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Spitsbergen Explorer

Spitsbergen Explorer

Cruise Highlights:

  • Western Coast of Spitsbergen
  • Sor Spitsbergen National Park
  • Focus on sighting polar bears, walrus, and beluga whales
  • Ny Alesund
  • Monaco Glacier
  • Frequent shore landings

At a glance

Duration: 11 Days, 10 Nights

Coverage: Roundtrip Longyearbyen

From: $4,990

Season: July

Activities: Birding, Zodiac Exploration, Wildlife

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Quark Expeditions

Wildlife Capital of the Arctic

If polar bears and beluga whales top your list of must-see Arctic wildlife, choose an expedition to Spitsbergen. This remarkable island - largest in the northern archipelago called Svalbard - hosts an astonishing array of Arctic wildlife, protected within six national parks. The island itself has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Quark's 11-day Spitsbergen Explorer tour is perfect for those who prefer frequent shore landings and Zodiac cruises to longer stretches at sea. Here you'll find polar bears, reindeer, walrus and belguas, and add a bounty of sea-bird sightings to your field book - including Arctic Terns and Skua, Barnacle Geese and Snow Buntings. Get even closer with Quark's unique kayaking adventure package.

Seeing the polar bears on the ice and in their natural habitat was a dream come true. It was a spiritual moment for me and a feeling that I will never forget.

Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Embarkation: Longyearbyen

Your Spitsbergen Explorer tour begins when you board your ship in Longyearbyen, the island's largest settlement. Enjoy your first view of Spitsbergen's rugged glacier topped mountains, rising majestically from icy Arctic waters.

Day 2-4 - West Spitsbergen, 14th of July Glacier and Ny Alesund

Zodiac-cruise past the spectacular ice cliffs of the 14th of July Glacier, keeping an eye out for Purple Sandpipers, Common Eiders, Barnacle Geese, Arctic Terns and more. Later visit Ny Alesund, once a remote coal-mining town, now a unique international research station. You may spot the indigenous Svalbard reindeer, so keep your cameras handy!

Day 5-8 - Smeerenburg, Phippsoya and Tusenoyane

At Smeerenburg, explore Svalbard's whaling past and visit an authentic blubber oven. Next, head for the island of Phippsoya, a well-known polar bear and walrus haunt. At Tusenoyane (Thousand Islands) you'll go ashore to seek Red-throated Divers, and view the beached skeleton of an ancient whale.

Day 9-10 - Bourbonhamna

The narrow sound near Bourbonhamna is a favored route of beluga whales. Cruise in search for the white whales before going ashore.

Day 11 - Longyearbyen - Disembarkation

Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here we'll transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

Dates & Rates

Akademik Sergey Vavilov Categories
2012 Triple Twin (Shared) Twin (Semi-private) Twin (Private) Superior Suite Cook Suite
July 1, 23 $4,990 $6,490 $7,290 $7,790 $8,190 $8,790 $9,490

Included in Cruise Fare

  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • Shipboard breakfasts, lunches and dinners
  • Shore landings included in daily program
  • Professional Expedition Leadership
  • All Zodiac excursions and transfers included in daily program
  • Formal and informal educational presentations by the Expedition Team
  • Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting your trip
  • Loan of waterproof boots for the duration of the voyage
  • An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep
  • Coffee, tea, and cocoa available around the clock
  • Hair dryer and bathrobes in each cabin
  • Comprehensive pre-departure package including a map and meticulously researched Reader
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
  • All shipboard luggage handling
  • Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a maximum benefit of $100,000 per person
  • Group transfer from a pre-arranged location in Longyearbyen to the ship on embarkation day
  • Group transfer from the ship to the airport upon disembarkation.
  • A group transfer from the airport to a hotel, if you arrive the day before embarkation.
  • No fuel surcharge guarantee.

Not Included in Cruise Fare

  • Any airfare.
  • Passport and Visa Expenses.
  • Government arrival and departure taxes.
  • Meals ashore.
  • Baggage, cancellation and medical travel insurance.
  • Excess baggage charges.
  • Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges
  • Shipboard or land telecommunication charges
  • Gratuities for ship's crew, Hospitality and Expedition Team members
  • Any overnight accommodation required due to flight connections

Map

Spitsbergen Explorer Itinerary Map

Ships

Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, the Polar Adventure Ship Akademik Sergey Vavilov is designed to travel quietly, during hydro-acoustic research. This ship is exceptionally manoeuvrable and quick. The observation lounge and bar on the top deck is a comfortable place to meet and mingle. External stabilizers and a built-in trimming system provide exceptional stability. Akademik Sergey Vavilov, sister ship of Akademik Ioffe, has an ice-strengthened hull and a cruising speed in open water of 14.5 knots. View ship details...