DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | QUAD | TRIPLE PORTHOLE | TWIN PORTHOLE | TWIN WINDOW | TWIN DELUXE | SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Aug 04, 2025 | Sep 02, 2025 | 16,650 | 22,500 | 23,700 | 25,800 | 27,450 | 30,750 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
QUAD | (Mid-range)
TWIN WINDOW | (High-end)
SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Aug 04, 2025 | Sep 02, 2025 | 16,650 | 25,800 | 30,750 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Largest town, biggest island
You
touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen,
the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around
this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make
for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more
than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early
evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first
minke whale of your voyage.
Day
2: Cruising Krossfjorden
Heading
north along the west coast, you arrive by morning in Krossfjorden. Here
you might board the Zodiacs for a cruise near the towering blue-white
face of the Fourteenth of July Glacier. On the green slopes near the
glacier, colorful flowers bloom while flocks of kittiwakes and
Brünnich’s guillemots nest on the cliffs. You have a
good chance of spotting an Arctic fox scouting for fallen chicks, or a
bearded seal paddling through the fjord.
In
the afternoon you sail to Ny Ålesund, the northernmost
settlement on Earth. Once a mining village served by the
world’s most northerly railway – you can still see
its tracks – Ny Ålesund is now a research center.
Close to the community is a breeding ground for barnacle geese,
pink-footed geese, and Arctic terns. And if you’re interested
in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the anchoring mast used by
polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their airships, Norge (1926) and
Italia (1928).
Day
3: Stop at the Seven Islands
The
northernmost point of your voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet, in
the Seven Islands. Here you reach 80° north, just 870 km (540
miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears and walrus inhabit
this stark desolate landscape. Later in the day the ship may roam for
several hours among the pack ice in search of wildlife.
Day
4: The great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen
Pushing
east to Nordaustlandet, you reach the area where the Italian captain
Sora tried to rescue the Nobile Expedition in 1928. The focus here is
the great glacier front of Schweigaardbreen, though you may also land
at Firkantbukta, getting the chance to gain some altitude and take a
few higher-elevation photos. Alternately, you could make a Zodiac
cruise near Storøya, where you might encounter walruses.
Day
5: Ice cap at Kvitøya
Today
you try to reach the rarely visited Kvitøya, far to the east
and close to Russian territory. The enormous ice cap covering this
island leaves only a small area bare. You land at the western tip of
Andréeneset, where the Swedish explorer S. A.
Andrée and his companions perished in 1897. Another
objective for the day is Kræmerpynten, where a sizable group
of walruses reside.
Day
6: The longest glacier in Spitsbergen
South
of Nordaustlandet you may land on Isisøya, formerly a
Nunatak area surrounded by glaciers but now an island surrounded by the
sea. You then may pass by Bråswellbreen, part of the largest
ice cap in Europe and famed for its meltwater waterfalls.
Day
7: Barentsøya’s many bounties
The
plan is to make landings in Freemansundet, though polar bears sometimes
make this impossible. Potential stops on Barentsøya include
Sundneset (for an old trapper’s hut), Kapp Waldburg (for its
kittiwake colony), and Rindedalen (for a walk across the tundra). You
might also cruise south to Diskobukta, though Kapp Lee is more likely
your destination. On Kapp Lee is a walrus haul-out, Pomor ruins, and
the chance for hikes along Edgeøya.
Day
8: Land of the pointed mountains
You
start the day by cruising the side fjords of the Hornsund area of
southern Spitsbergen, taking in the spire-like peaks: Hornsundtind
rises 1,431 meters (4,695 feet), and Bautaen is a perfect illustration
of why early Dutch explorers named this island Spitsbergen, meaning
“pointed mountains.” There are 14 sizable glaciers
in this area as well as opportunities for spotting seals, beluga
whales, and polar bears.
Day
9: Bell Sund’s flora, fauna, and haunting history
Today
you find yourself in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in
Svalbard. The ocean currents make this area slightly warmer than other
areas in the archipelago, which shows in the relatively lush
vegetation. Here there are excellent opportunities to enjoy both
history and wildlife. A possibility is Ahlstrandhalvøya, at
the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden, where piles of beluga skeletons can be
found. These remains of 19th-century whale slaughter are a haunting
reminder of the consequences of rampant exploitation. Fortunately,
belugas were not hunted into extinction, and you have a good chance of
coming across a pod.
Alternately,
while cruising the side fjords of Bellsund, you can explore tundra
where reindeer like to feed as well as rock slopes where little auks
are breeding.
Day
10: There and back again
Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You
disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you
wherever your next adventure lies.
Day
1: Largest town, biggest island
The
adventure begins in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of
Spitsbergen. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose
parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions.
Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of
plant have been recorded here. In the early evening the ship sails out
of Isfjorden, where we might spot the first minke whale of the voyage.
Day
2-3: Onward to East Greenland
We
may eventually see the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice
flashing into sight, depending on the conditions. Keep watch for whales
and migrating seabirds.
