The Polar Travel Company

Now autumn is in the air after an Arctic summer. The mountains and coastal areas may be covered with snow again and the temperatures are around 0 to -5 degrees Celsius.

@ NOR

Duration: 8 days
Starts: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Ends: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Language: English speaking voyage

Included

Nature is beginning to show beautiful autumn colours and the transition period from 24 hours of light to dusk has started so that in the mornings and evenings we experience beautiful violet and other pastel shades in the sky. The spectacular light at this time of year makes these trips ideal for photography enthusiasts. If we�re lucky we might even be able to see the Northern Lights at night. Because of the relatively short distances, this trip will offer the opportunity to sail to the sights as much as possible, provided the weather conditions allow us to do so. During this trip we will visit perhaps the 2 most accessible and versatile fjord systems of Spitsbergen: the Isfjord and the Bellsund. Here we find all the beauty that the Arctic wilderness offers. In addition to impressive glaciers, unique geological mountain formations, large bird cliffs and a rich animal life, it is home to a wealth of cultural heritage that has been well preserved over the past 400 years due to the cold climate. These industries, which lie on the edge of what is humanly possible, have clearly left their mark here and offer a narrative insight into the past. On the beaches in the fjords, these traces of human life and activities are visible, showing how closely the landscape and people were connected.

@ NOR

Day 1: Embarkation in Longyearbyen
Our sailing ship Noorderlicht will be waiting for you at the so-called �floating pier' where you can embark from 16:00. The ship sets course towards Trygghamna bay, where it will anchor for the night.

Day 2: Visit to seabird cliff Alkhornet
We will execute the first zodiac landing in Trygghamna, where you can see the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and a 18th century hunting station of the Pomor. In the afternoon we head South towards Bellsund. In the night we will drop anchor at the island of Aksel�ya.

Day 3: Aksel�ya landing - Fridjofbreen Glacier
In the morning, we will land at Aksel�ya. In the evening we will look for an anchorage for the night at Midterhuken.

Day 4: Remains of Beluga hunting
After the morning hike, we will resume the journey to the bay of Fleur de Lyshamna. From there we walk to Kvitfiskstranda ('white whale beach') where there is a hut called Bamsebu, a whaling station built by the same Svendsen.

Day 5: History in the Recherchefjord
We plan a final landing in the Bellsund at the Recherchefjord. fter the landing we will sail back North, back to the Isfjord. Depending on the availability of a berth in the port of Barentsburg, we will sail towards the Russian mining settlement.

Day 6: Ghost Town in Soviet style: Barentsburg
In the morning we will visit the town named after Willem Barents. Later we leave for Borebukta. We will try to get as close as possible to the northwestern end to get a look at the steep glacier front of the Borebreen. We then continue to the west side of the bay, close to the Nansenbreen, where we will anchor for the night.

Day 7: Sailing towards Longyearbyen
In the morning we will organize a final landing at Cape Bohemanflya. We will spend the rest of the day sailing back to Longyearbyen.

Day 8: Goodbye Noorderlicht
After a hearty breakfast, you are kindly requested to disembark by 09:00.