SVALBARD – NORTHWESTERN NAVIGATION BEYOND 80°N
ON THE TRAIL OF THE HOT AIR SHIP ITALIA AND THE GREAT POLAR EXPLORERS
Imagine a land at the edge...
THE SPITSBERGEN WEST TERRITORIES
During the month of May, Svalbard is characterised by a wonderful purity and spectacular scenery. The fairytale winter landscape is dominated by glittering ice formations, snow-capped mountains, fjord ice and pastel-coloured skies.
It’s spring in Svalbard, and being there as the archipelago awakens is truly awe-inspiring. The Arctic fox and the Svalbard reindeer still wear their thick winter coats, and walruses are often seen resting on drifting ice floes. With a bit of luck, we might even spot the king of the Arctic – the polar bear – silently roaming across the ice. Birdlife is beginning to return to Svalbard, and it’s a good time to see king eiders and rock ptarmigans.
The expedition includes several shore landings along the route. Some of these involve walks ranging from 500 m to 6 km, with relatively manageable gradients. You may encounter ice, snow, mud, or other natural conditions. Temperatures can vary by several degrees, roughly between -15°C and 0°C, so appropriate clothing is essential. The program may change depending on weather and ice conditions. During landings, Arctic guides will provide all necessary safety and polar bear protection equipment, so it is important to follow their instructions carefully.
The ship M/S Quest was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry along the west coast of Greenland. In 2004-2005, it was completely refurbished into a comfortable expedition ship, and in 2018, the passenger areas underwent further renovation.
M/S Quest can accommodate 50 passengers, with all 24 cabins being outside cabins equipped with private facilities.
In the dining room, you enjoy delicious meals between landings, while the panorama lounge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. This lounge serves as the venue for entertaining talks about the area’s flora, fauna, and history. The ship boasts spacious observation decks for you to enjoy the stunning vistas. The bridge welcomes you around the clock, and there is always something to see or search for. There are five Zodiacs and five guides on M/S Quest.
Arrival in Longyearbyen, meeting with the FRAMTours guides, and private transfer to our hotel for the night.
Before the departure our experienced crew will give you all the safety information about the ship and how to act in case of emergency.
Dinner on your own and hotel overnight.
We start our Svalbard expedition by exploring Longyearbyen. In the afternoon we embark our expedition ship M/S Quest and head out through Isfjorden.
Our Arctic adventure has started!
We are now in a part of the world where we are completely dependent on the ice and weather conditions.
Our exact itinerary will depend on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. We may make a first excursion before heading south or north, depending on the weather and ice conditions.
Definetely we will pass through the majestic Alkehornet the "entrance" of Isfjorden. We go ashore to enjoy the beautiful tundra and its birdlife, including barnacle geese, Brünnich’s guillemots, glaucous gulls, snow buntings and tens of thousands of kittiwakes. Arctic foxes are sometimes seen in the rock crevices around the mountain and with a bit of luck we might see these lovely little animals scurrying around, frantically looking for food.
Overnight omboard in the cabin.
These days will be dictated by sea ice conditions, weather, and much more.
Taking part in a spring expedition means understanding that we can't always do what we want and how we want. At this latitude, we must understand that nature is master in its own right.
We will generally try to reach the most northern point possible, which is usually between the Magdalenfjordern and Danskøya in late May.
The Kongsfjorden with Ny-Ålensund and the Krossfjorden will be the highlights of our trip, along with Bellsund and Van Mijenfjorden.
In the morning we leave the ship in Longyearbyen and begin our journey home.
The itinerary may change depending on weather conditions. This can include adjustments such as advancing or postponing a landing, altering the route to avoid storms, and, in extreme cases, seeking a safe harbor to wait out the bad weather
Around 3,500 polar bears live in Svalbard; however, spotting them is not as easy as it might seem. The archipelago is vast, and it can happen that no bears are seen for several days. It should also be noted that strict regulations prohibit approaching the animals closer than 500 or 300 meters, depending on the season. Summer is still the period with the highest chances of sightings: as the snow and sea ice melt, the bears tend to come closer to the coast to hunt seals. All that remains is to hope for some luck and always stay alert
Temperatures can range from a few degrees below zero to a few degrees above. It is therefore essential to dress in layers to be prepared for any situation. It is also important to protect extremities with gloves and a hat. For footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended
Landing is one of the most fun activities to do in Svalbard and is definitely the best way to explore the area. The boat is equipped with Zodiacs, small inflatable boats that allow you to reach the shore safely and easily. From there, you can explore abandoned villages, spot wildlife, and discover places that few—or almost no one—has ever visited before.
