Isfjorden Autumn Sailing Adventure + Aurora

Your unique Arctic sailing trip 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 historic schooner ship and meeting your new shipmates we will set sail through Isfjorden in the early evening towards Trygghamna. As we sail you may spot the first minke whale of your voyage, and upon arrival in Trygghamna we will stop here for the evening and enjoy our first night on board.

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

This morning we will make our first of many land visits as we head for an exploration of the mountain-fringed bay of Trygghamna. There are many options for discovery here including a visit to the remains of an ancient Pomor house and a former English whaling station. There will also be the chance to walk along the base of the Alkhornet Mountain where there will be excellent seabird observations as well as the possibility of seeing Arctic foxes and reindeer.

After exploring around Trygghamna we will move on to Svalbard’s second-largest town, the Russian mining town of Barentsburg, to visit the Barentsburg Pomor Museum. You will also be able to visit the world’s northernmost brewery and see the historic statue of Lenin here.

As we continue our exploration of the remarkable Isfjord area the next two days will take us to some of the most impressive glacial landscapes in the region. On the morning of day 3 we will enjoy a cruise around the jagged blue glacier front of Borebukta, an exciting experience that will be sure to fill your cameras, before moving on to discover the striking geological formations found in Bohemanflya.

Day 4 will bring more fascinating scenery as we visit Nordfjord to see Sveabreen, one of the most impressive glacier fronts in the Isfjord. In the afternoon we will make our way to the head of Dickson Fjord. One of the highlights of this thrilling sailing cruise will be the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights from your ship in the Arctic wilderness. As we have reached the northernmost point of our voyage, this location will offer the optimal position for experiencing this remarkable natural phenomenon.

On day 5 we will enjoy a relaxing day at sea sailing the length of the Isfjord to see its enchanting landscapes of ice, sea and snow. This day discovering Svalbard’s second largest fjord is likely to be one to remember as you spend some time out on deck looking for whales in the waters below and filling your cameras with magnificent landscape photography.

If your cameras haven’t already had enough action on day 5 then day 6 is sure to impress even further as we sail to the enormity of Arctic ice that is the glacier front of Nordenskiöld…an awe-inspiring sight! Changing focus from scenery to history, our next stop will be the deserted Soviet settlement of Pyramiden where you can enjoy a walk around this haunting throwback to the past to learn all about how the town’s resident coal miners lived many years ago.

The last adventure on your Arctic sailing trip will take you to see the beautiful geological formations of the valley of Skansbukta where the multicoloured peaks of the impressive cliffs slope down to a narrow beach where you will find many different remains of earlier human activity. An enjoyable afternoon will be spent here before getting back on board to begin our sail back to Longyearbyen.

On the morning of day 8 your exciting Spitsbergen sailing voyage will come to an end 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.