SPITSBERGEN
POLAR WILDERNESS
Breathtaking scenery is everywhere on Spitsbergen and starts as your flight descends through a glacier-hung valley to Longyearbyen's airport. Glaciers and ice-caps are rent by dark 'Spits' or steep-sided mountains that give the island its name. It is almost as far north as you can get (comfortably!) and still be on land. With an area approximately that of the Netherlands and Belgium together and a population that would not fill a large British village Spitsbergen can rightly claim to be Europe's largest wilderness!
We offer a back to back land and cruise tour. First a cruise to see the fabulous Arctic mammals amid the improbable scenery of Northern Spitsbergen and then a land-based tour that focuses on the beautiful flowers and birds found within a few miles of Longyearbyen. During the former you can expect to come across that most magnificent denizen of the Arctic, the Polar Bear. Mother Polar Bears and their cubs seek seal prey under the snouts of glaciers while lugubrious Walruses haul out on sand-bars, their ivory tusks gleaming in the midnight sun. Groups of ghostly-white Belugas and their dusky coloured youngsters pass serenely as the midnight sun lowers in the sky. Spitsbergen's own race of Reindeer graze on flats decorated with the delicate Svalbard Poppy and Windflower. Abundant Saxifrages include yellow hirculus and platysepala, creamy cespitosa, endemic svalbardensis and lovely oppositifolia, the latter so common the landscape turns purple. Bright pink mounds of Silene acaulis, heaths of white Cassiope and beautiful blue Boreal Jacob's Ladder make it a colourful show.
And the birds? Both in Longyearbyen and on the cruise, it's abundance that counts! Millions of Brünnich's Guillemots and Little Auks are an awesome sight. Immaculate King Eider and Ivory Gull are two specialities and we'll also encounter Sabine's Gull, the delightful Red Phalarope and everywhere smart Snow Buntings offer their cheery little song. And you've twenty-four hours of daylight to enjoy it all in!
INFORMATION
Focus
Flowers, Birds, Mammals, Arctic Landscapes and Cultural Sites.
Leaders
You'll be escorted by an Expedition Leader and a team of Guides as well as Greentours leader Anders Magnusson on the cruise, and Anders will also be leading the land-based tour.
Walking
On the land-based trip fairly easy. Up to five or six miles a day though always at a slow pace, perfectly suited to photographers. On the cruise very easy! Daily landings offer short walks of one to two miles.
Included in the Price
All flights. All transport, meals and accommodation in Spitsbergen. Services of your leaders. Please note: drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature including insurance, are not included.
Group Size
The minimum is 5 and the maximum is 15 for both tours.
Accommodation
Accommodation on the land-based tour We stay at the imaginatively named Spitsbergen Hotel, a quality modern hotel with all rooms having en suite WCs and shower/bath. The views are quite sensational with mountains all around - these descend literally to the back door - and the main part of the town and bay is laid out below. Arctic Foxes, Reindeer and Snow Buntings can be seen from your room and Svalbard Poppies and Cassiope flower just metres from the door! Accommodation on the cruise To get the best out of an Arctic cruise you need a small ship (so all can land at once) and an expert crew and so the Callisto is perfect. With just 17 double cabins on board there is a maximum of 34 guests. The cabins all have portholes (some with large windows may be available for a supplement), plenty of storage space, and each a private marble-appointed bathroom. There’s a comfortable lounge with huge windows to drink in the scenery, and an elegant dining room serving very tasty meals. The boat operates a number of zodiacs for once or twice daily landings.
Climate
Cold! Well actually not that cold, though temperatures will generally be in the range 0°C to 15°C. On land this is usually fine but stand on the deck of the boat and windchill reduces the ambient temperature considerably so you need to bring plenty of layers. Though rainfall (and sometimes snowfall) is low, cloud cover and fog are not uncommon - you can expect some sunny weather as well. The boat is warm enough to wear T-shirts and slippers inside.
How To Book
Download a booking form (or contact us and we will send one to you)from the Booking Information section. Complete and send to us. You will receive confirmation of your place with a detailed information pack containing full equipment lists for the cruise and plenty of tips regarding clothing etc. Flower, mammal and bird checklists are available.
