Sptisbergen Itinerary

Spitzbergen - Typical Expedition

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Longyearbyen- Longyearbyen voyages

Day to Day programme

As with any sailing voyage this is a suggested itinerary. Where you actually go on each sailing expedition is very much dependant on the weather, wind direction, ice, time of year etc. Much of the experience of the best places to visit in this itinerary ship are based on Oosterschelde’s previous trips. Her regular wildlife guides will also be on board passing on their arctic wildlife and practical experience of this dramatic coastline. Antigua’s crew will be keen to explore new places too.
Day 1
You will join the ship in Longyearbyen in the afternoon. We immediately head towards Tryghamna, in the north western corner of the Isfjorden. We anchor here and take a walk to the huge bird cliff of Alkhornet. In the afternoon we head north in the direction of Prins Karls Forland.
Day 2
In the evening we arrive at Poolepynten. This is one of the few places where we find Walruses on land. Later that day we will sail through Forlandsundet, a narrow, shallow passage. If the weather permits we will land at Fuglehuken. During the night we will sail onto the Krossfjorden.
Day 3
In Krossfjorden we will anchor at Ebeltoftbukta. Here we find the remains of the oldest (tear) ovens on Spitzbergen. In the evening we up anchor and sail towards the Magdalena Fjord.
Day 4
The natural surroundings of the Magdalena Fjorden are very characteristic. Spitzbergen means mountain peaks, and here you can clearly see why. Aforay ashore can walk up to the Gully Glacier. In the evening the ship can sail right up to the front of the glacier as it meets the sea – for some dramatic photos. Antigua may stay overnight in this spectacular fjord.
Day 5
After breakfast we sail through Smeerenburgfjorden to the island Ytre Norskøya. Enjoy a trek to the highest point of the island. This was used as a lookout for hunters to spot bowhead whales. We sail on towards Raudfjorden.
Day 6
80 degrees North latitude. Probably the closest to the North Pole you will get by sailing ship. Sail deep into the Ruadfjorden to an anchorage at Hamiltonbukta for a trip ashore. In then evening the ship may head back in the direction of the Smeerenburgfjorden.
Day 7
Early in the morning we go ashore at Virgohamna on Danskøya. Here are the remains of two polar expeditions. On Amsterdamøya we explore the remains of the Dutch Settlement Smeerenburg. This was the most important Dutch Whaling station in the 17th century. At the end of the day the ship sets sail for Ny-Alesund.
Day 8
Ny- Alesund is the northernmost village in the world. The settlement started out as a miners village but today is a modern centre for Arctic research. There is a visitors centre, souvenir shop and a small post office so you can send postcards from the Far North (postcards may take a while to reach your friends and relatives – but that’s part of the fun). In the afternoon we sail towards Blomstrandhalvøya. In the night (land of the midnight sun) we sail towards Barentsburg.
Day 9
Barentsburg is a Russian mining village tucked into the Grønfjorden. Originally it belonged to the Dutch but the Russian’s purchased it. During the cold war Barentsburg was of major strategic importance to the Russians and it was a closed village – out of bounds to all westerners except the governor of Spitzbergen. Today the Russians have no interest and it has an abandoned feel.
Day 10
Next morning climb the rigging and enjoy a sail through the Templefjorden. The ship anchors in Skansbukta. There is an old gypsum mine to explore and some unusual flora for botanists. The ship heads back to Longyearbyen in plenty of time for some unusual shopping or a visit to the museum.
Day 11
A difficult day as you say goodbye to the ship and her crew to fly home.

The first and last voyages are longer and go different routes.

Voyage SP – 1 Tromsø to Longyearbyen

We start in Tromsø and leave the main land of Europe behind as we head north for the Arctic Circle. We will be on the open sea for a few days and come to Bear Island, if the weather is suitable we may be able to land on the island for a short exploration. On day 5 we should reach the south of Spitsbergen and we will visit the beautiful Hornsund Fjord and others nearby. The voyage continues up the west coast of Spitsbergen as described above and finally finishes after lots of wonderful experiences in Longyearbyen which is in the Isfjorden (fjord).

Voyage SP – 4 Longyearbyen to Tromsø

This voyage starts in the same way as SP – 2 and SP – 3 but we will not be doing the west coast but the only occasion in 2009 when we will do the east coast of Spitsbergen. Sailing through Hinloopenstreet back towards Tromsø. As it is getting later in the year there is a good chance we will see the Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis making a spectacular display in the sky.