Sail to the North of Spitsbergen with zodiac visits to the shore and opportunities to witness arctic wildlife at it's best, and join our Adventure basecamp in the Arctic with Diving, Kayaking, Photography, Camping & Mountaineering. 50 Degrees North offers unique, small-group expedition voyages to the Arctic that allow you to enjoy the natural wildlife and scenery of some of the world’s most spectacular and pristine shorelines.

Deckplan
Click here to view deck plan for the Plancius

Countries visited

• Svalbard

Places visited

• Longyearbyen
• Ny Ålesund
• Penguin Island
• Weddell Sea
• Spitsbergen
• Alkefjellet
• Nordaustlandet

Transportation

M/v Plancius was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy, and sailed for the Navy until 2004. She was completely rebuilt as a passenger vessel in 2009. M/v Plancius accommodates 114 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower. All cabins offer comfortable lower berths (except for the 4 quadruple cabins). The vessel has a restaurant/lecture room, a spacious observation lounge (with bar), large open deck space (with full walk-around possibilities), and is equipped with 10 zodiacs for off ship and shore excursions. M/v Plancius was built for ice conditions, and has a strengthened bow and stern.

Included In Price

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 on Plancius
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
AECO fees and governmental taxes.
Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Meals Included

This tour includes 25 meals; 8 breakfasts 8 lunches 9 dinners

Not Included In Price

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; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 80 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of EURO 18 per passenger per night, to be paid by the contracting party of Oceanwide Expeditions.

2013: It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 120 per Barrel Brent 120 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of EURO 25 per passenger per night, to be paid by the contracting party of Oceanwide Expeditions.

Day 1: Embark in Longyearbyen

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Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2: Krossfjorden and Ny Ålesund

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Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we take to the Zodiacs for a cruise along the front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the slopes near the glacier, a colourful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich’s Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting Arctic Foxes, patrolling the base of the cliffs in case a chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement.

Once a mining village - served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a research centre. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928 before their flights to the North Pole.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 3: Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen

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On the offshore island of Ytre Norskøya, we visit a 17th century Dutch whaling site, whose large graveyard is a reminder of the hardships and dangers of life here at the time. The island’s bird life is prolific, with colonies of Little Auks, Black Guillemots, Brünnich’s Guillemots, Puffins and Arctic Skuas accessible to visitors. Eastwards, we visit Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots.

In the evening the campers can go ashore for one night.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 4: Activities at Raudfjord

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We will spend the whole day in the Raudfjord system, with ample opportunities for kayaking, snow-shoe walking, and long walks. The trekking group will set off for its three days expedition to the east, to be picked up at the east side of Reindyrflya Please note: Trekking is a supplemented activity and only available on request.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 5: Activities near Liefdefjorden

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Depending on the weather we may now sail to the mouth of Liefdefjorden and go ashore for a walk on the tundra island of Andøya. Many Common Eiders and Pink-footed Geese nest here, and the rarer King Eider may also be seen. We hope to sail into Liefdefjorden, cruising near the 5km long face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes and on previous voyages Polar Bears have been seen on the glacier, providing wonderful opportunities for photography. The whole day we will have good opportunities for kayaking, snow-shoe walking and long walks.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 6: Ashore at Bockfjord

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At Bockfjord there are warm water springs with colourful sediments, close to the shore and about 10 km inland. There is a volcano which some thousands of years ago has erupted, and which we can climb. This is about the warmest area of Spitsbergen with stands of Cassiope and Dryas vegetation. The shores of Woodfjord are littered with hundreds of large timber logs from Siberia. Overall we will have good opportunities for kayaking, snow-shoe walking and long walks.

In late evening we sail to Müllerneset at the east coast of Reindyrflya, in order to pick up the trekking group after three days.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 7: Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet

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Today we will sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to Bearded Seals, Ringed Seals, Polar Bears, and Ivory Gulls. We’ll navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya in our zodiacs and explore the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopenstrait, we’ll attempt a landing at Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet, home to Reindeer, Pink-footed Geese, breeding Ivory Gulls, and Walruses.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 8: Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands

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Today we will reach our northernmost point at Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we will be at 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the geographic North Pole. Polar Bears inhabit this region, along with Ivory Gulls. We may sit for several hours in the pack ice, taking in our spectacular surroundings and seeing a Ross Gull, before we turn south again.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 9: Land at Prins Karls Forland near Fuglehuken

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We land at the northern tip of Prins Karls Forland near Fuglehuken, where Barentsz probably set foot on Spitsbergen for the first time. Seabirds nest on the cliffs and along the coast we see Harbour Seals, the only population found in Spitsbergen. Further we also will observe the remains of the Polar Bear hunting era, with demolished set guns and bear traps. At the opposite site of Forlandsundet at Sarstangen is a haul out place for Walruses. Alternatively we sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden and land at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on its cliffs and Arctic Foxes search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks, while Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. The reindeer may seem unbothered by human presence, but this is not really the case. The animals must survive the harsh winter, when temperatures plummet and food is hard to find, so they preserve what energy they can, fleeing only when it is absolutely necessary. In the afternoon we cruise through beautiful Borebukta, following a glacier front before continuing to Longyearbyen.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 10: Disembark in Longyearbyen

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Meals Included

none