North Spitsbergen Basecamp - Kayaking, Snowshoeing, Hiking & Photo Workshop

This Basecamp cruise starts and ends in Longyearbyen and focuses on carefully selected areas around North Spitsbergen in order to spend more time on land and close to the shoreline. The programme includes hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking, as well as a photo workshop aimed at photographing polar flora and fauna. By definition, a Basecamp is a temporary base from which outdoor activities are carried out. On these designated Basecamp voyages, the ship operates in selected regions and concentrates on specific sites to maximise time for activities while aiming to minimise disturbance to local wildlife. When time and conditions allow, the expedition team also looks for additional opportunities to observe wildlife. A special seasonal setting is the midnight sun, which can be visible 24 hours a day in summer. The summer solstice in Longyearbyen falls on 21 June, when the sun reaches its highest midnight position above the northern horizon, and it is not until late August that the sun briefly dips below the horizon. The route may include Kongsfjorden with Blomstrandhalvøya and Ny Ålesund, Amsterdamøya and the Fair Haven area, Raudfjord, and Liefdefjorden with views of the Monaco Glacier. A reserve day supports flexible choice of an additional activity area. Toward the end, Forlandsundet, St Johns Fjord or a landing at Alkhornet may be possible. The exact plan depends on weather, ice and wildlife conditions, especially with regard to polar bears.

North Spitsbergen Basecamp: The itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Longyearbyen and embarkation
You arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen on the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Before embarkation there is time for an independent walk through the former mining town. The parish church and the Svalbard Museum provide a useful introduction to the region’s history and natural setting. Although the settlement is densely built, more than one hundred plant species have been recorded in the area, illustrating the diversity of Arctic vegetation in sheltered locations. In the early evening you board MS Ortelius and the ship sails out into Isfjord. Near the fjord mouth, marine mammals can appear and there is a chance to see minke whales. The evening is used to settle in on board and get oriented before the activity programme begins the next day.

Day 2: Kongsfjorden, Blomstrandhalvøya and Ny Ålesund
The first day of the activity programme is designed as a gradual start. Blomstrandhalvøya lies on the north side of Kongsfjorden and offers shelter and flexibility to adjust plans if weather changes. This is a suitable area for initial hikes, snowshoe sections or kayaking, depending on conditions and group organisation. In the afternoon you visit Ny Ålesund, one of the northernmost settlements on Earth. Once a mining village served by the world’s northernmost railway, it is now a research centre, and the old tracks can still be seen. Nearby there are breeding areas for barnacle geese, pink footed geese and Arctic terns. If you are interested in polar exploration history, you can visit the mooring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile for their airships Norge in 1926 and Italia in 1928. In the evening the ship continues north along the west coast and spends the night in the sheltered setting of Krossfjorden.

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Day 3: Northwest exploration, Amsterdamøya and Fair Haven
Alongside the planned activities, MS Ortelius continues to Amsterdamøya. Here you may walk past the remains of a seventeenth century whaling station, providing context for early human use of these Arctic coasts. The open panorama of Smeerenburgsleta is also well suited for observation and photography, especially under the light conditions of the midnight sun. Depending on weather, hikes or snowshoe sections may take place, and kayaking can be offered in sheltered coastal waters if wind and sea state allow. In the afternoon the ship moves toward the islands around Fair Haven, an area with varied coastal forms and opportunities to experience Arctic scenery from different perspectives. In line with the Basecamp approach, the day remains focused on selected sites to allow sufficient time for outdoor activities and photo workshop elements without overloading the schedule.

Day 4: Raudfjord, glaciers, seabirds and possible polar bears
Raudfjord on the north coast of Spitsbergen is a broad fjord with glaciers and a varied shoreline. Ringed seals and bearded seals may occur here, and the cliffs and coastal sections support active seabird colonies. In sheltered areas the vegetation can appear relatively rich, which also supports observation of polar flora. Polar bears are possible in this region, so activities are planned with continuous attention to wildlife conditions. The aim is to find a workable balance between safe outdoor activities and wildlife observation. Depending on conditions, hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking may be offered, with the choice of sites and routes remaining flexible.

Day 5: Liefdefjorden and Monaco Glacier, Texas Bar and Hornbaekpollen
Depending on weather and ice, MS Ortelius may enter Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the approximately five kilometre long face of the Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of the glacier are a feeding area for thousands of kittiwakes, and the ice front is known as a polar bear hunting ground, so wildlife conditions are monitored closely. If ice prevents access early in the season, an alternative route along the west coast of Spitsbergen is used. Near Texas Bar and Hornbaekpollen there are also good hiking opportunities that fit well into the Basecamp programme. Kayaking may be offered in sheltered areas if conditions allow. The day combines glacier scenery, seabird observation and time ashore.

Day 6: Reserve day for Basecamp activities in North Spitsbergen
Today is planned as a reserve day for activities around North Spitsbergen. If weather and wildlife conditions, especially regarding polar bears, allow, the expedition team selects a suitable location for another full day of outdoor activities. The Basecamp concept makes it possible to use this day flexibly and remain where conditions are best. Depending on the situation, hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking may be offered, alongside time for photography and the photo workshop. The day also provides a buffer to respond to delays caused by weather or ice earlier in the voyage, without losing the overall structure of the activity programme. Planning remains realistic and safety focused, while keeping the emphasis on coastal experiences.

Day 7: Forlandsundet or St Johns Fjord, alternatively Alkhornet
Forlandsundet lies between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland and is known for both scenery and wildlife. Walruses may occur here, and seabirds can be observed near Fuglehuken. Walrus groups can also be seen at Sarstangen and Poolepynten. Alternatively, MS Ortelius may sail into St Johns Fjord or head south to the mouth of Isfjord for a landing at Alkhornet. The cliffs are important nesting sites for seabirds, Arctic foxes may search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze sparse vegetation on surrounding slopes. Which option is used depends on conditions and expedition planning. Later in the night the ship reaches Longyearbyen again.

Day 8: Longyearbyen disembarkation
The voyage ends in Longyearbyen. After breakfast on board, you disembark and continue your onward travel independently.

Included North Spitsbergen Basecamp

 
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
- Complimentary Wi-Fi: each guest receives 1.5 GB of data per day, renewed every 24 hours
- Complimentary Dopper water bottle for use during and after your expedition
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