ARCTIC ADVENTURE CRUISE

ONBOARD EXPEDITION SHIP M/S VIRGO

NORTH OF NORWAY, NOT FAR FROM THE NORTH POLE, WE FIND THE MYTHICAL ARCHIPELAGO OF SVALBARD. VISITING THE ARCTIC WITH IT’S UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS IS A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE.

DURING APRIL - MAY THE WEATHER IS GOOD TO EXPERIENCE SVALBARD. THE TIME BEFORE THE MIDNIGHT SUN ARE THE MOST MAGICAL MONTHS OF THE YEAR. WE WILL ENJOY BEAUTIFUL COLORS IN THE EVENINGS WITH A LOW SUN AND WARM LIGHT.

OUR SHIP M/S VIRGO IS THE PERFECT EXPEDITION SHIP. SHE IS SMALL ENOUGH TO GET CLOSE TO BOTH ANIMALS AND NATURE. AT THE SAME TIME SHE HAS THE STRENGTH AND POWER TO SAFELY HANDLE THE ARCTIC WEATHER CONDITIONS. WE THE TRAVEL IN A SMALL AND EXCLUSIVE GROUP WITH ONLY 12 GUESTS ONBOARD. M/S VIRGO IS NEWLY RENOVATED WITH SPACIOUS CABINS, A COMFORTABLE LOUNGE, A LARGE UPPERDECK AND EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR A RELAXING AND EXCITING EXPEDITION. 

WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO EXPERIENCE AND PHOTOGRAPH SVALBARD’S BEAUTIFUL NATURE AND WILDLIFE DURING THE DAY (AND EVEN AT NIGHTTIME DEPENDING ON IF THE POLAR BEAR OR OTHER ARCTIC ANIMALS WILL COME FOR A VISIT). WE WILL ALSO ENCOUNTER WALRUS AND HOPEFULLY DIFFERENT SPECIES OF WHALES AND SEALS. ON LAND WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPOT BOTH ARCTIC FOX AND SVALBARD REINDEER. THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE MILLIONS OF BIRDS WHO NEST HERE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS HAVE STARTED RETURNING TO THESE NORTHERN LATITUDES.

THE ADVENTURE STARTS IN Longyearbyen where we will visit Svalbard Museum to learn more about the Arctic history.

THE GOAL WITH OUR EXPEDITION IS getting close to the Arctic king, but also experience the dramatic glaciers and beautiful fjords around Svalbard. We will get a unique opportunity to close encounters with the Arctic’s wild inhabitants, in their own habitat.

OUR GUIDE IS THE SWEDISH POLAR EXPORER, Ola Skinnarmo. As the first Swede on skiis to the South Pole and North Pole it’s natural that he likes polar adventures. Ola is really experienced and has guided on Svalbard several times a year since 1995. He will show you his favorite places from Svalbard and also share exciting stories from the area and rest of the Polar Sea.

ONBOARD OUR EXPEDITION SHIP M/S VIRGO we are comfortably accommodated. During the days, when conditions allow, we leave the ship with our zodiacs to go on land or cruise around in the water, getting close to animals and the nature. Our first-class meals onboard are prepared by our own chef. For an even more enjoyable trip we also include wine and beer during all dinners onboard.

WHEN WE ARE NOT EXPLORING THE NATURE we outside the ship, we enjoy the comfort on deck, looking for polar bears, whales, seals and other animals, or relax in the comfortable lounge. 

SVALBARD LEAVES NOONE UNTOUCHED. When we fly home, it is difficult to understand how much beauty we have experienced in such short time.

 

DAY BY DAY

DAY 1: MONDAY 25 APRIL, 2022
[ ARRIVAL IN THE ARCTIC ]
In the morning we fly from Oslo, Norway to Longyearbyen on Svalbard, where we land early in the afternoon. We take a walk through the village, perhaps do some shopping and visit the nice Svalbard Museum. Later in the afternoon we board our ship, meet the crew and have a safety briefing while we sail out of Adventfjorden via Isfjorden out into the Arctic wilderness. We settle in on the ship and in our cabins. During the evening we eat a welcome dinner, socialize and enjoy the magnificent glaciers and mountains pass by as we travel towards the land of the polar bear.

