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Stockholm
Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen
Overview
Experience magificent Svalbard with our beautiful 12-passenger ship M/S Stockholm! 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.
Departures
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 M/S Stockholm and head out through Isfjorden. Perhaps we could 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 explorer 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!
Stockholm
Vessel Type: Small Ship Length: 195 m Passenger Capacity: 12 Built / refurbished: 1953 / 1999 The M/S Stockholm is a classic ship built in 1953 for the Swedish National Maritime Administration. In 1999 she was totally refitted and started her career as a comfortable polar passenger ship. The M/S Stockholm carries a maximum of 12 passengers in twin cabins with bunk beds. All cabins have private facilities and small windows (portholes). M/S Stockholm is a marvellous piece of maritime history with beautiful brass details and wooden decks. It is no wonder she is loved by so many! On board the ship you will enjoy delicious meals in the company of likeminded travellers, who are all fascinated by the Arctic nature, wildlife and history. The food on board is of high standard and all beverages are included in the price. With such a small party on board, this is like travelling on a private yacht. The crew on board M/S Stockholm are also great enthusiasts of the unique wildlife and unspoiled nature. Their genuine curiosity is a prerequisite for expedition cruises of this kind. A trip on board M/S Stockholm in these northern waters, with its unique wildlife and pristine nature, is an experience of a lifetime!
Highlights
• Only 12 passengers • Unique expedition ship from 1953 • M/S Stockholm has salied in Svalbard since 1998 • 1 night in Longyearbyen • 7 nights on board the ship • 2 experienced guides • 100 % climate compensated
Map
