Enjoy the peaceful and at times, exhilerating experience of sailing a 46 metre sailing vessel through the High Arctic. 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
• Trygghamna
• Barentsburg
• Spitsbergen

Transportation

The Noorderlicht was originally built in 1910 in Flensburg, Germany as a three-masted schooner. In1991 she was re-rigged and refitted thoroughly. The Noorderlicht now has 20 berths, and a well-balanced two-masted schooner rig capable of sailing the seven seas. The qualified captains have great experience of the oceans, and together with the rest of the crew, they will do everything possible to ensure that you have a wonderful and unforgettable adventure. The Noorderlicht has no ice class, but has a strengthened bow.

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

Meals Included

This tour includes 20 meals; 7 breakfasts 6 lunches 7 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.

Day 1: Start in Longyearbyen, set sail for Alkhornet

---

After arriving in Longyearbyen, the 'capital' (actually the administrative centre) of Spitsbergen, you may wish to visit the Svalbard Museum which has an interesting collection on the history of Spitsbergen, the mining industry and polar exploration. In the afternoon we sail, setting course for Alkhornet, a seabird cliff with a large colony of Kittiwakes. Below the cliffs is a den with Arctic Foxes which scavenge off fallen eggs and chicks. We continue to Trygghamna to visit the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and an 18th century Russian Pomor station.

Accommodation

m/v Noorderlicht

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2, 3, 4 & 5: Sail to the Northside of Bell Sund

---

We leave Tryghamna early in the morning and sail to the north side of Bell Sund. Bell Sund is a fjord system with two major branches (Van Mijenfjord, Van Keulenfjord) and one smaller side bay (Recherchefjord). The geology is fascinating and has created amazing landscapes, such as the long, narrow island of Akseloya that blocks Van Mijenfjord almost completely. In Fridtjofhamna, the calving glacier Fridtjofbreen is surrounded by picturesque mountains. The rich wildlife of the area has attracted hunters throughout several centuries - we will walk in their footsteps and see remains of their huts, for example at Ahlstrandhalvoya. Recherchefjord is one of the places in Spitsbergen with the highest concentration of historical sites, dating back to 17th century whalers and the mining period of the early 20th century. The glacier Recherchebreen ends at a lagoon, likely to be frozen in October, with many smaller icebergs. Polar bears are likely to be present anywhere in the Bellsund area, and we will keep our eyes open to find them. We have also seen Belugas (White whales) in this area.

Accommodation

m/v Noorderlicht

Meals Included

4 x Breakfasts
4 x Lunches
4 x Dinners

Day 6: Visit Barentsburg

---

We will pay a visit to Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian settlement in Spitsbergen, or to Colesbukta, an abandoned Russian coal mining settlement.

Accommodation

m/v Noorderlicht

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 7: Sail into the inner reaches of the Isfjord system

---

We sail into the inner reaches of the Isfjord system, where during nights with open sky we will experience temperatures of minus 10 degrees C, and new ice will be forming on the heads of the fjords.

Accommodation

m/v Noorderlicht

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 8: Finish Longyearbyen

---

Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo.

Accommodation

end of trip

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts