Spitsbergen (Svalbard)

The Arctic and North Atlantic Expedition Cruising

Summer in the high Arctic is a time of vibrant urgency as plants, animals and birds use the 24 hours of daylight to cram their season into the few months before winter returns. Expedition cruising is the very best way to enjoy what the area has to offer. On board a small ship there is access to remote corners and zodiac craft make landings a simple matter. The experienced crew can get really close to the wildlife and close encounters with Polar Bears, Walrus and various seals are not unusual.

Bird life in Svalbard is wonderful, both for the sheer numbers and for the species which you won't find further south such as Little Auk and Ivory Gull. We'll visit breeding colonies and look out for such tundra species as Grey Phalarope. To top it all there's the lovely Arctic flora. Due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream temperatures are relatively high and there is an amazing variety: in addition to the typical tundra vegetation of mosses and lichens, there are also 250 species of fungi, 7 species of ferns and 164 flowering plants. We don't ignore the man-made aspects of the islands which have a fascinating heritage going back to the days of the whaling ships and the (misguided?) efforts to fly to the North Pole in a hot air balloon.

Then there's the scenery. Glaciers contrast with tundra, ice with water - and all in that singular light which the extreme north provides. With 24-hour daylight the only problem is when to get some sleep - nobody ever wants to miss anything! All in all, Spitsbergen is considered by many to be the jewel in the Arctic crown.

Polar Bear - photo: © Randy SpragueZodiac and Whale - photo: © Rinie van Meurs