Spitsbergen - National Park North-East Greenland - a great experience and active journey

With an expedition ship to selected highlights of the high Arctic

Map Spitsbergen Greenland
14 - day ship journey to the extreme north
along the W-coast of Spitsbergen
to the most inaccessible national park of
Northeast Greenland
to bird colonies and polar bears
with day tours from the ship as starting point
excursions with zodiacs
Steep mountains and fjords leading deep into the interior, shape the coast of Spitsbergen and the East Coast of Greenland on both sides of the North Atlantic. To become acquainted with these wonderful landscapes actively, is the goal of this journey.

Spitsbergen experienced a rush already in 17. century because of whale-catching, whereas the North of East Greenland remained completely untouched until today. It’s an enormous national park, an empty country, due to the fact, that the mighty East Greenland ice stream blocks the access. In former times no ship could penetrate the pack-ice-belt. Today, the legendary Danish sledge patrol pulls here along the coast, twice per year.
Wherever you step there during your hikes, you will be probably the first.
Program

1. Day:
The journey to Spitsbergen takes place individually.
Flight from your airport via Oslo, Tromsö to Longyearbyen.
(Gladly we are helpful in the reservation)
Coast Spitsbergen
2. Day:
Arrival in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen on the largest island of the archipelago. Before embarking there is a possibility to visit the settlement. The parish church and the Svalbard museum with interesting exhibitions on the mining industry and on polar history are likewise worth a visit. Around Longyearbyen 100 different plant types were proven. In the early evening we clear the anchor and sail through the Icefjord.
polar bear  Spitsbergen polar-travel.com
3. Day:
We drive into the Raudfjord at the northeast coast of Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers. Ringed seals, bearded seals ar at home here. We see bird colonies and a sumptuous vegetation. There is also a good chance to watch polar bears in the proximity of the Hamilton glacier, or, even nearer at the fjord end. From here we take course to Moffen island, where usually walruses meet at the beach.
Walross North Greenland polar-travel.com
4. - 5. Day:
The captain sets course West, we cross the Greenland Sea and look out for whales and sea-birds. We’ll reach the edge of the East Greenland ice stream and navigate in the maze of pack-ice floes.

6. Day:
We approach the Greenland coast, sail by the ice into the Foster Bugt, where we hope for a possible landing in Myggebugten. Behind an old hunting hut (in the first half of the last century there were some Norwegian Trappers on the hunt for polar bears and polar foxes) spreads the open tundra, which is inhabited by Musk-oxes. On the small lakes geese are resident. We steer by the Emperor Franz Joseph fjord, a fantastic place, surrounded by high needle-like mountains on both sides. And inside the fjord we’ll see many clusters of great icebergs. An alternative is the Sofia Sound, where we can observe musk-oxes from the ship.
Muskox Greenland
7.Day:
We hope for a landinging in Blomster Bugten, in order to visit the beautiful geological formations there. One can see snow hares and rare kinds of birds. In the afternoon we take course along Devil Castle and Ella Ø and try to make our way still to another interesting landing site in the evening.
Tryghamna Fjord Spitsbergen
flowers Spitsbergen
Ice Fjord Spitsbergen
Ice Fjord Spitsbergen
Ice Fjord Spitsbergen
Ice Fjord Spitsbergen
8. Day:
We spend the first half of the day in the Antarctica Havn, a wide, expanded valley, in which one can also meet groups of Musk-oxes At this time one may also admire the autumn colors of the arctic vegetation.

