Time to step aboard. Tall Ship Noorderlicht will be waiting for you at the so-called ‘floating pier’ in Longyearbyen where you can embark at 16:00. After a welcome speech from the captain and meeting your fellow travelers we will cast off the mooring lines and set sail. In the evening we will anchor at Trygghamna.

Possibly our first zodiac landing will be in Trygghamna, where you can see the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and a 18th century hunting station of the Pomor.

From here we might hike to the 428-meter high Alkhornet , where some 10,000 pairs of different seabirds breed. The cliffs are composed of carbonate rock, which is more than a billion years old. The tundra at the bottom of the cliff receives nutrients from the sea birds and provides meadows for reindeer, nesting sites for geese and shelter for Arctic foxes. 

This is a beautiful strait located between the main island of Spitsbergen and the island of Prins Karls Forland. Historically, the Forlandsundet strait has always been a fear for many whalers, because of the Forlandsrevet sandbank on the north side. Due to its shallow draft, the Noorderlicht is one of the few ships that can navigate these waters although the crew will need full concentration. In the meantime, do not forget to keep an eye out  walruses that can be found at Sarstangen and Poolepynten! They form a beautiful scene with panoramic mountains in the background that cameras love.

When we will be able to be sailing to the beautiful Kongfjord and Krossfjord, you will be greeted by the towering face of the “14th July” glacier.

These fjords in particular feature the historical heritage of the English. In the early years of whaling, the English and the Dutch made an agreement in which they divided the whaling areas among themselves. The English obtained the right to hunt south of the Magdalenafjord and the Dutch were granted control over the northwestern corner of Spitsbergen.

On day 5 we can visit the former mining town of Ny Alesund. Ny Alesund is the world’s most northerly settlement and today a renowned polar research center . The special bond of the Netherlands with Spitsbergen is honoured here by the Arctic center of the University of Groningen. They use a number of buildings here as polar station, where research is carried out into barnacle geese and climate change.

Depending on what we have seen in the past days we make our way up to Isfjorden. Here we have a multitude of options. We can choose from Borebreen, to Ekmanfjorden or even going towards Nordernskiöld glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Isfjord. Although the glacier has receded markedly in recent years, it is still very impressive. Keep an eye out for polar bears that have shown themselves here repeatedly in recent years! In the evening we will arrive in beautiful Skansbukta where we will look for a safe anchorage for the night in the sheltered bay.

In the morning we will organize a final landing. Weather permitting, we will spend the rest of the day sailing back to Longyearbyen. Upon arrival in the Arctic town, you may enjoy some free time to buy the last souvenirs or simply take a walk to soak up all the impressions of the week. Around dinner time you are expected back on board. The rest of the evening you can enjoy your last night with the crew and your fellow travellers.

Unfortunately, our adventure through the Arctic landscape of Spitsbergen has come to an end. After a hearty breakfast, you are kindly requested to disembark by 09:00. We hope that we have been able to show you the variety and beauty of Spitsbergen and that you enjoyed an unforgettable experience on board the Noorderlicht.