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. Voyage around Spitsbergen on an expedition vessel for 100 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces and a very large bridge which is accessible to the passengers.

Highlights of this tour are the zodiac trips to land, the polar bears and the walruses. There is plenty of opportunities to hike, explore and view wildlife.

This voyage also comes with a Bear guarantee. If you don’t see a bear, you will be offered a refund of USD 700,- per person. A bear observation counts as a bear observation if after first spotting by crew, staff or passenger the passengers will have the opportunity to see the animal during half an hour after first notice. The staff will try to wake the passengers if an observation is done in the night.

The 2012 voyage has a 10% discount attached to it.

Countries visited

• Norway
• Svalbard

Places visited

• Longyearbyen

Transportation

M/V Ortelius

The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. “Ortelius” is a great expedition vessel for 100 passengers with lots of open-deck spaces and a very large bridge which is accessible to the passengers. The vessel is manned by 34 highly experienced Russian nautical crew, 15 international catering staff, including stewardesses, 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides/lecturers) and 1 doctor.

”Ortelius” offers a comfortable hotel standard, with two restaurants, a bar/lecture room and a sauna. Our voyages are primarily developed to offer our passengers a quality exploratory wildlife program, trying to spend as much time ashore as possible. As the number of passengers is limited to approximately 100 on the “Ortelius”, flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities.

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: Longyearbyen - the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago.

---

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, while in the surrounding area of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plants have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Accommodation

M/V Ortelius

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2: In search of Polar Bears, we head to a location with a Fin Whale carsass.

---

We visit Sallyhamna in Holmiabukta where in the last two years a Fin Whale carcass has attracted Polar Bears. Later we sail to 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.

Accommodation

M/V Ortelius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 3: Glacier near the island of Andøya, where Polar Bears have been previously spotted.

---

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.

Accommodation

M/V Ortelius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 4: Reindeer, Pink-footed Geese, breeding Ivory Gulls, and Walruses.

---

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 Ortelius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 5: Explore Laagoya, a haul-out place for Walrusses

---

In the morning we will try to land at Laagoya, a haul-out place for Walrusses. Later 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, before we turn west again.

Accommodation

M/V Ortelius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 6: Perhaps a sighting of the elusive Greenland Whale (Bowhead)

---

Retracing our route westwards, we sail all the time through and along the pack-ice, on the watch for Polar Bears and the elusive Greenland Whale (Bowhead).

Accommodation

M/V Ortelius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 7: Evening arrival back into Longyearbyen.

---

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. At nighttime we arrive in Longyearbyen.

Accommodation

M/V Ortelius

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 8: Disembark in Longyearbyen

---

We disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, for the flights south to Oslo and onward home.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts