Highlights

The archipelago saves its finest colours for the late season, with sunrises and sunsets painting the landscape in autumnal hues as the wildlife gets ready for winter. This is a season like no other, offering up an entirely different perspective on Svalbard for just a few short weeks each year. On this expedition, we will explore the east of Svalbard. Our ultimate aim is to capture the meltwater waterfalls of the Austfonna ice cap – the ultimate Svalbard in autumn sight. This rare phenomenon occurs as the ice cap warms during the summer months, causing streams of meltwater to pour over the sheer ice cliffs.

Under gorgeous, long-tail sunsets, marvel at the wildlife of Svalbard, from Arctic foxes to whales, reindeer, walruses, and polar bears. But Austfonna, its spectacular ice waterfalls gushing down into the Arctic, serves up the ultimate, documentary-worthy image of this expedition into the sublime.

Map/Itinerary

Day 1Depart in Longyearbyen

Sail past striking Fuglefjella (Bird Mountain), a fine example of plateau mountainous landscape, as we leave Longyearbyen.

Day 2-4Poolepynten

Explore Poolepynten, a headland on Prins Karls Forland, home to a walrus colony and burial site.

Take a fjord cruise down Magdalenefjord, with its stunning natural architecture of pointed mountains.

Sail along the continental shelf, scouting for fin and blue whales (more common in the summer months) that gather in the upwelling zones.

Search the ice edge, a dynamic setting of texture and light, home to seals, seabirds, and polar bears.

Day 5-7Alkefjellet

Marvel at Alkefjellet, a stunning bird cliff, nesting location of Brünnich guillemot.

Take a Zodiac cruise to see Storisstraumen and a ship cruise to Bråsvellbreen of the Austfonna ice cap, Europe’s third-largest glacier by volume and area.

Hike on an area of Sjuøyane, or “Seven Islands”, the northernmost part of Svalbard, home bird cliffs, overflowing in the summer with black guillemots, ivory gulls, and kittiwakes, cultural remains, and walrus haulouts.

Day 8-9Ytre Norskøya

Landing and hike on Ytre Norskøya, up to bird cliff (little auk), arctic tern colony, and common eider and goose nesting area.

Take a Zodiac cruise of Fjortende Julbreen, a stunning glacier, and Fjortende Julibukta, a scenic bay in Krossfjord.

Sail south to Isfjorden.

Day 10Alkhornet

Alkhornet, at the opening of Isfjorden, showcases the change in geology from plateau to edge-dominated, alpine mountainous landscape. Return to Longyearbyen.

Day 11Longyearbyen

Disembark in Longyearbyen at 9am.

Inclusions/Exclusions

Inclusions

Expert guide team and photographer
Lectures and tutorials
Use of Zodiacs (dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
Polar bear protection guides for shore landings
Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner + alcoholic drinks with evening meal)
Bedding and towels
Highly experienced captain and cook
Rubber boots for shore landings
Transfers from hotel to vessel for embarkation and vessel to airport/hotel after disembarkation

Exclusions

Flights and transfers from airport to hotel
Travel and cancellation insurance
Any additional expenses such as museum entry

Prices

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