Spitzbergen Discovery - 17th July 2024
Rate:
4400€
Full board
A unique adventure in the heart of the Arctic
This exceptional journey along the shores of the Svalbard archipelago is for anyone eager to explore the polar environment and its wildlife.
With a maximum group size of 12 people, fostering camaraderie and friendship, our vessel offers both the comfort necessary to navigate pleasantly in this sometimes harsh environment and the flexibility required to "squeeze in and approach" with ease."
Sailing through the national parks of Spitsbergen
The Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago, is located between the Arctic Ocean, the Greenland Sea, and the Barents Sea. During our stay, we will sail from Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard, to explore the treasures of the northwestern national parks of the archipelago for 11 days, reaching the fjord known as "Woodfjorden"
"Amidst a unique fauna, flora, and environment"
Within details
This voyage to Spitsbergen, accessible to all, is a succession of sailing phases and excursions. Each day, we accompany you ashore to discover a particular feature. Then, a few hours of navigation, always along the coast, for the pleasure of the eyes.
Most often, we spend the "night" at anchor, to take the time to "immerse ourselves." This could be an opportunity for a midnight sun outing, either by zodiac or on land...
During the trip, we will take care to avoid places like Ny Alesund or Barentsburg, which, due to excessive tourist traffic, are now very distant from the concept that led you to choose us
We don't have a strict itinerary but rather a "guiding thread" for the trip with its different sites:
- l'Isfjord
- l'île du Prince Charles
- Le fjord de St John
- La baie du Roi : Tour complet de la baie en bateau.
- La baie de la Croix
- La baie de la Madeleine
- Le Fjord de Smeerenburg
- Les îles du nord ouest: Danskøya, Amsterdamøya
- Les îles de Indre et Ytre Norskoya
- Raudfjord: notamment la Baie d'Hamilton
- St John Fjord
King's bay
Cross Bay
Magdalena bay
Smeerenburg Fjord
Northwest islands: Danskøya, Amsterdamøya
Inner and Outer Norskoya Islands
Raudfjord: notably Hamilton Bay
Woodfjord: Texas Bar, Monaco Glacier
As well as various possibilities:
- Cultural/Historical:
- Visits to historical whaling sites or departure points for polar expeditions
- Visit to a walrus graveyard – whale bones
- Visit to a 17th-century whaler's cemetery.
- Visits to old trapper camps. Cabins
- Wildlife Observation (on land or by zodiac):
- Birds: puffins, guillemots, fulmars, eiders, ivory gulls, Arctic terns, etc
- Observation of wild reindeer, Arctic foxes
- Polar bear observation
- Observation of isolated or colony walruses
- Whale and beluga whale watching (most often from July onwards)
- Birds: puffins, guillemots, fulmars, eiders, ivory gulls, Arctic terns, etc
- Observation of flora, environment:
- Approach and observation of several glaciers (approach to icebergs) along the west and north coasts.
- Observations of flowers and mosses (depending on the season)
- Midnight sun
- Symbolic crossing of the 80th parallel north (depending on ice conditions).
- Approach and observation of several glaciers (approach to icebergs) along the west and north coasts.
The last day is dedicated to visiting Longyearbyen, a mining village transforming into a town. Polar museum, gallery (arts – slideshow – old maps...), souvenir shops....
Participants' Physical Condition
- We are on a moderately sized boat. Onboard, there are steep stairs to navigate, and the cabins are equipped with bunk beds.
- On land, there are no established paths, and most often, there are rocky terrain with varying degrees of stability, holes, occasional snow, or spongy ground.
- In the event of encountering a bear on land, a rapid return to the Zodiac may be necessary..
We, therefore, emphasize the importance for everyone to have a minimum level of physical fitness (being able to climb a vertical ladder of 3 meters is a good benchmark).