The Around Spitsbergen Voyage provides our most complete exploration of this polar archipelago, with its mountains, fjords, glaciers and fascinating wildlife. We visit the best wildlife areas including those around the Hindlopen Strait, with excellent opportunities to observe polar bears, walrus, reindeer, whales and several species of seal. Around 183 species of bird breed in the High Arctic and the Around Spitsbergen voyage offers excellent opportunties to observe a diverse range of both the immigrant and resident bird population. We navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya where we take to inflatable zodiacs to explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, a haven for thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots and a myriad of other sea birds.

Our voyages Around Spitsbergen are embarked upon in the latter part of Summer when the ice flows have receded sufficiently. On the west coast of the island group, where the waters and vegetation are influenced by the Gulf Stream, we tend to find some of the most prolific birdlife and greatest diversity of plantlife.  Spitsbergen is just 600 miles from the North Pole, yet we can find 164 species of flowering plant.  Diversity in Eastern Spitsbergen is considerably lower since there is little impact of the Gulf Stream here and a contrasting sense of the High Arctic, even in midsummer.

One of the scenic highlights of this voyage is Hornsund.  There are some 14 magnificent glaciers in this area with towering mountain peaks reaching more than 1,400m.  There are good chances to see polar bears, Arctic fox and walrus and a short distance inland we can usually find thousands of little auks.

Aqua-Firma also offer exclusive 16 day sailing voyages Around Spitsbergen onboard a comfortable and stunning 20 person schooner: Please click here for sailing voyage details.

For an example itinerary of our Around Spitsbergen icebreaker cruises, please click HERE

 

Photos kindly provide by Troels Jacobsen and Charlotte Caffrey.