Day
4: Tundra, mountains, and icebergs
As
we approach Greenland, we may sail through the sea ice into Foster Bay
and land at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters’ hut where
Norwegian trappers once hunted for polar bear and Arctic fox, there is
a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen as well as geese floating the
small lakes. From here we sail through Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord,
surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An
alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.
Day
5: The islands of Antarctic Sound
We
arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with
layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt and the
intended landing site. In the afternoon we head into Antarctic Sound,
where we find the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most
likely spot for a landing.
Day
6: Sights of the Arctic autumn
The
first half of the day we spend in Antarctic Havn, an extensive valley
where you can spot groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the
sparse vegetation is dressed in the fiery colors of autumn.
Day
7: Arriving at Earth’s largest fjord
Today
we reach Scoresby Sund, sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons
Kyst. You may also enjoy a Zodiac cruise past one of the glacier
fronts, along with a visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of
Vikingebugt. We continue along the east coast of Milne deeper into the
fjord.
Day
8: Enormous bergs, Arctic hares
In
the morning we encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (328
feet) high and more than a kilometer long. Most of them are grounded,
as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep (1,312 feet). We then land
near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing
Arctic hares. Later we will land at Satakajik and see the remains of
Thule dwellings.
Day
9: Settlement at Scoresby Sund
Today
we make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The
afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresby
Sund at about three hundred inhabitants. At the post office you can buy
stamps for your postcards or just stroll around to see the sled dogs
and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. In the afternoon we sail
south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.
Day
10: Thule huts and hiking spots
Our
next stop is Stewart Island, an important hunting area for the people
of Scoresby Sund. There are beautiful remains of Thule houses to be
seen here. Rømer Fjord and Turner Sound, meanwhile, give us
the opportunity to sail far inland, as they have no glacier front at
their head and are not clogged with ice. This also provides us good
hiking opportunities.
Day
11-13: All the pretty fjords
Sailing
south along the East Greenland coast, we enter several fjords competing
in beauty: d’Aunay, Nansen, and possibly either Ikersuaq or
Kangertitsivaqmiit. Most of these fjords have glacier front at the
head, but any of them can offer us a chance to see polar bears.
Day
14: Smalltown Greenland
Tasiilaq,
once known as Angmagssalik (about 2,000 inhabitants) is our next port
of call. This charming town is the center of East Greenland, boasting a
museum where you can learn about the colorful local history of this
incredibly remote area.
Day
15: In the steps of Nansen
We
next sail south to land at Umivik, where the explorer Fridtjof Nansen
ascended the Greenland ice sheet. Here you may even be able to walk a
short distance in his steps.
Day
16: The valley of Mariedal
Today
we circumnavigate Skjoldungen through one of the most spectacular
fjords of southeast Greenland, then land at Qornoq to see houses from
the Thule culture. We will then visit Mariedal and a beautiful valley
where Greenlanders used to collect berries in autumn.
Day
17: Abandoned Greenland settlement
Moving
on to Timmiarmiut, we see an abandoned Greenlandic settlement and will
possibly sail into the fjord. Polar bears have sometimes been spotted
here in the past. As an alternative, we may visit Igutsait to the south.
Day
18: Prins Christian Sund mountains
Our
westward passing of the Prins Christian Sund is surrounded by mountains
of over 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) and is one of the highlights of the
voyage. We may make a landing at Svaerdfiskens Havn or in the evening
at Ikigait, once known as Herjolfsnes, a former Norse settlement.
Day
19: Uunartoq hot spring
Today
we reach Lichtenau, a lovely though nearly deserted Greenlandic
village, where the Herrnhuters had a mission in the 18th century and
where some of their large German-style buildings still remain. We will
then try to get to Uunartoq, where we can bathe in a large hot spring
surrounded by icebergs. Across at Vagar, we find the remains of a Norse
homestead.
Day
20: Erik the Red’s base
In
Eriksfjord we land at Ittileq, in a bay from which we can walk 4 km
(2.5 miles) down a road to Igaliku (Gardar). In this small Greenlandic
village, we can see the remains of a 13th-century Norse church, along
with other ruins. Then in the afternoon, we plan to visit Bratthalid,
the base of Erik the Red. This is a sub-Arctic area with birch trees,
agriculture, and cattle. Later that evening, we arrive at Narssarsuaq
for the final night of our voyage.
Day
21: Saying goodbye to Greenland
From
the WW2-era airport of Narssarsuaq, we fly back to Copenhagen. Though
our adventure has come to an end, we take home memories that will
accompany us wherever the next adventure lies.
Plancius (Expedition, 108-guests)
MV Plancius offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view. The vessel has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 4), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff.
- Free
use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers
and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for
those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO
fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
- Free 1.5 GB of Wifi
Excluded
from this voyage
- Any
airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre-
and post- land arrangements.
- Transfers
to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen.
- Passport
and visa expenses.
- Government
arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals
ashore.
- Baggage,
cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess
baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry,
bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The
customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other
service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