Ice Fjord Spitsbergen
9. Day:
Today we reach the Scoresby Sound and sail along the rugged, ice-covered Volquart Boons Coast in the morning. We hope for a zodiac excursion along the glacier front of the coastal line and possibly will go ashore in the proximity of the Maane Glacier.
Later we plan landings on Danmarks Ø, with ruins of an Inuit settlement are, which has been abandoned approx. 200 years ago. The circular arrangement of the stones shows, where the summer houses were. The winter houses stand more nearer to the Cape. This historical place also shows how the meat has been stored before - sage from polar bears. There are also graves in the vicinity. In the evening the journey continues through beautiful fjords towards the west, where further ice accumulates densely.
flowers Spitsbergen
flowers Spitsbergen
flowers Spitsbergen
10. Day:
We’ll visit the capes of Hofmann Halvø and go ashore. In this area musk-oxes are frequent, we can also find alpine snow chicken and the ice divers here. The place here is extremely beautiful, particularly because the leaves of the Arctic willow and the dwarf birch-tree color the landscape. Also the arctic berries such as crow berries contribute with deep colors to the pittoresque picture. Besides they are expressed tasty! In the evening our trip continues through the fjord, direction Scoresby Land. The tundra with its warm autumn colors and the high dark mountains in the background form a perfect contrast.
Iceberg Greenland
11. Day:
In the northwest fjord in Scoresby Land we meet gigantic icebergs in the morning. Some are more than 100 m high and one kilometer long. Since the fjord is only about 400 m deep, most of these ice giants ran aground here. We’ll go ashore in the proximity of the Sydkap, in order to visit the remnants of a winter village of the Thule-Culture. Up to twenty humans were living in these tiny dwellings before. They lived on the catch of Greenland whales and used the whale bones as beams for roofing. Perhaps we land also at Gurreholm on Jameson Land.

12. Day:
We reach the only larger settlement at the Scoresby Sound Ittoqqortoormiit, with 400 inhabitants. Stroll through the village and pay attention to the skins of seals, musk-ox and polar bears, which are stretched for drying. After dinner we take up a southern course and pass the breath-taking landscape of the Blosseville Coast.
Inuit

13. Day:
On the trip to Iceland we cross the Denmark Strait and hope to be able to observe whales and sea-birds. At night also a Aurora Borealis presents itself perhaps.
14. Tag:
Mit der Ankunft in Akureyri endet die Expeditionsschiffsreise. Mit dem Bus reisen wir in ca. 6 Std. über die weiten Hochflächen Nordislands und erreichen am Nachmittag unsere Quartiere in Reykjavik.
14. Day:
Disembarkation and transfer to Reykjavik, Hotel overnight
15. Day:
Flight back to your homeland airport
Notes:
The daily schedules described here serve only for your rough orientation. The travel program can vary by the influence of local ice- and weather conditions considerably, in addition, in order to be able to react to actual conditions concerning animal observation. Flexibility is of greatest importance during this ship journey, which has expedition character.

The ship: M/v "Plancius" or Ortelius
The Plancius is a modern, safe, ice-strengthened ship, which was built as a research ship particularly for polar regions. It can accommodate up to 114 passengers comfortably.
The crew consists of 17 sailors, 6 chefs de cuisine, 1 hotel manager, 1 bar man and 11 stewards. 1 expedition leader and 7 guides/scientists accompany the cruise, a physician is also on board.
The Plancius is comfortably and pleasantly furnished, it is however no luxury ship.The same is valid for the ship Ortelius.
Our journeys to the Arctic and the Antarctic are "experience journeys". We go ashore as often as possible and try to fill the days with action, as we wish to make the journey a great nature experience for all of our guests.

The Sea Spirit is a more luxurious ship of about the same size. More details about the ships:
Performances:
- Journey as indicated with the ships Plancius, Ortelius or Sea Spirit
- Full Board on board including snacks, coffee, tea.
- all trips and other activities during the journey
- lecture program on board, experienced team of expedition leaders
- free zodiac boat excursions and rental of snow shoes
- group transfer from the airport to the ship in Longyearbyen
- transfer from the ship after arrival in Akureyri and Reykjavik (Iceland) at the end
- harbour fees and other taxes
- extensive material for preparation for the journey

Not included are:
- personal expenditures on board (e.g. for telephone, Internet etc.)
- beverages at the bar
- travel costs for on and return flights
- restaurant expenses ashore
- hotel costs before and following the journey
- museum entrance fees
- insurances
- tips
Prices based on double cabins.
Booking of a single-cabin is 1,7-times of the regular price for doubles. duplicate.
Reservation of a half cabin for two as an individual is likewise possible.

We may book the flights for you on request.

A fuel addition can be raised from the shipping company.
If you are interested in this journey, kindly