YERSIN
77.60m • Piriou • 18 guests • €450,000 pw
ARIANCE
60.93m • Abeking & Rasmussen • 12 Guests • €595,000 pw
SANSSOUCI STAR
53.50m • Husumer • 12 guests • €131,000 pw
Embark in Longyearbergen, which is the largest settlement and administrative center of Svalbard. Located at about 78 deg north latitude, it is one of the world’s northernmost permanent communities. It was named after American businessman John Munroe Longyear, and was initially established for coal mining but has since diversified into scientific research and tourism. It experiences extreme environmental conditions, including polar night and midnight sun, each lasting for about 4 months.
Take the short trip across the inlet to Nordre Isfjorden. This coastal tundra stretches across the Isfjorden north of Barentsburg. It comprises wetlands, lake and pond complexes and is great for light day walks and wildlife spotting. This wildlife includes eider ducks, pink-footed geese, ringed seals, arctic fox and Svalbard rock ptarmigan.
The area on Oscar II Land and Dickson Land also contains valuable cultural remains from the birth of the mining industry. In 2003 this area was made a Norwegian national park.
Walking into Pyramiden is like walking back in time to the Soviet Union. This town was abandoned in 1998 and a very interesting place to spend half a day. To the east of Pyramiden you have old ice glaciers to the east of Pyramiden so it is recommended to do a glacier ice walk in the morning then visit Pyramiden in the afternoon. These glaciers being formed of old ice means it flows very slowly and the ice is famous for being a deep blue.
New Alesund is a specialised research settlement on Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, focused on international Arctic studies across various scientific disciplines. It is one of the northmost permanently inhabited places on Earth and lacks typical amenities like shops and restaurants. With a rich history, modern facilities and a unique environment, it offers scientists an unparalleled setting for research and stunning Arctic landscapes. Access is generally limited to researchers and those with special permissions.
This national park features unique geographical elements such as warm springs and volcanic remains. It also holds historical significance with remains of 17th century whaling stations, graves and remnants of Arctic expeditions, including the failed 1897 North Pole attempt by Swedish engineer S.A. Andree, launched from Danes Island.
The park is rich in fauna and serves as a habitat for a wide variety of species. It houses colonies of seabirds, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. It is also a hibernating area for polar bears and a habitat for walruses. About a third of the park’s area, primarily consisting of its sea-cliffs, islands and other coastal features, is recognised as an important Bird Area (BA) by Birdlife International, for supporting breeding populations of various bird species like barnacle and brent geese, common eiders and black guillemots.
Located in northern Spitsbergen and established in 2005, this is the longest fjord in Svalbard and the marine environment varies significantly from the fjords mouth to its inner-most sections, which reach the Mittag-Lefflerbreen glacier.
The park is home to unique High Arctic steppe vegetation, dominated by grasses and very dry, basic earth. It has flora not found elsewhere in Svalbard making it one of the most ecologically significant areas in the region.
The more you travel towards the glaciers, the higher the density of polar bears you will see. Storaya is an island located east of Nordaustlandet, separated by the strait of Storaysundet. The southern part of the island is covered by the glacier Storoyjokulen.
Kvitoya is an island discovered by Dutchman Cornelius Giles in 1707, and gained historical significance as the final resting place of the Andree Arctic balloon expedition of 1897. Led by S.A. Andree, the expedition aimed to fly over the North Pole in a hydrogen balloon but was forced to land on pack ice and eventually reached Kvitoya on foot. The team settled on the only ice-free part of the island, now called Andreeneset.
The fate of the Andree expedition remained on the Arctic’s great mysteries until 1930, when their remains were discovered by the ship Bratvaag. Diaries, scientific logs and glass negative plates that were still developable were found at the site.
A long journey brings you back to the main island of Spitzbergen, where on the Southeast coast on the main island of Spitzbergen is a unique geological feature known as the ‘Stonehenge’ of Svalbard.
One of the main attractions of visiting Svalbard is the wildlife and off the coast of Svalbard is some of the best whale watching in the world. Cruise up the coast to South Spitsbergen National Park, a protected area and bird sanctuary established in 1973. Here you will find eider ducks, barnacle geese and several large seabird colonies. Large areas of the park are covered with glaciers and permanent snow and ice.
Travel overnight to Nordenskold National Park, which was opened in 2003 and includes Reindalen, Svalbard’s largest ice-free valley where you will see features of moraines, rock glaciers, pingos and avalanche features. The valley has lush vegetation and the lower part is a wetland. The area is important for reindeer, Arctic fox, waders, geese and ducks.
Return to the town of Longyearbryen. An interesting fact of the town are some unique and strict laws due to its challenging environment. For example it is illegal to die in Longyearbyen because the permafrost makes burial difficult, seriously ill individuals are flown to mainland Norway for care. Also anyone venturing outside the settlement is required to carry a rifle as a safeguard against polar bears, which are common in the area.
Despite its remote and harsh location, Longyearbyen offers modern amenities such as schools, a hospital and shops. It also hosts a university center focused on Arctic studies and serves as a launch point for Arctic expeditions. Increasingly it is becoming a tourist destination with activities such as dog sledding, glacier hikes and boat trips.
77.60m • Piriou • 18 guests • €450,000 pw
60.93m • Abeking & Rasmussen • 12 Guests • €595,000 pw
53.50m • Husumer • 12 guests • €131,000 pw
Contact Us
Email:
USA: +1 561 800 2994
Rest of the World: +44 (0) 20 3457 1696
126 New King’s Road • London • SW6 4LZ • UK
Newsletter
Contact Us
Email:
USA: +1 561 800 2994
Rest of the World: +44 (0) 20 3457 1696
126 New King’s Road • London • SW6 4LZ • UK
Newsletter
