East Spitsbergen Research Special

Your East Spitsbergen research cruise will begin in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago, where after having arrived independently you can enjoy a stroll around this former mining town before making your way to the port to embark your ship in the afternoon. After settling in to your cabin and exploring your new surroundings, the ship will depart in the early evening. As we sail out of Isfjorden we recommend spending some time on deck where you may spot the first minke whale of your voyage following the ship in the waters below.

Various flight and land package options are available for transport to and from Longyearbyen, please enquire for full details.

Sailing away from Longyearbyen, your adventure will begin in earnest as we make our way south down the western coast of Spitsbergen, enjoying landings at rarely visited sites between Sørkap and Isbukta. As you sail, your informative and entertaining lecture program will begin, and details will be provided on the research and analysis that will be carried out throughout your voyage. As with all Polar cruises the itinerary will be flexible and dependent on weather and ice conditions, but the main goal will be to reach Edgeøya where the focus of the research will be.

Having sailed by Stellingfjellet, where Spitsbergen’s biggest colony of Brünnichs Guillmots resides, we will reach Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya on the morning of day 3. Here you can enjoy the first of many thrilling Zodiac cruises as we make our way to the beach of Blankodden. There are excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting here including hopefully our first sightings of polar bears as they stalk the Arctic foxes who in turn keep a close eye on the bird cliffs waiting for eggs and chicks to fall from the ledges. For the birding and hiking enthusiasts among us there is a great climb available to the rim of a narrow gully which is inhabited by thousands of Kittiwakes, along with Black Guillemot and piratical Glaucous Gull. An enjoyable walk to Kapp Lee will also be offered.

Our next stop will take us to Agardhfjellet on the eastern side of West Spitsbergen where some extended walks up to heights of 400m will take us to the breeding places of Ivory gulls and reward with excellent views over the valley which is littered with fossils of Belemnites and Ammonites.

We will then move on to Freemansundet and the island of Barentsøya where we plan to land at Sundneset to enjoy a walk across the tundra in search of Barnacle Goose and Spitsbergen Reindeer as well as visiting an old trapper's hut. Another highlight today will be a Zodiac cruise to the Freeman glacier where a large Kittiwake colony is found.

Over the course of the next few days we will continue our exploration of the eastern side of the island including a return to Diskobukta where you can enjoy an inland walking excursion to the braided rivers in search of more bird sightings including Ivory Gulls and see some geologically fascinating pingos.

In this area we will also visit Habenichtbukta to enjoy another inland excursion to see the ponds and lakes that are frequented by geese, divers and ducks, as well as seeing the remains of a Russian Pomor hunting station that is thought to have been here since the 18th century. In Andrétangen we will see more remnants of the Pomor period as we land at Tiholmane or Kong Ludvigøyane. We will also hope for good walrus observations here.

Our last day of adventure will see us cruising along the side fjords of the Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen enjoying the scenery of towering spire-like mountain peaks of up to 4,695 feet. This area perfectly demonstrates why the early Dutch explorers that we will have already learned so much about named this island Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains.” Enjoy some time on deck with your cameras in hand as we sail by 14 sizeable glaciers, whilst on land we hope to visit the Polish research station for an insight into the work being carried out here. Excitingly, this area also offers out best chances of spotting polar bears, seals and beluga whales!

Our arrival back into Longyearbyen signals the end of our exciting Arctic research cruise, and after breakfast you will disembark and bid a fond farewell to your expedition team and new-found friends. You may wish to spend some further time here exploring this unique Arctic town or enjoying some of the many extra excursions and activities that are on offer here. Please enquire for details of the land-based activities that we would be happy to arrange for you. Otherwise, it’s sadly time to make your way to the airport for your onward or homeward flights, filled with memories of the adventure of a lifetime.