Overview - Spitsbergen Explorer

From $4,990

Wildlife Capital of the Arctic

Choose from two departure dates for this 11-day Arctic adventure, on which you'll cruise halfway round Spitsbergen, largest island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago. Sometimes called the "wildlife capital of the Arctic," Spitsbergen is home to thousands of rare seabirds, and offers some of the best polar bear and beluga whale sightings in the world. This Spitsbergen Explorer adventure includes frequent shore landings plus an optional kayaking adventure.

Interested in travelling earlier?
Check out Spitsbergen Snowshoeing - June 9 - 19, 2012 starting at $4,590

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Spitsbergen Explorer Images

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Spitsbergen is paradise for birders and photographers.
Spitsbergen is a birder's paradise
Svalbard reindeer are unique to the islands.
Alkefjellet, looking like chocolate ripple ice cream.
Watch for polar bears and walrus along the ice edge.
Spitsbergen near Longyearbyen - amazing!

Spitsbergen Explorer Itinerary

Expedition Summary

Day 1
Embarkation: Longyearbyen
Day 2 -4
West Spitsbergen, 14th of July Glacier
Day 5 - 8
Smeerenburg, Phippsoya and Tusenoyane
Day 9 - 10
Bourbonhamna
Day 11
Longyearbyen - Disembarkation

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Essential Extras

Add flights and extra nights of adventure to your expedition. Download a free information package.


Extend Your Stay

Spitsbergen Explorer Route Map

Spitsbergen Explorer Interactive Map
Hornsund - Named for a reindeer antler, the English held a monopoly on whaling in the bay until the late 1650s.
Greenland Sea - Northernmost part of the Atlantic, densely inhabited by organisms at base of the oceanic food chain.
Edgeoya - Seldom visited, the third largest island in Svalbard is named after English whaler Thomas Edge.
Alkhornet - A striking landscape, where birds nest on the bedrock cliff and reindeer graze the lush vegetation.
Barentsoya - Home to many polar bears and named for Dutch explorer Willem Barents (who never saw the island).
Alkefjellet - Basalt pillars dwarf cliffs where Thick-billed Murres/Brunnich’s Guillemots nest in the thousands.
Smeerenburg - Served as the center of operations during first intensive phase of the Spitsbergen whale fishery.
Isfjordin - In the Battle of Kringen, Scottish ships landed here in 1612 after sea routes blocked by the Danish.
Kvitoya - Home to monument commemorating the three men who died during the Arctic balloon expedition of 1897.
Longyearbyen - Though tourism is its bread and butter, mining still plays a role in Svalbard’s largest community.
Moffen Island - First labeled on a map by Hendrick Doncker in 1655, it is an important haul-out area for walrus.
Nordaustlandet - Oft-translated as North East Land, areas not covered by ice cap are home to reindeer and walrus.
Phippsoya - Named for English explorer Constantine John Phipps, who commanded bomb vessels on a 1773 expedition.
Ny Alesund - One of the four permanent settlements on the island of Spitsbergen, and home to a research village.
Hornsund Greenland Sea Edgeoya Alkhornet Barentsoya Alkefjellet Smeerenburg Isfjordin Kvitoya Longyearbyen Moffen Island Nordaustlandet Phippsoya Ny Alesund

Spitsbergen Explorer Reviews

Reviews for this expedition

Spitsbergen Explorer

The whole trip form start (delayed with an overnight in Oslo due to extreme fog!)to finish. The small-ish size of the ship and all the people onboard. Neatless to say the highlight was my bermuda shorts worn for the BBQ on deck in less than tropical conditions!

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Spitsbergen Explorer

Going through the unbroken ice was a thrill I had not anticipated.

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Spitsbergen Explorer

The sea-kayaking was a most brilliant addition to the trip. We had beluga whales dive under the canoes, spotted a polar bear meandering along the shore that we were kayaking and got to immerse ourselves (almost literally!) in the stillness and wonder of the arctic waters.

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