Bear Island and Svalbard Explorer

Join us on an adventurous expedition vessel cruise from Tromso in Norway to explore the rarely visited Bear Island and the southern coast of Spitsbergen.


Svalbard
© SAT

Duration: 10 days
Starts: Tromsø, Norway
Ends: Longyearbyen
Language: English Speaking Voyage


Included


Please note: The itinerary below is a guide only. A part of any Arctic adventure is the flexibility to take advantage of the weather and ice conditions. Our expedition leader will make sure you see as much a possible.

Itinerary

© SAT
© SAT

Day 1: Tromso, Norway
The voyage casts off from the city of Tromso, situated at the top of mainland Norway above the Arctic circle. Tromso is served with good air connections making it the perfect departure place for a cruise from Norway to Svalbard. Depending on the weather we will either spend a day exploring the fjords close to Tromso or if we have a favourable weather window head straight north towards Bear Island.

Day 2: Crossing the Barents Sea
With the compass pointing north, we will say goodbye to mainland Norway as we head across the Barents Sea. Our expedition leader will do a lecture on Bear Island so you learn about its history, wildlife, and some of the places we plan to land. This is a good day to do some relaxing for the adventure ahead. Spend some time out on the deck watching out for wildlife or read a book in the comfortable saloon.

Day 3-5: Exploring Bear Island
After a day at sea, we will make our first sighting of the seldom visited Bear Island, first discovered in 1596 by Dutch explorers William Barentz and Jacob van Heemskerck. We will have 3 full days to explore the island and make landings at different sites including the remains of a whaling station. The island is also home to an abundance of birdlife and if conditions allow we will explore the bird cliffs by Zodiac landing craft. We plan to do some hikes ashore. As it is early in the season the shores will likely still be snow-covered and we will supply snowshoes for walking.

Day 6-9: Exploring Southern Spitsbergen
After spending another day at sea will reach the southern coast of Spitsbergen, the largest of Svalbard’s Islands. We have a full three days to explore the coast with the plan on doing shore landings each day to experience the frozen wilderness of Svalbard as it emerges from the winter months. We will visit the area around Hornsund and use the opportunity for some short hikes ashore. As we sail towards our final destination we will enter the Isfjord where we plan to visit a glacier.

Day 10: Longyearbyen
After an exciting voyage, we have our final breakfast together before we say our goodbyes. We disembark in the morning at the port of Longyearbyen after making new friends and sharing an exciting adventure together. Longyearbyen is well served by domestic airlines that connect to Oslo in Norway. Longyearbyen is also a great place to spend a few additional days. Please see our Longyearbyen guide for some suggestions of places to stay and things to do.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tromso, Norway
The voyage casts off from the city of Tromso, situated at the top of mainland Norway above the Arctic circle. Tromso is served with good air connections making it the perfect departure place for a cruise from Norway to Svalbard. Depending on the weather we will either spend a day exploring the fjords close to Tromso or if we have a favourable weather window head straight north towards Bear Island.

Day 2: Crossing the Barents Sea
With the compass pointing north, we will say goodbye to mainland Norway as we head across the Barents Sea. Our expedition leader will do a lecture on Bear Island so you learn about its history, wildlife, and some of the places we plan to land. This is a good day to do some relaxing for the adventure ahead. Spend some time out on the deck watching out for wildlife or read a book in the comfortable saloon.

Day 3-5: Exploring Bear Island
After a day at sea, we will make our first sighting of the seldom visited Bear Island, first discovered in 1596 by Dutch explorers William Barentz and Jacob van Heemskerck. We will have 3 full days to explore the island and make landings at different sites including the remains of a whaling station. The island is also home to an abundance of birdlife and if conditions allow we will explore the bird cliffs by Zodiac landing craft. We plan to do some hikes ashore. As it is early in the season the shores will likely still be snow-covered and we will supply snowshoes for walking.

Day 6-9: Exploring Southern Spitsbergen
After spending another day at sea will reach the southern coast of Spitsbergen, the largest of Svalbard’s Islands. We have a full three days to explore the coast with the plan on doing shore landings each day to experience the frozen wilderness of Svalbard as it emerges from the winter months. We will visit the area around Hornsund and use the opportunity for some short hikes ashore. As we sail towards our final destination we will enter the Isfjord where we plan to visit a glacier.

Day 10: Longyearbyen
After an exciting voyage, we have our final breakfast together before we say our goodbyes. We disembark in the morning at the port of Longyearbyen after making new friends and sharing an exciting adventure together. Longyearbyen is well served by domestic airlines that connect to Oslo in Norway. Longyearbyen is also a great place to spend a few additional days. Please see our Longyearbyen guide for some suggestions of places to stay and things to do.


© SAT
© SAT


INCLUSIONS

-Expert Svalbard Expedition Leader
-Lectures on Svalbard
-Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
-Polar Bear protection guides for shore landings
-Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
-Bedding and towels
-Highly experienced Captain and Cook

EXCLUSIONS

-Flights and transfers
-Travel and cancellation insurance
-Any additional expenses such as museum entry
-Alcohol and spirits


* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

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