Springtime in Svalbard aboard Quest


from$ 8953 AUD



Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.

Ship
Quest
City
Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen


Overview

During the month of May, Svalbard is characterised by a wonderful purity and offers breathtaking sceneries. The fairytale winter landscape is dominated by sparkling ice formations, snow covered mountains, fjord ice and pastel coloured skies. It is spring in the Arctic and it is an indescribable experience to be there and witness the archipelago come to life. The polar bear yearlings venture out for the first time, the Arctic foxes and the Svalbard reindeers still wear their winter fur and seals and walruses can often be seen resting on the fjord ice. The little auks and the Brünnich’s guillemots have returned to their summer nests and the bird cliffs are teeming with life. This is also a great time to spot the king eider and rock ptarmigan.

Overview

  • SPTPQ
  • 9 Days
  • Quest

Cruise Itinerary

  • Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
  • Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
  • Spitsbergen

Departures

Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.

Cruise Itinerary

We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.


We start our adventure in Svalbard by exploring Longyearbyen. In the afternoon we embark our expedition ship and head out through Isfjorden. Perhaps we make an evening landing before we continue either south or north – all depending on the weather and the current ice situation. Here are some examples of places we may visit: Alkhornet At the entrance of Isfjorden is the characteristic cliff Alkhornet. We go ashore to enjoy the beautiful tundra and its birdlife with 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 some luck we might see these lovely little animals scurrying around, frantically looking for food. Prins Karls Forland This narrow strip of land is covered by a magnificent and snow-covered mountain chain. The island is also home to many seabirds and harbour seals. Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is situated in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. In the nearby Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large number of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity. Virgohamna, Danskøya Two of the most courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. Swedish balloonist Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and American journalist Wellman started with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site. Bellsund At the beautiful Vårsolbukta in Bellsund little auks nest by the tens of thousands. We go ashore and walk across the tundra to take a closer look at these charming birds. Hornsund The majestic Hornsund consists of several magnificent fjords along the west coast of Spitsbergen, where enormous glaciers calve out shimmering blue ice. This is one of the favourite haunts for some of Svalbard’s polar bears and if lucky we can spot one of them on the fjord ice.


In the morning we leave the ship in Longyearbyen and begin our journey home.


Our exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions and wildlife. The places mentioned are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. We always strive to maximise your experience. Please remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!


Quest

Vessel Type: Expedition Length: 66 metres Passenger Capacity: 53 Built / refurbished: 1992 / 2005 / 2018 Normal 0 false false false EN-NZ X-NONE X-NONE M/S Quest was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry on Greenland`s west-coast. In 2004/2005 she was redesigned as an expedition ship and has now a career as a small and comfortable expedition vessel. She was extensively renovated in 2018. Quest takes 53 passengers in 26 cabins, all with sea-view and private facilities. The triple cabins on deck 3 have upper and lower berths. All other cabins have two lower berths or a double bed. In your cabin you also find a desk with chair and ample storage space for clothes and equipment. The superior cabins on deck 3 and 4 are spacious and have a separate sitting area and TV/DVD. The Owner`s cabin, next to the Captain`s cabin, on deck 4 has a double bed, two large picture windows, a sitting area and TV/DVD. The owner’s cabin has a double bed, two large picture windows, a separate seating area and TV. In the dining room you are treated to delicious meals in between landings and in the panorama lounge you can enjoy breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape. Here you can listen to entertaining talks on the area’s flora, fauna and history. In the lounge you also find a bar and a small library. The ship has spacious observation decks, where you can enjoy the beautiful vistas. Passengers are welcome on the bridge around the clock and there is always something to see or search for. You are welcomed by an international crew and the atmosphere is relaxed and very friendly. There are five Zodiacs and five guides on board M/S Quest.

Highlights

• Discover Svalbard in May. Svalbard – one of the world’s most magnificent wilderness areas. Experience midnight sun, glaciers and dramatic mountain ranges. In the summer, millions of seabirds arrive here to breed and whales can be spotted in the waters. Other animals include the walrus, the Arctic fox, the endemic Svalbard reindeer and last, but certainly not least, the king of the Arctic – the polar bear. • Enjoy Zodiac cruising • Meet The king of the Arctic - Polar Bear

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