Ortelius Itinerary
North Spitsbergen Basecamp - Summer Solstice - Free Kayaking, Hiking, Photo Workshop, Diving (supplemented)8 days / 7 nights
About Ortelius
- Refurbished research vessel with three-star accommodation
- Awarded the highest ice-class rating, ensuring safety and comfort
- Equipped with a helicopter pad to facilitate flight transfers
- Enjoy hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, camping, and photography
Ortelius is a refurbished research vessel embarking on adventurous expedition cruises in the polar regions. Awarded the highest ice-class rating, and offering some unique features and amenities – including a helicopter pad and sauna – this vessel combines both comfort and capability during even the remote voyages. As a result, guests can expect to enjoy every moment of their trip, whether lounging in the bar with a cocktail, learning about their surroundings in the lecture room, or embarking on exhilarating activities such as mountaineering, skiing, or scuba diving.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 8 days / 7 nights
Number of dives TBC
Experience Advanced Open Water - Minimum 30 dives
Insurance Required
Highlights
- Witness the incredible midnight sun, with 24-hours of daylight
- Visit the islands of Kongsfjorden and Blomstrandhalvøya
- Monaco Glacier is a favourite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes
- Sailing to Northwest of Raudfjord, look for harp seals and hooded seals
- Diving is an optional activity
Background on Basecamp cruises:
Our Basecamp voyages focus on land and near-shore activities with minimal disturbance to local wildlife. If time and conditions permit, the expedition team will also look for wildlife opportunities whenever possible.
By definition, a base camp is a temporary camp from which expeditions or other outdoor activities can be carried out. During our designated Basecamp cruises, the ship navigates to carefully chosen areas around North Spitsbergen, staying in fewer locations than during our regular trips so that it can serve as a comfortable hub for multiple outdoor activities.
Hikers (H) can embark on vigorous walks in the backcountry, photographers (P) can capture the dramatic surroundings in pictures, and kayakers (K) can explore waterways through which the ship cannot always sail. Passengers who do not wish to engage in these activities can enjoy Zodiac excursions and easy-to-moderate shoreline walks that focus on wildlife.
All activities are free of charge.
Summer Solstice:
The midnight sun is a phenomenon that occurs during the Arctic summer, when the sun is visible for a full 24 hours in fair weather. The summer solstice in Longyearbyen falls on 21 June, when the sun reaches its highest altitude of the year above the northern horizon at midnight. It will not be until late August that the sun fully goes down again, and then only for a few minutes. Join us in experiencing this fascinating phenomenon during our voyage through the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard.
Day 1: Largest town, biggest island
You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
Day 2: Kongsfjorden and Blomstrandhalvøya
On the first day of our activity program, we will slowly ease into things. Blomstrandhalvøya is located on the northern side of the fjord, which will offer shelter and room to change plan in case the weather changes. In the afternoon, you visit Ny Ålesund, one of the northernmost settlements on Earth. Once a mining village served by the world’s most northerly railway – you can still see its tracks – Ny Ålesund is now a research center.
Close to the community is a breeding ground for barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, and Arctic terns. And if you’re interested in the history of Arctic exploration, visit the anchoring mast used by polar explorers Amundsen and Nobile in their airships, Norge (1926) and Italia (1928). In the evening, we head north along the west coast and spend the night in the sheltered surroundings of Krossfjorden.
Day 3: Exploring the Northwest
Next to our activities, we will next head toward Amsterdamoya, where you have the chance to hike past the remains of a 17th-century whaling station. You can also enjoy the beautiful panorama of Smeerenburgsleta. In the afternoon, we make for the islands around Fair Haven.
Day 4: Rugged Raudfjorden
At Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers—and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears. Here we will find the right balance between safe activities and wildlife watching.
Day 5: The stunning sights of Liefdefjorden
Depending on the weather, you could sail into Liefdefjorden and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent sailing here early in the season, we may use an alternate route along the west coast of Spitsbergen. Near the area of Texas Bar and Hornbaekpollen, there are also some great hikes.
Day 6: North Spitsbergen splendors
This is our reserve day for activities around North Spitsbergen. Weather and wildlife permitting, we will choose the right location for another day of splendid outdoor adventures.
Day 7: Forlandsundet or St. Johns Fjord
Forlandsundet, between the main island of Spitsbergen and the narrow Prins Karls Forland, is a place of great beauty and fascinating wildlife. Walruses sometimes haul out here, and seabirds can be found around Fuglehuken. You may also see walrus populations around Sarstangen and Poolepynten. Alternatively, we might sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation. We will arrive in Longyearbyen later that night.
Day 8: There and back again
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics, and local regulations.
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
04:00pm
Longyearbyen
Svalbard Airport: LYR
Return
09:00am
Longyearbyen
Svalbard Airport: LYR
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/ortelius/itn-2409181237491-north-spitsbergen-basecamp-summer-solstice-free-kayaking-hiking-photo-workshop-diving-supplemented-