In 1596 the Dutch explorer Willem Barents named the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago – Spitsbergen – meaning ‘jagged peaks’. A name befitting this remarkable land as you will find out whilst sailing through some of the most outstanding glacial scenery imaginable. These ten-day expeditions aim to circumnavigate Spitsbergen and, with no oceans to cross, the seas are usually calm as you venture way beyond the Arctic Circle and up to 80° north. If ice conditions allow, you may sail around some of the smaller islands too. Distances are relatively short in the archipelago so you will have plenty of time to soak up the magnificent scenery, hike ashore or cruise in the zodiacs. The wildlife watching around Spitsbergen is exceptional: the impressive Monaco Glacier is a favourite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes; opportunistic Arctic Foxes patrol for young birds falling from nesting ledges; Bearded Seals cruise the scenic fjords; 200,000 strong colonies of Little Auks surround spectacular bird cliffs; Walrus wallow in the shallows; Beluga Whale sightings are likely and there is always the possibility of the ultimate wildlife encounter – with the mighty Polar Bear. Your voyage begins in Longyearbyen, the largest community in Svalbard with around 1800 inhabitants. Your first expedition stop is not far away; the following morning you will board the zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 4th of July Glacier. Surprisingly, the green slopes near the glacier are peppered with the most delicate wildflowers, whilst large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brunnich’s Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. Around Spitsbergen The Svalbard archipelago is only a few hours flight from the UK yet this extraordinary land of rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers is a true High Arctic wilderness. F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982 Itinerary Day 1. Embark in Longyearbyen Day 2. Krossfjorden, Ny Ålesund, Day 3. Liefdefjorden Day 4. Phippsøya Day 5. Laagöya Day 6. Hinlopen Strait Day 7. Nordaustlandet Day 8. Sundneset, Diskobukta Day 9. Hornsund Day 10. Ahlstrandhalvøya, Recherchefjorden Day 11. Longyearbyen and disembark Vessel Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Alexsey Maryshev, Antarctic Dream, Grigoriy Mikheev, Professor Molchanov, Professor Multanovskiy (see Vessel pages for more details). Things you need to know Embark Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen Disembark Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen Voyage nights 10 & 11 nights Departure dates June to August Please see schedule on opposite page Price From £1,795 in a triple share cabin From £2,395 in a twin share cabin Single supplement On request. If you are travelling alone ask about our request share programme which enables solo travellers to share a cabin with another solo traveller. What’s included Voyage including guided shore & zodiac excursions, all meals onboard & transfers. Guide price for flights & accommodation package Around £495 including return flights from the UK & 1-night in Oslo. 182

S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com 183 Ice conditions allowing, the northern-most point of your voyage is likely to be Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, just 870 kilometres from the geographic North Pole. As you sail down through Hinlopen Strait, the waterway between Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, keep watch for Bearded, and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls. Using the zodiacs to navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya you will explore the bird cliffs at Alkefjellet with thousands of Brünnich’s Guillemots. An old trapper’s hut will be found at Sundneset on Barentsøya and, moving south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya, you will find a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks that have drifted from Siberia. On Ahlstrandhalvøya piles of Beluga skeletons are evidence of the 19th Century slaughter. Fortunately Belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and the chances of coming across a pod are good. If ice conditions are favourable you may sail around Nordaustlandet and visit Kvitøya, where the Swedish Explorer Andree perished, instead of sailing through the Hinlopen Strait. Akademik Sergey Vavilov ADVENTURE SHIP Voyage nts Tour dates Triple/sh Twin/ULB/sh Twin/ULB/pr Superior Suite 11 9 to 20 June 08 £1,795 £2,395 £2,625 From £2,895 From £3,295 10 9 to 19 July 08 £2,250 £2,895 £3,150 From £3,395 From £3,795 10 19 to 29 July 08 £2,250 £2,895 £3,150 From £3,395 From £3,795 10 8 to 18 Aug 08 £2,250 £2,895 £3,150 From £3,395 From £3,795 Alexsey Maryshev ADVENTURE SHIP Voyage nts Tour dates Twin/ULB/sh Twin/ULB/pr Superior 10 25 June to 5 July 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 10 5 to 15 July 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 10 15 to 25 July 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 Antarctic Dream EXPEDITION SHIP Voyage nts Tour dates Twin/ULB/sh Twin/ULB/pr Superior Suite 10 28 June to 8 July 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 10 8 to 18 July 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 10 18 to 28 July 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 10 8 to 18 Aug 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 10 18 to 28 Aug 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 Grigoriy Mikheev ADVENTURE SHIP Voyage nts Tour dates Twin/ULB/sh Twin/ULB/pr Superior 10 29 June to 9 July 08 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 Professor Molchanov ADVENTURE SHIP Voyage nts Tour dates Triple/sh Twin/ULB/sh Twin/ULB/pr Superior Suite 10 5 to 15 Aug 08 £2,195 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 10 15 to 25 Aug 08 £2,195 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 10 25 Aug to 4 Sept 08 £2,195 £2,525 £3,025 £3,395 £3,795 Prices include port dues, taxes, hotel accommodation as indicated (twin/triple share), accommodation on board ship (twin/triple share), guided activities & all meals on board ship.