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Spitsbergen, a remote and spectacular archipelago of immense glaciers, narrow fjords, sheer mountain cliffs and abundant wildlife, has lured many explorers into its enticing web. Let our experienced Swedish expedition captain of the Origo take you into a region still part of an ice age, a region that is ever bathing in midnight sun, in Quest for the Polar Bear. Our goal on this expedition is to explore the eastern and least visited parts of the beautiful and dramatic Spitsbergen archipelago, locate wildlife and spend maximum time in the pack ice. Spitsbergen is home to approximately 5 000 Polar Bears, and we hope to encounter a good number of them during this trip. Fortunately the Polar Bear, Whale and Walrus populations here are on the increase and now is a good time to visit before the area opens up to larger numbers of visitors. We go ashore on beaches covered by massive walrus and with some good fortune we will also encounter whales. Seabirds, such as Ivory Gulls, Guillemots, Little Auks and Puffins will be our constant companions and we spend hours on end admiring these graceful and playful birds. In the beginning of the season Spitsbergen is in full bloom and the bird colonies are bustling with life. In the latter part of the season we have very good possibilities of exploring the eastern parts of the archipelago and even landing on Spitsbergen`s easternmost island, White Island, where very few people have ever set foot. Day 1: Oslo - Longyearbyen. We fly from Oslo in the evening. Arrive in Longyearbyen under the midnight sun. Transfer to Basecamp Spitsbergen Hotel, a unique hotel furnished as a traditional hunter's cabin with drift-wood, slate stone and furs. Day 2: Longyearbyen - Barentsburg. Morning at leisure. After lunch we take a tour of this High Arctic capital including a visit to the Svalbard Museum. Embark the Origo in the afternoon and sail to the Russian coal-mining settlement of Barentsburg. Day 3-7: Spitsbergen archipelago. Our exact itinerary depends on weather and ice conditions and the wild-life we encounter. Our experienced Captain and Expedition Leader take best advantage of these factors to maximise your Arctic experience. Each day we make several landings with our rigid Zodiac craft, and thanks to the midnight sun we can go ashore day and night. The following are a few of the places we hope to visit during our time among the beautiful Spitsbergen Islands: Hornsund. A bay to the south of Longyearbyen, where we cruise along stunning glaciers winding their way down to the sea. Ny Ålesund. This is a unique opportunity to send a post card from the world`s northernmost settlement. Svalbard Reindeer roam through this town and Arctic terns nest along the roads. Danes Island. Two of the most courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started from this island. We are guided around the site, which is littered with remnants from the heroic era. East Spitsbergen. Heading east we meet the massive pack ice border. We are now off the beaten track in a wilderness virtually untouched by man. Here our odds of finding Polar Bears are the greatest, and we will keep a constant look-out on the bridge during our time in the ice. White Island. If conditions permit we land on this easternmost island of the archipelago and the place where Swedish balloonist Andrée perished in 1897. We visit the monuments commemorating the expedition and admire the huge ice cap crowning the island. The chances of reaching these eastern regions of Spitsbergen are better toward the end of the season. Storöya. This remote island is a real gem and our favourite. It is a popular spot for Polar Bears, and Walrus lounge here in hundreds. When ice conditions are light we can land on this isolated island east of Nordaustlandet. Nordaustlandet. We cruise along a massive icecap stretching down to the sea where it forms a long glacier front intersected by hundreds of melt-waterfalls. This is a favourite area for seals, and where there are seals, there are bears… Hinlopen Strait. It is exciting sailing though this strait, an area of very heavy ice concentrations. The waters here are especially nutritious, which explains the large concentrations of sea birds. We visit a colony of 300 000 pairs of Guillemots. Day 8: Homeward bound. It is time to retrace our route to Longyearbyen. We make a last landing on Prins Karls Forland. In the evening we anchor in a sheltered bay to enjoy our Captain`s farewell dinner. Day 9: Longyearbyen - Oslo. In the early morning we fly back to Oslo. Please, read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program will vary depending on ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to a successful expedition. |