Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Svalbard and the world’s northernmost substantial settlement. Before embarkation, you may have time to explore this former mining town, visit the Svalbard Museum, or walk through its compact centre.

In the early evening, Hondius departs through Isfjorden. Keep watch from the outer decks for seabirds and the possibility of your first minke whale as the expedition begins.

Over the following eight days, Plancius will attempt to travel clockwise around Spitsbergen. There is no fixed sequence of landings, as the route will be continually adjusted based on sea ice, weather, wildlife activity, and operational conditions.

Krossfjorden and Ny-Ålesund

The expedition may begin by following Spitsbergen’s west coast towards Krossfjorden, an impressive landscape of mountains and glacier fronts. Conditions could allow an initial Zodiac cruise or landing before the ship continues north.

Ny-Ålesund combines Arctic history with contemporary polar science. Originally established as a mining community, it is now an international research settlement. Remnants of its past include old railway tracks and the airship mast associated with the polar flights of Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile. Barnacle geese, pink-footed geese and Arctic terns breed on the surrounding tundra.

Monaco Glacier and Liefdefjorden

Plancius may enter Liefdefjorden and approach Monaco Glacier, whose precipitous face extends for approximately five kilometres. Nutrient-rich meltwater attracts feeding seabirds, and large numbers of kittiwakes can gather near the glacier.

The surrounding coastline and ice are also recognised as polar-bear habitat. The expedition team will carefully scan the glacier front, shoreline and nearby slopes for movement. A landing at Texas Bar may be possible, with Wijdefjorden and the glacier front of Nordbreen providing alternative areas of exploration.

Into the high Arctic

If the sea ice permits, Plancius will continue towards Nordaustlandet and the Seven Islands. This remote island group lies beyond 80° North, approximately 870 kilometres from the geographic North Pole.

The ship may spend an extended period close to the pack ice, searching for polar bears and other wildlife associated with the frozen ocean. When the ice edge lies farther north, there may be time to devote a second day to this extraordinary high-Arctic environment.

An alternative route could lead towards Sorgfjord. You may encounter walruses here, while remains from the 17th-century whaling era reveal an earlier, more destructive period of Svalbard’s history. Walks through the area may also reveal Svalbard rock ptarmigans and other tundra wildlife.

Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet

Separating Spitsbergen from Nordaustlandet, Hinlopen Strait is a remote Arctic waterway frequented by bearded seals, ringed seals and polar bears. Blue whales are occasionally seen near its entrance.

Weather and ice permitting, the expedition may Zodiac cruise among ice floes in Lomfjord before visiting Alkefjellet. These sheer basalt cliffs support tens of thousands of breeding Brünnich’s guillemots, which fill the ledges, water and sky during the Arctic summer.

Possible landing sites on the eastern side of the strait include Palanderbukta, where reindeer, geese and walruses may be seen. An alternative is Torrelneset on Nordaustlandet, a stark polar desert bordering one of the largest ice caps on Earth. Walruses may rest along its coastline and raised beaches.

Storfjorden, Barentsøya and Edgeøya

Plancius may navigate the waterways between Spitsbergen, Barentsøya and Edgeøya, passing glaciers and some of the least accessible coastlines in the archipelago. Depending on currents and conditions, the route could include Heleysundet and views towards Negribreen.

Potential landing sites include Skjolddalen, Diskobukta and Kvalhovden. At Diskobukta, a canyon contains a substantial kittiwake colony, creating possible opportunities to observe both seabirds and the Arctic foxes that patrol beneath their nesting sites.

The final location will be selected based on the best available combination of weather, landing conditions, and wildlife activity.

The pointed mountains of Hornsund

In southern Spitsbergen, Plancius may explore the side fjords of Hornsund. Fourteen significant glaciers flow through this dramatic landscape, surrounded by steep peaks including the 1,431-metre Hornsundtind.

The area’s sharp mountain profiles explain the name Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains”. Zodiac cruises and possible landings at Samarinvågen or Birgerbukta offer opportunities to explore on foot, while polar bears, seals and beluga whales may be encountered within the wider fjord system.

Bellsund’s wildlife and history

Bellsund is one of Svalbard’s largest fjord systems. Ocean currents create slightly milder conditions here, supporting relatively rich vegetation and areas of productive tundra.

At Ahlstrandhalvøya, piles of beluga bones remain from the intensive whaling of the 19th century. The site starkly illustrates the historic exploitation of Arctic wildlife, while living belugas may still be encountered in the fjord.

Alternative explorations could lead to the tundra where reindeer feed or to the slopes around Vårsolbukta, where little auks gather during the breeding season.

Plancius returns to Longyearbyen, bringing the attempted circumnavigation of Spitsbergen to an end. Disembark after breakfast and begin your onward journey, or extend your stay to explore more of the settlement and its surroundings.

A complete circumnavigation of Spitsbergen is dependent upon sea-ice conditions and cannot be guaranteed. Based on Oceanwide Expeditions’ operating experience between 1992 and 2019, the historic likelihood of completing the route is approximately 30% during the first half of July, 70% during the second half of July, 90% during the first half of August and 95% during the second half of August.

If the route around Spitsbergen is obstructed, the expedition team may instead create a programme in western, northeastern or southeastern Spitsbergen. This can still include remote landings, pack-ice exploration and important wildlife areas.

All routes and activities are provisional. Landings are subject to weather, ice, wildlife, site availability, permissions, environmental considerations and AECO regulations. The captain and expedition leader will make the final decisions during the voyage.