North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring - Hike & Sail & Ski

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8 days from

£2887.5

* Current p/p indicative rate.

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Highlights

  • Meet foxes, seabirds, and grazing reindeer
  • Visit Earth’s northernmost community
  • Enjoy walrus watching, seal seeing

Highlights

  • Meet foxes, seabirds, and grazing reindeer
  • Visit Earth’s northernmost community
  • Enjoy walrus watching, seal seeing
Capacity: 32, Types: ExpeditionYacht

At the end of a long Arctic winter, spring is starting to awaken. The climate, however, still clings to the cold: snow-covered mountains, snow-swept shores, temperatures around –4° C (25°F). It’s a good time to experience the last of winter scenery, and with a little luck, also see some polar bears, walruses, and seals.

  • Meet foxes, seabirds, and grazing reindeer
  • Visit Earth’s northernmost community
  • Enjoy walrus watching, seal seeing
22 May, 2025 to 29 May, 2025 on Rembrandt van Rijn
Prices

Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.

Twin Private Inside - Waitlist
£ 3080 GBP pp
Twin Private Inside - Waitlist
1 upper / lower berth Private shower and toilet Ample storage space
Triple Private - Waitlist
£ 2887 GBP pp
Triple Private - Waitlist
1 porthole 1 upper/lower berth + 1 lower berth Private shower and toilet Ample storage space
Twin Private Porthole - Waitlist
£ 3619 GBP pp
Twin Private Porthole - Waitlist
1 porthole 1 upper / lower berth Private shower and toilet Ample storage space
show reverse itinerary
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. In the evening you sail for Trygghamna, where you see the remains of a 17th-century English whaling station and 18th-century Pomor hunting station, both of which you can visit the next morning.
Day 2: Foxes, seabirds, and grazing reindeer
From Trygghamna you walk to Alkhornet, a large seabird cliff where the birds are scouting out breeding places. Below the cliffs is a common place to spot Arctic foxes, and you may also see reindeer grazing on the lush vegetation if there’s not too much snow.
Day 3 – 4: Earth’s northernmost community
You head north for Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden. The landscape is likely to show signs of winter, the crags and slopes still blanketed with snow. Here there are rich opportunities for snowshoeing – we provide the snowshoes – and visiting places of historic interest: Ny London, where you can see the remains of early 20th-century marble mining, and Ny Ålesund, the northernmost community in the world. There are also research stations and the famous anchor mast of the dirigible Norge, which took the first flight across the North Pole to Nome, Alaska in 1926. Krossfjorden offers views of colossal glaciers and lofty mountain peaks, but ultimately the extent of fjord ice dictates the itinerary here.
Day 5: Walrus watching, seal seeing
Cutting south between the main island of Spitsbergen and Prins Karls Forland, you may encounter walruses at Poolepynten, a common haul-out site. You also have views of St. Johnsfjorden, near Gaffelbreen. The winter ice may not have loosened its grip on the water here, and seals (ringed and bearded) could be numerous in the area.
Day 6 – 7: Wide tundra, tall mountains
You now double back into Isfjorden and venture to Ymerbukta, possibly embarking on a walk in this mountainous area. Here you find an expansive tundra with its own avifauna, depending on when spring arrives, as well as spectacular geological formations along the coast. Further northeast, near Ekmanfjorden, you have the chance for another hike. Common to this area are numerous glaciers that terminate near or in the sea. In Gipsvika you can go on shore near the cliff of Templet, a mountainous location of eroded sedimentary rock from the Upper Carboniferous period – around 290 million years ago.
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.
Please Note:
At the end of a long Arctic winter, spring is starting to awaken. The climate, however, still clings to the cold: ice-covered mountains, snow-swept shores, temperatures around –4° C (25°F). It’s a good time to experience the last of the winter scenery, and with a little luck, also see some polar bears, walruses, and seals into the bargain. Bird note: It is still somewhat quiet on the cliffs, as this time of year the cliff-nesting birds are only just arriving to pick out their breeding places. By May all the nesting birds will have arrived, and the breeding will take place later in June. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The on-board expedition leader determines the final itinerary. Itineraries may mention places that require permission to land, which must be granted by the relevant national authorities. Such permission is not granted prior to the publishing of these itineraries. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. Willingness to compromise on comfort is a basic requirement on board of a historic traditional sailing vessel. Important information about the sailing program: the boat is equipped with sails and these will be used in good conditions (open sea, water depth, appropriate wind conditions, time availability). This is not guaranteed. The captain decides whether to use the sails or the engine. There is no claim to one or other propulsion method. If sails are used, they are operated by the crew. Guests follow the safety instructions of the team. Average cruising speed for s/v Rembrandt van Rijn is 6.5 knots.
Rembrandt van Rijn
S/V ‘Rembrandt Van Rijn’ was originally built as a herring lugger. The vessel was rebuilt as a three-masted passenger sailing schooner in The Netherlands in 1994 and sailed in Spitsbergen…

Rembrandt van Rijn

Length 56 metres
speed 9 knots
Cabins 16

S/V ‘Rembrandt Van Rijn’ was originally built as a herring lugger. The vessel was rebuilt as a three-masted passenger sailing schooner in The Netherlands in 1994 and sailed in Spitsbergen (1994 – 1996) and in Galápagos (1998 - 2001). The vessel underwent a complete rebuilding and refurbishment program in 2011. The communication and navigation equipment has been completely renewed according to the latest SOLAS regulations.

The Rembrandt van Rijn measures 56 meters in length (168 ft.), 7 meters in width and has a draft of 2, 5 meters.

•The maximum engine speed is 9 knots

•She has an experienced crew of 12 on board including two tour guides

•The ship can accommodate a maximum of 33 passengers in 16 cabins

•1 Triple Private cabin with porthole (with shower and toilet)

•6 Twin Private Inside cabins (with shower and toilet, no porthole)

•9 Twin Private cabins (with shower and toilet and porthole)

•The general interior public areas include a spacious restaurant area so that all meals can be taken together as well as separate bar area and reading table area

•There is room to relax, read and socialize

•The ship is well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offers excellent open deck viewing areas, even when under sail. The two inflatable rubber crafts (zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas.

Cabin layout for Rembrandt van Rijn
Overview
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Dates & Prices
Itinerary
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8 days from £2887.5

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