North Spitsbergen Explorer - Polar Bears, Bowhead Whales & more

This journey will lead you into the icy expanse and along the secluded shores of the rugged northern Spitsbergen. Our possible destinations include:

Raudfjord

Located on Spitsbergen's northern coast, Raudfjord boasts expansive waters filled with glaciers, often visited by ringed and bearded seals. Its cliffs and shores are alive with vibrant seabird colonies, lush vegetation, and the potential sighting of polar bears. We'll attempt landings at Alicehamna or Buchananhalvøya.

Monaco Glacier

Weather and sea ice permitting, we may navigate into Liefdefjorden, landing at Texas Bar and cruising near the impressive 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) face of Monaco Glacier. These waters are prime feeding grounds for thousands of kittiwakes and a favored hunting area for polar bears. If early-season ice conditions prevent this, we may explore the western coast of Spitsbergen.

Highlights of Hinlopen

Our aim is to sail through Hinlopen Strait, inhabited by bearded seals, ringed seals, and polar bears. At the strait's entrance, blue whales may even be spotted. Cruising among Lomfjord's ice floes in Zodiacs offers views of Alkefjellet's bird cliffs, teeming with Brünnich’s guillemots. On the eastern side of Hinlopen Strait, we may land on Nordaustlandet, home to reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses. If ice blocks our entry, we'll take an alternate route.

The Seven Islands

The voyage’s northernmost point could be north of Nordaustlandet at Chermsideøya or Phippsøya in the Seven Islands. Here, we might reach 80° north, a mere 870 km (540 miles) from the North Pole. Polar bears are common in this area, so the ship may linger among the pack ice before turning westward.

Sailing the Continental Shelf

As we retrace our path west, keep an eye out for polar bears and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales. Approximately 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, we sail along the continental shelf's edge. Fin whales forage here during the summer in nutrient-rich upwelling zones along the Spitsbergen banks. Minke whale sightings are also possible near the mouth of Kongsfjorden.

Forlandsundet, St. Johns Fjord, or Alkhornet

Walruses often haul out at Sarstangen or Poolepynten in Forlandsundet. Alternatively, we might sail into St. Johns Fjord or head south to Isfjorden’s mouth, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes scavenge for eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze on the sparse vegetation.