Tromso to Spitsbergen Midnight Sun

Tromsø is called the Gateway to the Arctic. When polar explorer Roald Amundsen recruited crew for his famous expeditions more than 100 years ago, he went to Tromsø. This was the only place he could find men (yes – it was mostly men back in those Days) with navigational experience from Polar seas. He needed men that knew how to survive with minimal means in the Arctic, men that had survived an overwintering in Svalbard by trapping and hunting. Today Tromsø is home to polar operations experts and the academics investigating global warming the in Arctic. It is a melting pot with indigenous people, locals and Europeans. In brief, Tromsø is still the Gateway to the Arctic and a natural starting point for expeditions heading north – just like the one you are about to join.

In the early morning hours we sail past the spectacular North Cape cliff, offering you a stunning view of this famous landmark. In Hornvika we drop off hikers before continuing to Skarsvåg, a small village that lies along the northern coast of the island of Magerøya. It claims the distinction of being the world's northernmost fishing village. Join the optional excursion to the North Cape and get a feeling what its like to stand at the end of the Earth. There is a combined museum and restaurant at the plateau, where you can learn more on the early expeditions to North Cape and watch a panoramic film that takes you through four seasons in a landscape full of contrasts, light and breathtaking scenery. North Cape is a spectacular place for experiencing the Midnight Sun.

Bjørnøya, with a population of 9 persons, is the southernmost island of the Svalbard Archipelago. It is an isolated spot in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, known for hosting “the largest concentration of sea birds on the Northern Hemisphere”. This is where the cold waters from the Arctic Ocean meets warm Gulf Stream currents. When these water masses collide, nutrient-rich water is pushed up to the surface, making it an "all-you-can-eat" buffet for 126 different bird species. If conditions allow, we will land here.

Cruising northbound from Bjørnøya we will take advantage of the conditions at hand, focusing on the ice edge. We will attempt to enter fjords where we can expect fast, or landlocked ice. Within the Svalbard Archipelago there are about 3,000 polar bears, probably the largest concentration on Earth. Polar bears are solitary animals with no set colony or living area. We are most likely to observe this marine mammal on the drift ice, close to the ocean or even in the water. We often observe polar bears on this itinerary – although not every day and seldom at very close range. Like most things in a true wilderness, there are no absolute guarantees. But the more eyes scouting through binoculars, the better our chances of observing the King of the Arctic.

The North West Corner of Spitsbergen offers the largest concentration of graves, blubber ovens and other cultural treasures from when men first started to inhabit Svalbard. Raudfjorden offers plenty of opportunities for great hikes.

Hamiltonbukta is too shallow for our ship to navigate, but it’s perfect to explore by kayak. We might also see the enormous Monaco Glacier in Liefdefjord, and if the conditions allow it you can try what the Norwegians call brevandring – this means traversing a glacier. Don’t mistake this for ice climbing. Our brevandring is on relatively “even ice” – but on some occasions we will have to negotiate small crevasses. There are some exceptional experiences waiting for you “on the ice”, as 60 % of the landmass of Svalbard is covered by glaciers. Setting foot on ice is almost obligatory to complete your Svalbard experience.

As we sail into the Kongsfjord, we come across one of only four permanent settlements on Svalbard: the old coal-mining town of Ny-Ålesund, one of the northernmost settlements in the world. Ny-Ålesund was the starting point for many expeditions to the North Pole. Names like Amundsen, Ellsworth and Nobile are strongly linked to this place. Even today, you can see the mast that the airship ‘Norge’ was moored to before her departure on the very first trans-polar flight. A number of countries run national research stations here, and there is always plenty of scientific activity during the summer months.

The Isfjord is the most extensive fjord system on Svalbard. We will spend the morning in the heart of the fjord, as we sail towards Longyearbyen. The landscape changes constantly – marvel at the immense U-shaped valleys, carved out of the mountains by the giant glaciers that covered the area some ten thousand years ago. When you disembark in Longyearbyen, you will feel like a polar hero. Seeing hotels, museums, restaurants and shops again will be a great contrast to the remote expedition you have just experienced.

Disembark for transfer to airport and flight to Oslo.