South Spitsbergen
Itinerary
Day 1
After arriving in Longyearbyen, the ‘capital’ (actually the administrative centre) of Spitsbergen, you may wish to visit the Svalbard Museum which has an interesting collection on the history of Spitsbergen, the mining industry and polar exploration. In the afternoon we sail, setting course for Alkhornet, a high cliff Below the cliffs we often see Arctic Foxes and Reindeer. We continue to Trygghamna to visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and an 18th century Russian Pomor station.
Day 2
We leave Tryghamna early in the morning and sail to the north side of Bell Sund, where we make a walk to the cliffs of Ingeborgfjellet and vist a glacier front in Fridtjofhamna.
Day 3-4
Continuing our exploration of southern Spitsbergen, we sail into the labyrinth of side fjords in Hornsund. Behind Brepollen, a large glacial deposit at the head of the fjord, we will sail along a beautiful glacier front with good chances of seeing Bearded Seals and Polar Bears. The geological formations in this area are very spectacular and colourful. We will also pay a visit to the Polish research station at Isbjørnhamna, where the friendly crew will discuss their scientific programs.
Day 5
On our way back we sail into Bell Sund to reach Ahlstrandhalvöya, with its interesting geological formations and the remains of the 20th century Beluga whaling industry. Bell Sund is a good area for observing Belugas and Polar Bears.
Day 6
We will pay a visit to Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen, or to Colesbukta, an abandoned Russian coal mining settlement.
Day 7
We sail into the inner reaches of the Isfjord system, where during nights with open sky we will experience temperatures of minus 10 degrees C, and new ice will be forming on the heqads of the fjords.
Day 8
Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo. These late September Spitsbergen voyages, just before the onset of winter, are ideal for observing the splendid Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights ).
