North Spitsbergen Arctic Autumn - Sailing

Your Arctic sailing adventure will begin in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Svalbard archipelago, where after having arrived independently you can enjoy some time exploring this unique Arctic town before making your way to the port for embarkation. 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.

Please note, land and air packages are available for transport to and from Longyearbyen, please enquire for more details.

This morning we will transfer to shore via Zodiac boat to explore Trygghamna and see the remains of a 17th-century English whaling station and 18th-century Pomor hunting station. Later you can enjoy a walk to the large seabird cliff of Alkhornet to observe fulmars, and the Arctic foxes that stalk below the cliffs. It is also common to see reindeer here grazing on the lush vegetation.

We will then begin our sail northwards through Forlandsundet, passing by the walrus haul out areas of Poolepynten and Sarstangen.

Sailing north along Spitsbergen's spectacular coastline, as with all polar sailing, itinerary flexibility will be key here, and each day your captain and experienced crew will assess the weather, sea and ice conditions to chart the best course for scenic and wildlife experiences. Today we will plan to arrive at Amsterdamøya where we will make land at Smeerenburg to look for sightings of walruses and maybe even some harbour seals which are a rare sight in Spitsbergen. You can also enjoy a long walk along the beach to explore around the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station. At nearby Danskøya in Virgohamna you will also be able to see the remains of a Danish whaling station and the 19th century balloon hangars of Wellman and Andree.

Next we will move on to the small island of Ytre Norskøya which previously served as a Dutch whaling lookout, and a walk to the to the summit of the island will reward in sightings of puffins as we follow the whalers’ tracks, whilst on shore we will see the remains of blubber ovens, and the graves of Dutch whalers. A possible visit to nearby Birgerbukta might also offer up chances of seeing Polar bears!

The plan now is to head for Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden where the snow-encrusted landscapes will show the first signs of winter setting in.

As well as the spectacular scenery of colossal glaciers and lofty mountain peaks here, we also hope to visit a number of historically significant areas such as Ny Ålesund, the northernmost community in the world, and Ny London, where you can see the remains of early 20th-century marble mining. We may also take a visit to some remote research stations and see the famous anchor mast of the dirigible Norge, which took the first flight across the North Pole to Nome, Alaska in 1926. We may also visit Ebeltofthamna for more insight into the whaling history of the area.

As we sail back south, we hope to land at Fuglehuken to search for harbour seal sightings and enjoy a walk around some interesting remains from the Polar bear hunting era. We may also make land at either Engelskbukta or Sarstangen on the coast of Forlandsundet to search for walruses and enjoy a walk along the tundra.

Our last full day of adventure will see us explore more around the Isfjorden area, including the expansive tundra of Bohemanflya where the spectacular coastal geological formations are sure to impress. We also plan to visit Gipsvika where you can go on shore near Templet, a mountainous location of eroded sedimentary rock from the Upper Carboniferous period – around 290 million years ago.

Our arrival back into Longyearbyen signals the end of our exciting Spitsbergen sailing voyage, 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.