The Polar Travel Company

OEX � Katja Riedel

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

Included

PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.

The focus of this voyage is shore hiking. Hikers can choose hikes that best suits their fitness and ability level.

The focus of this voyage will be on hiking on shore: -
The focus of this voyage is shore hiking. Hikers can choose hikes that best suits their fitness and ability level. Hiking options include very easy beach hikes (good for photographers who need time for photography), easier short hikes, medium-difficulty extended hikes, and more challenging long hikes. Ski mountaineers can also join this trip.

Hikes of 2 � 3 hours will be planned, with outings in the morning and/or afternoon. About 200 meters (650 feet) of altitude will be gained and descended per day, sometimes more or less depending on the hike. Hiking groups will return to the ship for lunch. On occasion, the expedition leader may offer a long hike, for which participants will receive a packed lunch.

The hiking guests will split into groups under the guidance of experienced and competent guides. The formation of walking groups will take place on site, taking into account the interests and physical condition of the guests. The hikes cannot be determined in advance because prevailing weather conditions influence the layout of the final program.

The route map in the day-by-day description outlines a possible (but not final) itinerary that serves as a rough guide. The program (walking on land) and the itinerary of the ship (at sea) will be adapted to the prevailing weather, sea, pack ice, and snow conditions. The daily program may vary considerably from the route described. Availability of landing sites and the presence of polar bears also play a role in the selection of daily outings.

The program will be adapted in case of interesting wildlife observations. The final decision about hikes will be made by the expedition leader. For the hiking program, we will use snowshoes that will be available on board for all passengers (free rental). With snowshoes, it is easier and safer to walk on snowy surfaces. They fit all boot sizes and can be used in combination with our rubber boots. We strongly recommend bringing sturdy, ankle-high hiking boots and gaiters. Hiking poles with snow plates are also required. See details in the equipment list.

At the end of a long Arctic winter, spring is starting to awaken. The climate, however, still clings to the cold: ice-covered mountains, snow-swept shores, temperatures around �4� C (25�F). It�s a good time to experience the last of the winter scenery, and with a little luck, also see some polar bears, walruses, and seals.

Ski mountaineering will be offered as an additional activity option: -
Ski mountaineering will be offered as an additional activity option. The ski program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered techniques for both ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain.

A typical day involves climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700 � 850 meters (2,300 � 2,800 feet) and downhill skiing from those points. You might climb 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) of accumulated altitude on an average day. An accurate route cannot be determined in advance due to variable weather, sea, wildlife, and avalanche considerations.

The map outlines a possible but not final route in the regions of Kongsfjorden, Raudfjorden, Liefdefjorden, and Prins Karls Forland. This route serves as a rough guide only. The expedition leader and the mountain guides make the final decision as to the daily adjustments. Flexibility is paramount in this type of cruise. Ski mountaineers must bring their own equipment. All activities on or off the vessel, such as (but not limited to) ski outings and Zodiac trips, are done at the passenger�s own risk. Oceanwide Expeditions is not liable for any damage, such as (but not limited to) bodily injury, illness, and death unless as a result of gross negligence. Furthermore, with the consent to participate in the ski mountaineering program, the passenger agrees to make no claims for reimbursement for shortened travel days due to reasons beyond the organization�s control, such as (but not limited to) conditions of weather and ice, avalanche threads, polar bears threats, and expedition staff injuries.

Birding note: -
It is still somewhat quiet on the cliffs, as this time of year the cliff-nesting birds are only just arriving to pick out their breeding places. By May all the nesting birds will have arrived, and the breeding will take place later in June.

� Photogapher unknown

� Folkert Lenz

� Rinie van Meurs

Day 1: Largest town, biggest island
You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening, the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage. We head north for Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden.

Day 2: Kongsfjorden, Blomstrandhalv�ya and Krossfjorden
On the first day of your activity program, you will slowly ease into things. Blomstrandhalv�ya is located on the northern side of the fjord, which will offer shelter and room to change plan in case the weather changes. The landscape is likely to show signs of winter, the crags and slopes still blanketed with snow. Here there are rich opportunities for snowshoeing � snowshoes are provided � and visiting places of historic interest: Ny London, where you can see the remains of early 20th-century marble mining.

In the afternoon, you visit Ny �lesund, one of the northernmost settlements on Earth. Once a mining village served by the world�s most northerly railway � you can still see its tracks � Ny �lesund is now a research center. Close to the community is a breeding ground for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, and Arctic terns. And if you�re interested in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the anchoring mast used by polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their airships, Norge (1926) and Italia (1928). In the evening, we head north along the west coast and spend the night in the sheltered surroundings of Krossfjorden. Krossfjorden offers views of colossal glaciers and lofty mountain peaks, but ultimately the extent of fjord ice dictates the itinerary here.

Day 3: Exploring the North West
Next to your activities, you will next head toward Amsterdamoya, where you have the chance to hike past the remains of a 17th-century whaling station. You can also enjoy the beautiful panorama of Smeerenburgsleta. In the afternoon, you make for the islands around Fair Haven. Ytre Norskoya is home to a small rookery of puffins, Br�nnich�s guillemots, and other wildlife. Nearby Fuglesangen may also offer the chance to see litte auks flying overead as they return to their nests among the rocks.

Days 4: Rugged Raudfjorden
At Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers � and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears. Here you will find the right balance between safe activities and wildlilfe watching.

Day 5: The stunning sights of Liefdefjorden
Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent sailing here early in the season, you may use an alternate route along the west coast of Spitsbergen. Near the area of Texas Bar and Hornbaekpollen, there are also some great hikes.

Day 6: North Spitsbergen splendors
This is your reserve day for activities around North Spitsbergen. Weather and wildlife permitting, you will choose the right location for another day of splendid outdoor adventures.

Day 7: Forlandsundet or St. Johns Fjord
Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses sometimes haul out here, and seabirds can be found around Fuglehuken. You may also see walrus populations around Sarstangen and Poolepynten. Alternatively, you might sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation. You will arrive in Longyearbyen later that night.

Day 8: There and back again
Even the greatest journeys eventually come to an end. Today you disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

� Photogapher unknown

� Folkert Lenz

� Rinie van Meurs

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