Krossfjorden and Ny Alesund
Heading north along the west coast, you may arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, which has excellent views of glacier fronts. In the afternoon, you sail to Ny Alesund, the northernmost settlement on Earth. Once a mining village served by the world’s most northerly railway – you can still see its tracks – Ny Alesund is now a research center. Close to the community is a breeding ground for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, and Arctic terns. And if you’re interested in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the anchoring mast used by polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their airships, Norge (1926) and Italia (1928).
The massive Monaco Glacier
Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden, land at Texas Bar, and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of the precipitous Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the ice base is a famous polar bear hunting ground. Another possibility is the mouth of Wijdefjorden, which has both sides of a tundra landscape and a glacier in front of Nordbreen. If ice conditions prevent sailing here early in the season, an alternate route along the west coast of Spitsbergen can be implemented.
Stop at the Seven Islands
The northernmost point of your voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, at Chermsideoya and Phippsoya in the Seven Islands. You reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before wheeling around west again. When the edge of this sea ice is tens of miles north of the Seven Islands (mostly in August), you can spend a second day in this area. Alternatively (mostly in July), you may turn to Sorgfjord, where you can find a herd of walruses near the graves of 17th-century whalers at Eolusneset. A nature walk here can bring you close to families of ptarmigans. The opposite side of the fjord at Heclahamna is also a beautiful area for an excursion.
Highlights of Hinlopen
Today, you sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded and ringed seals and polar bears. At the entrance, there is even the possibility to spot blue whales. As with Liefdefjorden, you can take an alternate west Spitsbergen route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen. After cruising among the ice floes of Lomfjord in the Zodiacs, you then view the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with their thousands of Brunnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopen Strait, you may attempt a landing in Palanderbukta, where reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses are likely sights. Alternatively, at Torrelneset, you can visit the polar desert of Nordaustlandet, next to the world’s third-largest ice cap. During a coastline hike over the area’s raised beaches, you may encounter walruses.
Storfjorden’s many bounties
The plan is to sail through Freemansundet, the strait between Barentsoya and Edgeoya, with a stop on Barentsoya at Sundneset with the small Wurzburgerhytta and lakes with waterfowl. Later in the day, you may land at the mouth of the valley Skjolddalen on West Spitsbergen, four kilometers from an Ivory Gull colony. A landing at Diskobukta on Edgeoya, near a canyon with a large Kittiwake colony, is also an option. Other landings, like at Kvalhovden near mighty glacier fronts, are also possible.
Land of the Pointed Mountains
You start the day by cruising the side fjords of the Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, taking in the spire-like peaks: Hornsundtind rises 1,431 meters (4,695 feet), and Bautaen is a perfect illustration of why early Dutch explorers named this island Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains.” There are 14 sizable glaciers in this area, and there are opportunities for spotting seals, beluga whales, and polar bears. You may land in Samarinvaagen and Birgerbukta, where you have great opportunities for a long walk.
Bell Sund’s flora, fauna, and haunting history
Today, you find yourself in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in Svalbard. The ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other areas in the archipelago, which shows in the relatively lush vegetation. Here, there are excellent opportunities to enjoy both history and wildlife. A possibility is Ahlstrandhalvoya, at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden, where piles of beluga skeletons can be found. These remains of 19th-century whale slaughter are a haunting reminder of the consequences of rampant exploitation. Fortunately, belugas were not hunted to extinction, and you have a good chance of coming across a pod. Alternately, while cruising the side fjords of Bellsund, you can explore the tundra, where reindeer like to feed, and rock slopes, where little auks are breeding, near Vaarsolbukta.
