The midnight sun is a phenomenon that occurs during the Arctic summer, when the sun is visible for a full 24 hours in fair weather. The 2024 summer solstice in Longyearbyen falls on 21 June, The term solstice (Latin solstitium) means “sun-stopping” and describes the point on the horizon at which the sun appears to rise and set, stopping and reversing directions after this day. On the solstice, the sun does not rise precisely in the east but rather north of east, then later sets to the north of west, making the sun visible for a longer period of time. It will not be until late August that the sun fully goes down again, and then only for a few minutes.Join us in experiencing this fascinating phenomenon during this voyage through the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard.

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.

We start the day by quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area in southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of towering mountain peaks. The mountain of Hornsundtind rises to 1,431 meters (4,695 feet), while the peak of Bautaen testifies to why early Dutch explorers gave this island the name Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains.”

There are 14 magnificent glaciers in the area, and we have a fair chance of encountering seals and polar bears.

The nearby cliffs of Sofiakammen are also home to thousands of pairs of nesting kittiwakes and little auks, and in the evening, we might see thousands of harp seals rutting on ice floes at Sørkapp.

After navigating the drift ice of Storfjorden, where we sometimes see harp seals, we land in northwest Edgeøya at the northern bank of Rosenberdalriver. Here on the raised beach, we have the opportunity of walking to Rosenbergdalen, which is teeming with grazing reindeer.

Afterward we plan to walk by a cliff with nesting black guillemots on our way to Stretehamna, where we often find a herd of walruses on the beach near an octagonal trapper’s cabin built in 1905.

We can also see the remains of a 19th-century Pomor house as well as the bones of walruses hunted in previous centuries.

Sailing into the waterway of Freemansundet, we plan to land at the tundra lowland of Sundneset, on the island of Barentsøya.

Here we will visit the hut of a German scientific expedition (Würzbugerhütte) from sixty years ago, then take a brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen reindeer and barnacle geese. After that, we plan to go on a Zodiac cruise near Freeman Glacier and visit a kittiwake colony in a canyon close by.

In case of heavy ice in Freemandundet, however, we will instead sail to Negribreen, one of the most extensive glacier fronts on the east side of Spitsbergen. Here we can take a Zodiac cruise and land on Walrus Island, which became ice-free at the end of last century.

Today we sail to the east side of west Spitsbergen (west side of Storfjorden).

Here we plan to walk to breeding places for ivory gulls in Agardhfjellet, which stands about 300 meters (980 feet) high.

The valley leading to the outcrops that house the nests is littered with fossils of belemnites and ammonites.

Today we aim to land at the mountain of Stellingfjellet, near the largest colony of Brünnich’s guillemots in Spitsbergen. Later in the day, we will make landings at the rarely visited coast of south Spitsbergen, at the bay of Isbukta.

We continue our voyage 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, we can explore tundra where reindeer like to feed as well as rock slopes where little auks are breeding.

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.

Pay in Full in January to get a FREE CABIN UPGRADE!

Or

Deposit: 25% within 14 days of being invoiced

50 % Due:  6 June 2023

100 % Due: 4 September 2023

(We will invoice you two weeks prior to due dates)

(For the January Upgrade sale, credit cards are subject to a 3.2% convenience fee. Bank transfers do not incur a fee. For non-holiday sales, there are no extra fees)

Additional Gear:
• Rain covers for cameras and lenses — Buy inexpensive clear covers. They are easier to use than big, pro, brand-name covers. TIP: shower caps make great body covers, and vegetable bags from grocery stores make great covers for long lenses in a pinch.
• Dry Sac (35L or larger, you’ll carry cameras and extra gear inside). One that doubles as a backpack works well, as does one with a sling attachment.
• 2 Towels—quick wicking and drying to keep cameras and gear dry.
• Tripod or monopod with good quality ball head, or a waterproof beanbag. Be sure you have ARCA plates for each big lens foot and for each camera body.
• Thin photography gloves under heavy gloves or mittens, and rubber gloves (fishing gloves, heavy neoprene, etc) for zodiac
• Power strip with USB ports to charge multiple items at once
• Double check that you have power cables for everything and that they fit. Don’t assume!
• Filters such as ND (5 or 6 step, and 10 step) and Polarizing

NO LIMIT for those joining only the cruise.

The Photography Workshop is limited to 20 guests so we can ensure one-on-one time with you.  Bring your non-photographer spouse, friend, SO, cousin, and know that they will have an enjoyable time while you work on photography, and yes, you’ll still have lots of quality time with them too.

1 – 9 Photography Workshop Clients:  Karen

10 – 18 Clients:  Ernest and Karen

Beginner to pro, including phone cameras, DSLRs, and Mirrorless!

Average to fit:  you must be able to manage stairs while a boat moves, get in and out of a zodiac (you will have help—it’s mandatory), and navigate uneven terrain on shore including snow and ice. Some accommodations can be made for those with disabilities or who need extra help.  Please ask us and we can see what we can do for you!

We take every precaution to keep you safe. All staff are certified in their jobs and trained to the highest level. The ship is new and built to the highest standards of safety.  There is inherent risk in going on any cruise, however. Please be sure to assess your risk tolerance.

Mammals:
               Land only:
                              Svalbard Reindeer
                              Arctic Fox
                              Sibling Vole
               Land, Sea, and Ice:
                              Polar Bear – the largest predator on land
                              Walrus
                              Seals – Ringed, Bearded (largest seal in Svalbard), Harbour
               Sea only:
                              Whales – White/Beluga, Narwhal, Blue, Fin, Humpback, Minke, Sperm
                              Dolphins – Orca, Northern Bottlenose, Pilot, White-Beaked

Birds:
               Atlantic Puffin
               Little Auk
               Arctic Tern
               Red-throated Diver
               Northern Fulmar
               Pink-footed Goose
               Barnacle Goose
               Brent Goose
               Common Eider
               Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan
               Purple Sandpiper
               Grey Phalarope
               Ringed Plover
               Sanderling
               Dunlin
               Ruddy Turnstone
               Arctic Skua
               Great Skua
               Glaucous gull
               Balck-legged Kittiwake
               Ivory Gull
               Common and Brunnich’s Guillemot
               Snow Bunting (the only songbird in Svalbard)

Landscape:
               Icebergs, glaciers, mountains, seascapes and more