DAY 2 - 8: TUESDAY - MONDAY
[ EXPLORING THE ARCTIC WILDERNESS ]
Cruising through the drift ice, our exact route will be decided by ice and weather conditions. Our goal is to explore and experience as much as possible of what the Arctic has to offer, every day we get into our zodiacs to go on land or ice. Here are some of the places we might visit:

THERE ARE BREATHTAKING FJORDS along the coast-lines of Spitsbergen, many of them surrounded by glaciers dipping into the water like walls of ice, snow-covered mountains which have been shaped by ice, snow and water. Here we can find Monacoglaciären where we’ll hopefully get to see polar bear on the ice floes floating around in the water. In Lilliehööksfjorden we can find the beautiful Lilliehöksglaciären stretch out over four kilometers.

NY-ÅLESUND IS ONE OF the northernmost settlements in the world, here you can also find the world’s northernmost post office. The village is historic ground since it was here the famous polar explorers, Nobile and Amundsen begun their bold attempts to fly to the North Pole. Ny-Ålesund was previously a coal mining society, but has been transformed into an international research village. Several countries have their own research stations here and we will get a unique insight into the scientist’s work.

HORNSUND offers some of the most spectacular scenery on Svalbard, with its dramatic, rugged mountain ranges surrounded by glaciers, which like rivers, seek their way down into the fjord. The waters are full of birds, seals and often also polar bears.

ON VIRGOHAMNA AT DANSKØYA is where Andrée, Frankel and Strindberg year 1897 started their journey towards the North Pole with their balloon, Örnen. The expedition was disrupted when they had to emergency land on the pack ice north of Svalbard. It was here the fatal migration took them to Vitön, where their remains were found 33 years later.

NORTH OF SPETSBERGEN we might encounter the edge of the North Pole pack ice. Very few ships reach these areas and we can enjoy the calm and silence in this vast world of ice. Here we have great possibilities to find polar bears and of course we will all look and search from deck to find this magnificent animal.

BARENTSBURG is just like Longyearbyen a coal mining society, except that time has stood still here. We take a stroll around the village and stop by the hotel for some traditional vodka in the bar.

DAY 9: TUESDAY 3 MAY, 2022
[ BYE BYE ARCTIC ]
While enjoying our last breakfast onboard we sail into Isfjorden and dock the harbour in Longyearbyen. After we said our goodbyes to the crew there is time to explore the village some more. Why not shop some souvenirs for friends and family back home. We will eat a steady lunch at restaurant Kroa before it’s time to head out to the airport for flight back to civilisation. We return home with an amazing adventure in our luggages.

 

DATE AND PRICE

EXPEDITIONS GOAL: Explore Svalbard's nature and wildlife 
TRIP LENGTH: 9 days
GROUP SIZE: maximum 12 guests
ACCOMMODATION: 3 premium twin and 6 premium single cabins onboard
PRICE (all prices are per person): from 5500 EUR / 5900 USD
DATE: 25 April - 3 May, 2022 (few spots available)

Included in the price:
Famous Swedish polar explorer, Ola Skinnarmo as guide
Permits on Svalbard
All activities and transportation
8 nights sharing acommodation onboard M/S Virgo
All meals and beer/wine during dinners onboard
All the pictures from the trip
Detailed equipment list and travel information
And more...

Not included:
Travel insurance
Flight to/from Longyearbyen
Tip for the ship crew

Please note: Our exact route and travel plans are depending on weather and ice conditions and where we expect the best opportunities for wildlife encounters at the time of our expedition. We will do everything possible to make the most out of our Arctic adventure. Flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

 

 

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