Oceanwide Expeditions

NOO12 North Spitsbergen 2012

NOO12

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. Below the cliffs we see often Arctic Foxes and Reindeer. We continue to Tryghamna 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 through the Forlandsundet. Weather permitting we will go ashore at Fuglehuken where the first Western Europeans (the expedition of Willem Barentsz) set foot on Spitsbergen. Here we can see the graves of whalers and remains of the Polar Bear hunt era. Nearby we may be able to visit a haul-out of Harbour Seals and Walruses.

Day 3 - Today we will visit Ny Ålesund, the northernmost permanently inhabited village in the world, a centre for polar research and a former starting point for many North Pole expeditions (Amundsen and Nobile for example). The local bird life has adapted itself to the human presence and is exceptionally tame. The Reindeers here are smaller than their mainland relatives and do not form large herds.

Day 4 - Sailing northwards we visit the Magdalenafjord, one of the most beautiful places on Spitsbergen, with many impressive glacier fronts. During a shore visit we will view the remains of 17th century English whaling activities. We can also visit some big seabird colonies particularly noteworthy for their Little Auks.

Day 5 - Today we will try to visit Ytre Norskøya, a small island which was used for many years as a lookout point for Dutch whalers. There we can still follow their tracks to the summit of the island, passing excellent bird cliffs on the way. On shore the remains of 17th century blubber ovens can be found, while Arctic Skuas and Common Eiders breed among the graves of 200 Dutch whalers.

Day 6 - Raudfjord on the north coast of Spitsbergen is a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers. It is also a favourite with Ringed and Bearded Seals, has good seabird colonies, and offers good chances for spotting Polar Bear and Belugas. Jermaktangen, at the fjord’s eastern entrance, is a geography lesson in the erosion of the land by the sea.

Day 7 - After 15 September we have the unique opportunity to land on the island of Moffen an important haul out place for Walrus.
We see the extensive killing fields where those animals were slaughtered in previous centuries for their tusks.

Day 8 - Today we visit the remains of Smeerenburg, the largest 17th century whaling settlement on Spitsbergen, and, if we obtain permission, Danskøya where many historical remains are to be found of the 19th century expedition by the Swedish explorer Andree, who tried to reach the North Pole in a balloon.
 
Day 9 & 10 - On our way south, we will try to make a landing on the coast of the Forlandsundet at Engelsbukta or Sarstangen or Poolepynten, where Walruses are often hauled out.  From there we head straight for Longyearbyen.

Day 11 - Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo.