Join YPT on a bespoke tour in the northern reaches of the world on a cruise around Svalbard visiting Russian settlements and abandoned coal mining outposts turned ghost towns! This year, the Summer Solstice is on Tuesday, June 21st, which means you’ll get the opportunity to experience the midnight sun throughout the trip!
Before the group tour starts join our not-to-be-missed Pyramiden tour extension at the beginning of the group tour as you head to an arctic ghost town – the abandoned settlement of Pyramiden, built by the USSR, which is still completely intact with Soviet style architecture and a monument to Lenin! Over 1000 people had lived in the city and was considered quite a successful community with a kindergarten, school, public swimming pool, a football field and a coal mine. In 1998 the coal mine was closed for good and the citizens were asked to vacated within a very short time. Sounds familiar? Very few tourists visit Pyramiden, make the most out of you Svalbard tour by including this extension for only €345.
The group tour will then embark on the m/v Ortelius – the most advanced vessel Polar Class 6 cruise ship which exceeds all the latest green requirements of the Polar Code, and brace yourself for one of the most inspiring natural environments on the planet, as well as ticking off most YPT boxes on this trip.
We begin your adventure in the main town of Longyearbyen where you’ll get a feel for the kind of people who live amongst reindeer and polar bears, before setting sail to the Monaco Glacier, a 5 kilometre long (3.1 miles) wall of ice that you can hear groaning and cracking as it slowly slides into the sea. Named after the first Prince Albert of Monaco, the base of the ice is a common hunting ground for polar bears.
You’ll then reach the northernmost point of your voyage with us within the Seven Islands. Here you will reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the North Pole. Along the journey you’ll have the chance to spot mink whales, bowhead whales, blue whales, bearded seals, ringed seals, and various seabirds.
On our return we’ll stop and disembark at Barentsburg, an old Russian mining settlement still populated by about 500 people. Here even though we’re still officially in Norway we’ll see the northernmost statue of Lenin in the world and grab a drink at the northernmost brewery! We’ll then finish the voyage back in Longyearbyen with farewell drinks onboard.
Throughout this tour your guide be conducting a multi-activity programs for our YPT travellers interested in exploring such topics as geology, marine biology, glaciology, and macro-photography.
Saturday 18th June – Longyearbyen
Sunday 19th June – Longyearbyen
Sunday 19th June – Longyearbyen
Monday 20st June – Longyearbyen and the Beginning of the Voyage
Tuesday 21nd June – Krossfjorden and Blomstrandhalvøya
Wednesday 22rd June – The Northwest
Thursday 23th June – Raudfjorden
Friday 24th June – Liefdefjorden
Saturday 25th June – North Spitsbergen
Sunday 26th June – Barentsburg
Monday 27th June – Longyearbyen
Want to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
– Accommodation in twin share in Longyearbyen and on board our ship in twin porthole
– All transport to complete the tour
– Breakfast in Longyearbyen and all meals on the ship
– All meals throughout the voyage onboard the ship incl snacks, coffee and tea
– All shore excursions and activities by Zodiac
– Rubber boots and snowshoes
– All entrance fees and government taxes
– Full ship crew and YPT guide
– Transport to and from Longyearbyen
– Visa fees if applicable (Svalbard is generally visa free though)
– Lunches and dinners in Longyearbyen on shore
– Single Supplement in Longyearbyen, not available on ship (€100)
– Drinks and personal spending
We have expert guides ready to help answer any questions you may have.
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