A Taste of North Spitsbergen – Compact Arctic Adventure

This compact expedition starts and ends in Longyearbyen and is designed for travellers who want a solid introduction to Svalbard’s Arctic nature within a short timeframe. After sailing out of Isfjord, the route leads into Kongsfjorden with a visit to Ny Ålesund and continues into Krossfjord. The programme then includes Ytre Norskøya with seventeenth century whaling traces and Raudfjord with glaciers, seabird colonies and chances to see ringed and bearded seals. A key focus is the northbound push to the pack ice edge, where the ship follows the outer ice margin south to west of Spitsbergen while searching for seals, polar bears, ivory gulls and whales, including bowhead whales. Toward the end of the voyage, Forlandsundet with a planned stop at Poolepynten, a walrus haul out site, is possible, or alternatively a landing at Alkhornet near the mouth of Isfjord. The exact route depends on weather, ice and wildlife conditions.

A Taste of North Spitsbergen: 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 a 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 landscape can appear stark, more than 100 plant species have been recorded here. In the early evening you board MS Ortelius and the ship sails out of Isfjord. Near the fjord mouth, marine mammals can occur and you may see the first minke whale of the voyage. The evening is used to settle in on board and get oriented before the first landings planned for the next day.

Day 2: Kongsfjorden, Ny Ålesund and Krossfjord
Today you explore 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 site used by Amundsen and Nobile for their airships Norge in 1926 and Italia in 1928. You also have the opportunity to visit a museum dedicated to earlier life in Ny Ålesund and to explore historic buildings. At the post office you can send a postcard home. In the afternoon the ship continues north into the scenic Krossfjord. Overnight, MS Ortelius sails along the west coast, continuing north.

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Day 3: Ytre Norskøya and Raudfjord
You sail to Ytre Norskøya, where you can walk in the footsteps of seventeenth century whalers who used this headland to watch for bowhead whales. Several graves mark the landscape, while sea cliffs provide habitat for multiple seabird species, linking natural observation with historical context. The voyage then continues to Raudfjord on the north coast of Spitsbergen. Here you can experience a broad fjord with glaciers and there are chances to see ringed seals and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline also support active seabird colonies and, in sheltered areas, relatively rich vegetation. Polar bears and Arctic foxes are possible, so wildlife conditions are monitored continuously throughout operations.

Day 4: Northbound to the pack ice edge
Today MS Ortelius sails directly north with the aim of reaching the edge of the pack ice. The day is strongly shaped by ice and weather, as the position of the ice margin can vary. Once the ship reaches the ice edge, it follows the outer boundary of the sea ice south to west of Spitsbergen. In this zone, seals, polar bears, ivory gulls and whales are expected, including bowhead whales. The focus is on observation from the ship and on using the best visibility windows to locate wildlife along this productive ice boundary. The ice landscape also provides strong opportunities for photography, as floes, leads and ice formations change continuously. Routing is adjusted throughout the day in response to ice conditions.

Day 5: Forlandsundet and Poolepynten, or alternatively Alkhornet
During the afternoon the ship reaches the southern end of Prins Karls Forland. The plan is to stop in Forlandsundet at Poolepynten, a known walrus haul out site. Alternatively, the ship may sail to Alkhornet near the mouth of Isfjord and attempt a landing there. Seabirds nest on the cliffs, Arctic foxes may search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze sparse vegetation on surrounding slopes. At the fjord mouth, minke whales are often seen, so time on deck can be rewarding. Which option is used depends on conditions and expedition planning. The day concludes the main activity programme before the ship returns toward Longyearbyen overnight.

Day 6: Return to Longyearbyen and disembarkation
MS Ortelius arrives back in Longyearbyen early in the morning. The package ends after breakfast on board with disembarkation. You may then explore the settlement further or prepare for your onward flight.

A Taste of North Spitsbergen

- 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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