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Spitsbergen, the "Jewel of the High Arctic",
is situated north of Norway, some 600 nautical miles
from the North Pole. Our ship-based journeys circumnavigate
Spitsbergen and its outlying islands. This wonderland is the breeding grounds
of polar bears, walruses, reindeer and millions upon millions of migratory
land and sea birds. Sixty per cent of the land mass is covered by crevassed
ice plateaus and sparkling glaciers, yet Spitsbergen also contains great
expanses of tundra, where more than 165 species of plants thrive.
Warm sunshine, biting cold, freezing winds, swirling
waves, mirrored seas, spray in your face, salt in your mouth and all
felt so intensely when you are six inches from the water. What sights
we have seen: inquisitive seals and walruses quickly appearing in our
path; the beautiful guillemots gliding past our kayaks; the watchful
eyes of a silently swimming polar bear. All this against the backdrop
of majestic snow-and ice-covered mountain peaks and set amongst intricate
formations of pack ice and icebergs of ingenious colour and design.
Geoff Mullins, kayaker on Circumnavigation
of Spitsbergen voyage, August 2000.
.jpg) |
| Kayaking. (Arctic - Photo by Greg Mortimer) |
The fjords and sheltered waterways along the coastlines
of Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland offer ideal conditions for sea kayaking.
We can accommodate groups of up to ten kayakers interested in venturing
forth on day-long excursions. If you would like to elect the sea kayaking
option, you should advise us at the time of booking. We require sound
sea kayaking experience for all sea kayakers. There is an additional charge
for the sea kayaking option.
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No experience required for the regular expedition.
Sound sea kayaking experience is required for the sea kayaking option.
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These notes will give you a brief idea of what
you may encounter on this voyage. Our emphasis is
.jpg) |
| The deep silence of a land defined by ice.
(Arctic - Photo by Greg Mortimer) |
on wildlife encounters, personal contact with the
environment, and visits to sites of historical and scientific interest.
However, since this is an expedition style cruise, our actual program may
vary to take best advantage of local conditions and unexpected opportunities.
No two voyages are ever the same; there is always an element of the unexpected.
We will fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen, the main settlement
in Spitsbergen. Our flight will take us through Tromso, a Norwegian city situated
north of the Arctic Circle. Upon arrival in Longyearbyen, we will have time
to explore the bustling main settlement of Spitsbergen. In the afternoon,
we will board our ship, the Polar Pioneer and commence our circumnavigation
of the island, cruising out
.jpg) |
| The bird cliffs of Hinlopen Strait. (Arctic
- Photo by Sue Werner) |
of the beautiful Isfjorden on our way.
The Polar Pioneer is not a luxury ship. She was built
to be a working vessel and was later refitted to satisfy a comfortable
passenger standard. The mood on board is definitely casual. At sea we
are totally self-sufficient. A favorite pastime on board is to stand at
the stern watching for seabirds, including graceful Ivory Gulls, Kittiwakes,
Puffins, Auks and Guillemots. They rise and fall skillfully, using the
air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.
We cruise northwards along the west coast of Spitsbergen,
stopping at intriguing places like Ny Alsesund in King Fyord. Ny Alsesund
lays
.jpg) |
| Orca whale. (Photo by Sue Werner) |
claim to being the world's most northerly village
and to having the post office located closest to the North Pole. We will
spend time ashore exploring the lush tundra covered with summer flowers,
and we will observe the remarkable bird cliffs near the 14th July Glacier.
As we expore, we will get a sense of the history at the 350-year-old remains
of Dutch whaling settlements left on Amsterdam Island, and we will visit
the 100-year-old remnants of the famous Swedish Andree ballooning expedition.
As we work our way along the north coast of Spitsbergen,
we will come face to face with the
.jpg) |
| We sat quietly, protected by a moat of sea
water. (Arctic - Photo by Greg Mortimer) |
formidable pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. We will
enjoy magnificent views of sweeping glaciers from Duck Island. As we go
in search of walrus, walk among the reindeer and visit trapper huts, we
will remain on the alert for wandering polar bears.
Along the east coast of Spitsbergen, we will enter
a different world - a polar desert. Ice conditions permitting, we will
pass south through the narrow Hinlopen Strait. The strait is flanked by
creamy colored slabs of rock that are rich in fossils. Elsewhere we will
look for Eider Ducks, Arctic foxes and beautiful Ivory Gulls. As the Polar
Pioneer passes between Spitsbergen and the smaller Barents and Edge Islands,
we will cross the main polar bear migration routes. After making that
passage, we will round South Cape, Spitsbergen's most southerly point.
During the early morning hours, we will cruise into
Isfjorden before docking in Longyearbyen.
.jpg) |
| Arctic tundra provides endless opportunities
for good walks. (Arctic - Photo by Greg Mortimer) |
Some will say their farewells and head home at this
point, while others will choose to spend more time in the main settlement
of Spitsbergen.
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