Welcome to Svalbard!* You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Visit fascinating historic locations of early industry and exploration. Learn the natural history of this fabled archipelago.Watch for the rare and beautiful Ivory Gull and endearing Dovekie. Witness wild Polar Bear hunting to sustain themselves through the long winter.Watch for Purple Sandpiper, Red-throated Diver, Ptarmigan, Great and Arctic Skua, Long-tailed Duck, and Common Eider.Take advantage of long daylight hours, coinciding with the height of the breeding season for most birds.We learned so much about sea ice and whales, to name a few." - Christa Russell, 2023 Traveler Each expedition leader shared their expertise both on the field trips and in shipboard lectures. The crew and staff on the Plancius were friendly and helpful. The organized daily activities were fun and interesting. "Absolutely fabulous! I loved being in the pack ice, the contrast between the sparkling blue sky, blue water, and the ice.The frozen north, particularly the pack ice, was mesmerizing." - Robert Cessaro, 2023 Traveler This area has the highest concentration of wildlife and places of historic and scenic interest in the archipelago. Our voyage focuses on the western coast and pack ice edge west of Spitsbergen, and as far north as the permanent pack ice. Experience the majesty of these North Atlantic islands as we explore one of the last great wildernesses on earth. Just 600 miles south of the North Pole, warmed by the most northerly waters of the Gulf Stream, this is a spectacular land of rugged mountains, extensive Arctic pack-ice drifting offshore, and the blue ice of ancient, awe-inspiring glaciers. The Svalbard archipelago is one of the most dramatic places on earth. Nothing can prepare you for your first sighting of a wild Polar Bear, the undisputed king of the Arctic. Start your North Spitsbergen cruise in historic Longyearbyen, then join our expedition to the north of the island to take in the fantastically beautiful landscapes, the thousands of seabirds, and of course the star of the show, the Polar Bear. The islands were first used as a whaling base in the 17th and 18th Centuries and are now celebrated as a breeding ground for many seabirds, along with lots of marine mammals. The Norwegian territory of Svalbard and the islands that make up the archipelago offer a tremendous wildlife and birdlife experience, as well as a fascinating lesson in glaciology.
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