Exploration of Svalbard (Quest)

We arrive in Longyearbyen, embark our expedition ship and sail out through the beautiful Ice Fjord.

We are now in a part of the world where we are totally dependent on ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary depends on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. The goal is to make daily landings with our Zodiacs. Here are some examples of places we may visit. Northwest Svalbard. In the scientific village of Ny-Ålesund, Arctic terns nest along the main street. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. On the islands of Danskøya, Amsterdamøya and Ytre Norskøya wemfind remnants from the bustling activity during the 17th century’s whaling period. Two of the most courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on Danskøya. Swedish balloonist Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloonmand American journalist Wellman started out with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site. Fantastic fjords. Svalbard offers countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore a few of them such as: Liefdefjorden, meaning “the fjord of love”, is lined with snow-covered mountain peaks and at its base we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pink-footed geese nest in the area and if lucky we can see the rare king eider. In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large numbers of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals. Hinlopen and Alkefjellet. If the ice allows we may enter Hinlopen Strait. Here is Alkefjellet, an impressive, basaltic cliff, which is the home to an estimated 200 000 Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also continue into the beautiful bay Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet. Eastern Svalbard. The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by an enormous ice cap and fascinates naturalists as well as historians. There are huge glacier fronts here, intersected by hundreds of waterfalls. Even further east is Kvitøya (White Island). In very favourable ice and weather conditions, we may land on this ice-capped island where few people have set foot. Here Andrée and his men were found 33 years after their unsuccessful attempt to reach the North Pole. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent landscapes and vast tundra. Chances to encounter walrus, Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer are good here. Southwest Svalbard. The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a breathtaking landscape of towering mountain peaks. This is a favourite haunt for some of Svalbard’s polar bears.

We arrive in the early morning, disembark and begin our journey back home.

Our exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions and wildlife. The places mentioned above are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. We always strive to maximise your experience. Remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!