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Balto

Balto Itinerary

Springtime in Svalbard

9 days / 8 nights

About Balto

  • Sophisticated luxury onboard an intimate polar expedition ship
  • Voyages to remote and unspoiled regions with just 12 guests
  • Six-person cedar-lined sauna and cold shower on board
  • Cosy social spaces furnished with a card table and stove

Blending serious adventure with sophisticated luxury, Balto is truly one-of-a-kind when it comes to small polar expedition ships. This stylish, sturdy vessel boasts a high ice-class rating and is well-geared towards demanding projects including professional photography and videography operations. And, discerning travellers will be pleased to know that Balto’s capabilities don’t come at the detriment of standards of comfort. In fact, despite the remote nature of these voyages, guests aboard this vessel are treated to some truly first-class creature comforts – including elegant interior design, cosy stove-warmed communal areas, and an inviting cedar-lined sauna.

Learn more about Balto

Itinerary details

Length of trip 9 days / 8 nights
Number of dives 0
Experience No experience required
Insurance Not Required

Highlights

  • Experience the Arctic spring
  • Enjoy the beautiful tundra and its birdlife at Alkhormet
  • Voyage in Bell Sund, one of the largest fjord systems in Svalbard
Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
We arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to our hotel.

Days 2-8: Expedition cruising
We start our Svalbard expedition by exploring Longyearbyen. In the afternoon we embark on our expedition ship, M/S Sjøveien, and head out through Isfjorden - our Arctic adventure has started! We are now in a part of the world where we are completely dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary will depend on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. We may make a first excursion before heading south or north, depending on the weather and ice conditions. Here are some examples of places we may visit during our Arctic cruise:

Alkhornet
At the entrance of Isfjorden is the characteristic cliff of Alkhornet. We go ashore to enjoy the beautiful tundra and its birdlife, including barnacle geese, Brünnich’s guillemots, glaucous gulls, snow buntings and tens of thousands of kittiwakes. Arctic foxes are sometimes seen in the rock crevices around the mountain, and with a bit of luck we might see these lovely little animals scurrying around, frantically looking for food.

Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden
The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is located in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. In the nearby Krossfjorden we can admire the beautifully sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier and listen to the sounds of the many kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots that nest on the nearby cliffs.

Raudfjorden
Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty—dominated by magnificent glaciers. It is also a favorite haunt of seals, and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity.

Virgohamna, Danskøya
Danskøya was the starting point for two of the most daring attempts to reach the North Pole. The Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon, and the American journalist Wellman started with an airship. Interesting remnants of these Arctic expeditions can still be seen here.

Bellsund
At the beautiful Vårsolbukta in Bellsund, little auks nest by the tens of thousands. We go ashore and walk across the tundra to get a closer look at these charming birds.

Hornsund
The majestic Hornsund consists of several magnificent fjords along the west coast of Spitsbergen, where huge glaciers calve out shimmering blue ice. This is one of the favorite haunts of some of Svalbard's polar bears, and we may be lucky enough to spot one on the fjord ice. 

Day 9: Longyearbyen
Early in the morning we disembark our expedition ship and begin our journey back home.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations. 

Transfer details

Departure

12:00pm

Longyearbyen

Svalbard Airport: LYR

Return

10:00am

Longyearbyen

Svalbard Airport: LYR

Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/balto/itn-2607230219401-springtime-in-svalbard