Expedition Itinerary - Spitsbergen Snowshoeing

Day 1 - Embarkation Day - Longyearbyen

Flying into Longyearbyen from Oslo, you'll see a mountainous landscape broken by valleys and fjords, sparkling in the early summer sun, under a blanket of snow. Board the Akademik Sergey Vavilov in the afternoon, at anchor off shore.

Day 2-4 - West Spitsbergen: 14th of July Glacier

Cruise in Zodiacs past the spectacular ice cliffs of the 14th of July Glacier. Watch for Purple Sandpipers, Common Eiders, Barnacle Geese and Arctic Terns.

Day 5-6 - Smeerenburg, Phippsoya and Tusenoyane

Smeerenburg is on low ground, a perfect location for donning snowshoes to trek from the landing beach to a 1906 memorial to whalers who lost their lives in the 17th and 18th century. Phippsoya is a well known polar bear and walrus haunt, great for taking brag-worthy photographs. Red-throated Divers and a beach whale skeleton are the highlights of our visit to Tusenoyane (Thousand Islands).

Day 7-8 - Alkefjellet, Torellneset and the Hinlopen Strait

The morning is on the water cruising in Zodiacs near the spectacular cliff face of Alkefjellet. Thousands upon thousands of Little Auks fly overhead. Their cries enveloping you. Take a moment to scan the base of the cliffs. Arctic fox and polar bears are known to scavenge for eggs that have fallen from the nests above. On Torellneset, we'll don the snowshoes again. Moving northeast from the landing site, the ground rises to the southeast dome of the Austfonna ice cap, known as Vegafonna.

Day 9-10 - Poolepynten and Alkhornet

The twin-tusked pinniped - the walrus - halus out to bask in the sun at Poolepynten. You'll want to have your camera handy! Alkhornet, the second destination of the day has something for everyone - spectacular rock formations, nesting Little Auks and Dovekies and quite possiblity an Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer sighting.

Day 11 - Disembarkation - Longyearbyen

Your Spitsbergen Snowshoeing adventure ends where it began, Longyearbyen. We'll transfer you from the ship to the airport for your flight home.

Extend Your Stay

Want to stay longer, or arrive earlier? Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via email, live chat or phone (1.888.892.0334 or +1.802.735.1536) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions.