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. This trip brings together an amazing combination of experiences - Svalbard, Greenland and then Iceland.

Experience the wonder of an untouched wilderness with heaps of opportunities to see wildlife and nature. Lots of zodiac excursions to the shore and plenty of icebergs to watch as you sail. The co-founder of 50 Degrees North, Jayde has been lucky enough to visit this area and highly recommends it.

Deckplan
Click here to view deck plan for the Plancius

Countries visited

• Iceland
• Greenland
• Svalbard

Places visited

• Longyearbyen
• Ittoqqortoormiit
• Akureyri
• Scoresby Sund

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 35 meals; 12 breakfasts 11 lunches 12 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.

Important Information

Kayaking and Photography workshops are possible on this voyage.

Day 1: Arrive Longyearbyen

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Arrive in Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to visit this former mining village. The Parish Church and the Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2: Sail to Raudfjord , Spitsbergen

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We sail into Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers. It is home to Ringed and Bearded Seals, seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation. We have good chances to see Polar Bears, for instance near Hamilton Glacier, or more to the head of the fjord. From there we continue to Moffen Island on which Walruses haul out.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 3 & 4: Head off to Greenland

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At sea, on our way to Greenland, we may see the edge of the East Greenland sea-ice. We keep watch for whales, and also for migrating seabirds.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 5: Travel into Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord

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Approaching Greenland we will attempt to sail through the sea ice into Foster Bugt, making our first landing at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters' hut (in the first half of last century Norwegian trappers hunted here for Polar Bears and Arctic Foxes) there is an extensive tundra populated by Musk Oxen. The small lakes are home to geese. We sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, a magnificent fjord with towering mountains on both sides, its inner reaches choked with huge icebergs. An alternative is Sofia Sund, which is much narrower, and where we can see Muskoxen from the ship.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 6: Land at Blomster Bugt

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We will land at Blomster Bugt to view the beautiful geological formations. Arctic Hares are usually seen here, and there is a lake with Great Northern Divers and their young. In the afternoon we sail along Teufelschloss and Ella Ø and may land at a beautiful spot in the early evening.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 7: Explore Antarcticahavn

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The first half of the day we spend in Antarcticahavn, a wide and extensive valley where we also could see groups of Musk Oxen. At this time of year the autumnal colours of the sparse vegetation make the landscapes even more beautiful.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 8: Reach Scoresby Sund

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Today we reach the Scoresby Sund and sail in the morning along the ragged and glaciated Volquart Boons Here we may organise a zodiac cruise along one of the glacier fronts of this coast, and have our first landing near for instance Maane Glacier. Later we land on Danmark,Ø where we find the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular 'tent rings' of stones indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are excellently preserved, allowing entrances and even bear-proof meat caches to be identified. There are also grave sites. In the evening we continue our sailing through the beautiful fjords to the west, choked with ice-bergs.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 9: Go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvø

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We go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvø, a reliable spot for viewing Musk Oxen. We may also spot Rock Ptarmigans, and Great Northern Divers at sea. The landscape here is particularly beautiful, especially during autumn when the Dwarf Willow and Dwarf Birch change colour. Arctic Blueberry and Crowberry add their own colourful touch - the berries are tasty too! In the evening we sail through the fjord towards Scoresby Land, enjoying the contrast between the warm autumnal colours of the vegetation on shore, backed by huge dark mountains, and the cold blue of the icebergs.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 10: Land at Sydkap to view Thule Remains

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In Northwest fjord in Scoresby Land in the morning, we encounter huge icebergs, some over 100m high and more than a kilometre in length. Most of the bergs are grounded as the fjord is only about 400m deep here. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter houses. As many as 20 people lived in these tiny houses, hunting Greenland Whales and using their vertebrae to build the houses. We may also land at Gurreholm on Jameson Land. The landscape here is gently undulating.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 11: Visit Illoqqortoormiut

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In the morning we land at Illoqqortoormiut, the biggest settlement in the Scoresby Sund with about 500 inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just wander around to see the sledge dogs and the drying skins of Seal, Musk Ox and Polar Bear. After dinner we will sail south passing the amazing landscape of the Blosseville Coast.

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 12: At sea heading towards Iceland

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We will spend the whole day at sea and we will have splendid opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, in the night, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

Accommodation

m/v Plancius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 13: Finish Akureyri, transfer to Reykjavik

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In the morning we arrive in Akureyri and are taken by a chartered bus during a 6 hours drive through North Iceland to our hotels in Reykjavik. 5 hours bus transfer

Accommodation

end of trip

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts