset near Kapp Lee. This site has a large scattering of reindeer antlers, but it is the ancient whalebones that make the landing memorable. Some 400 years ago whales were slaughtered here and hunted almost to extinction in the waters of Svalbard. Time and the elements have altered their original shape and sculptured them into works of art. They are painted with blankets of green mosses and grasses, spattered with blotches of black and orange lichen, and framed with purple saxifrage, yellow cinquefoil and white sandwort – it’s quite a sight!
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 4 - Hornsund

    Glacier-filled bays abound in Hornsund and we sail into one of these bays for a close-up view of the glacier. The entire archipelago of Svalbard is a lesson in glaciology and our onboard guides will use hikes and Zodiac cruises as classrooms for continuing tuition on the formation of this fantastic landscape.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 5 - Krossfjorden and Ny Alesund

    The shores of Krossfjorden are home to numerous bird colonies and other species. We anchor off one small harbour and cruise the bird cliffs near the 14th of July Glacier. As we cruise these waters we also keep an eye out for bearded and ringed seals, known to frequent this fjord. During the afternoon we cross Kongsfjord from Krossfjorden to the town site of Ny Alesund, a former mining village and currently the world’s most northern community. Founded by the Kings Bay Kull Company A/S in 1916, Ny Alesund operated as a coal mine sporadically until coal mining was ended in 1962. Since then, the community has become the site of numerous international polar science institutes.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 6 - Fuglesangen and Smeergenburg

    As your Zodiac approaches the shore of Fuglesangenoya, you’ll notice the thousands of birds nesting on this island. Home to a large dovekie colony, the formation of the island allows for excellent viewing without impacting upon the perimeter of the colony. Just a few miles from Fuglesangen is the former whaling station of Smeerenburg, AKA Blubber Town. As we hike the shoreline of this former whaling station, we learn about the importance of whaling in the discovery and exploration of the Svalbard archipelago.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 7-9 - Phippsoya – Liefdefjorden – Poole Pynten, Prins Karls Forland

    At 81 degrees north latitude, Phippsoya is only 540 nautical miles from the North Pole. Because of its proximity to the pack ice, Phippsoya offers the potential for great polar bear viewing. No trip along the north coast of Spitsbergen would be complete without a visit to Monacobreen (Monaco Glacier). A wide glacier face at the head of the fjord is a great spot for spectacular kayaking and Zodiac cruising. The coastal plain near the mouth of Liefdefjorden offers superb hiking and is often a great place to spot polar bears also. We visit a well-known walrus haul out on Prince Charles Island – approaching from downwind can often confirm that the walrus are ashore as the odour of a haul out is without equal!
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 10 - Longyearbyen

    We come alongside in the morning and prepare to disembark following breakfast onboard our vessel.
    Breakfast
    Download detailed trip notes

  • Details

    What to Know

    What's Included

    • • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.
      • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks on board throughout your voyage. (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible.)
      • All shore landings per the daily program.
      • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.
      • A daily program of lectures by noted naturalists
      • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program.
      • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and Special Guests as scheduled.
      • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.

       

    Not Included

    • • For some specified departures, the purchase of arrival transfer packages and charter or domestic flights in conjunction with the expedition is mandatory. The applicable per-person cost is indicated on the Dates and Rates summary. • Passport and any applicable visa expenses. • Government arrival and departure taxes. • Any meals ashore. • Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and medical travel insurance. • Excess baggage charges. • Laundry and other personal charges. • Telecommunications charges. • The voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew.

    Safety Information

    Safety is paramount on a Peregrine voyage. Due to new International Security Regulations, you will not be able to approach the ship on your own. You will have to arrive with the rest of the group, accompanied by a Peregrine representative. Full details of embarkation/disembarkation procedures will be supplied with your final documentation. On board you will be asked to participate in the obligatory lifeboat drill. We will also conduct important briefings on landing procedures, Zodiac operations, polar bear management and firearm safety (there is a good chance that we will see some of these magnificent animals during this trip, but extreme care must be taken if we ever encounter them whilst we are ashore!).

  • Map

    Map Itinerary

  • Ships

    Our Ships

    Akademik Sergey Vavilov

    Akademik Sergey Vavilov

    Built in Finland in the late 1980s for the Russian Academy of Science, Akademik Sergey Vavilov's original mission was to perform sensitive hydro-acoustic ocean research. As such, she is exceptionally quick, quiet and stable. Vavilov is recognized as one of the finest expedition ships to ever sail the polar seas.


    The observation lounge and bar on the top deck is a comfortable place to meet and mingle. External stabilizers and a built-in trimming system provide exceptional stability. Akademik Sergey Vavilov has an ice-strengthened hull and a cruising speed in open water of 14.5 knots

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Trip at a glance

Trip Code PPSEN
Start City: Longyearbyen
End City: Longyearbyen

What to know

Flights should be booked into and out of Longyearbyen.

Note: Weather or other conditions may require changes to our itinerary and shore excursions.

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