Explore
Location:Cruise & Explore Svalbard
We will travel along the same routes as famous polar explorers such as Andrée, Nordenskjöld, Amundsen and
Nobile. We will visit walrus haul-outs, might see reindeer, and maybe even spot the Arctic fox or bearded seal.
Northern Fulmars will be our constant companions. We might even encounter a few whales. Several species frequent
the area, in particular Minke and beluga.
Our flexible itinerary allows us to take advantage of favourable ice and weather conditions. Whether cruising by
Zodiac amongst ice floes and icebergs or heading ashore for a guided walk, our adventures will bring us up close to
mystical settings. Each day our Expedition Leader and Captain will determine our best course depending on
changing weather, ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter. Here are a few of the places we hope to visit:
-Hornsund - This is the southernmost fjord on the rugged west coast of Spitsbergen Island. Jagged mountain peaks
tower above glacier-filled bays. Amidst floating icebergs, we will watch for bearded seals, the beluga whale and the
king of the Arctic - the polar bear. Sightings are fairly common as the polar bear's favourite food, the ringed seal,
breeds in the fjord. The surrounding bird cliffs are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks. We may visit the
remains of whaling stations and trappers' huts
-Fjortende Julibreen - The 14th of July Bay is located at the entrance of Krossfjorden. Here we will go ashore for a
hike up to the 14th of July Glacier -conditions permitting, we will climb onto the glacier, or, alternatively walk to the
Hanging Gardens, a beautiful plant oasis underneath a bird cliff.
-Ice Cruising - With the strengthened hull of the Silver Cloud, we have the perfect platform to search for walrus and
polar bears as we devote at least one day to exploring the pack ice north of Spitsbergen. Conditions permitting, our
Expedition Leader may choose to take us out in the Zodiacs for an even closer look.
-Liefdefjorden - At the entrance to Liefdefjorden are several small island groups. On the Andøyane (Duck Islands) we
may encounter polar bears looking for bird’s eggs. With our Zodiacs we might circumnavigate several of the islands,
always on the lookout for active birdlife -when Arctic Terns circle specific areas it usually is a sign for polar bear
presence on the islands.
Magdalenefjorden - Found on Spitsbergen's northwest coast, Magdalenefjorden was already seen by Willem
Barents in 1596. Walrus was hunted here in later days and a whaling station was set up. The remains of blubber
ovens and a cemetery can still be seen. Silver Cloud will enter this scenic fjord in Northwest Spitsbergen National
Park and we might land at Graveneset for a short walk.
-Monacobreen - Cruising past majestic red Devonian sandstone mountains we will reach the end of Liefdefjorden for
a Zodiac cruise along the front of two different glaciers: Monacobreen and Seligerbreen. Monacobreen has a 5
kilometre long front and is a good place to look for seals, Black-legged Kittiwakes and Ivory Gulls.