GlobeRovers Magazine, Dec 2019

Svalbard Islands - North Pole Adventures
such as the Noorderlicht. The Noorderlicht
slowly cruises around the islands, in
particular, the northernmost islands which
are snow covered all-year-round and surrounded
by ice, the ideal hunting place
for bears. From the sailboat, the bears can
easily be spotted, although she has 2 rigidhulled
inflatable boats on board to be used
for landings and for wildlife watching in
inaccessible areas. In addition to the bears,
look out for Arctic fox, reindeer, whales,
walrus, seals, and rare bird species such as
the ivory gull, the little auk, and the puffin.
Another good option in summer is to
stay in a luxury lodge perched at the edge
of the magnificent Nordenskiöld glacier.
The Nordenskiöld glacier is part of the
larger glacier system stretching all the way
to the north coast of Spitsbergen Island.
Arctic locations, particularly around the
Svalbard Islands. In winter, when much of
the sea around the islands is frozen, she is
intentionally frozen into Tempelfjorden,
30 km northeast of Longyearbyen. Here
she peacefully serves as base-camp accommodation
for Arctic voyages, and as a
guesthouse for those who want to see the
bears. She will wait here until the thawing
of the oceans, at which time she will start
cruising around the islands, fully booked
with polar bear spotting teams.
The sailboat has 10 simple, but comfortable,
twin cabins with upper and lower
berths, a cupboard and washbasin. There
are also four shared showers and toilets
on board. It has a cosy communal area
where delicious food such as freshly baked
bread is served. From the comforts of the
sailboat, keep your eyes peeled on the surrounding
ice and snow of the fjord. If you
are lucky, you may see a polar bear or two
lured closer to the sailboat by the smell of
fresh human flesh. Keep the doors locked!
During some winter months, the
Noorderlicht offers 7-day voyages from
Tromsø, on the Norwegian mainland.
During these voyages, passengers can admire
the magnificent landscapes, wildlife,
picturesque villages and beautiful Arctic
Northern Lights. In winter, the fjords of
the northern part of Norway are filled with
various species of whales that feed on the
herring and other fish.
From April until October during the
24-hours sunshine a day in the summer
months, there is much less ice and snow
so the bears congregate around the pack
ice regions along the northern shores of
Svalbard. This is the ideal time of the year
to spot them, normally from a boat cruise,
The Nordenskiöld Lodge, with its
expedition cabins, offers wildlife spotting
excursions, including for polar bears.
Enjoy summer dog sledding and then join
a boat expedition around the coast to spot
walruses, whales, and polar bears along the
shores.
Other adventures offered by the lodge
include guided glacier climbs, kayaking,
and sightseeing. At the end of the day,
relax in a steaming hot sauna! In summer,
the lodge is reached by the 12-person
Polarcirkel boat, and in wintertime, you
will arrive on your own snowmobile across
frozen fjords and mighty glaciers.
The lodge offers 5 bedrooms, all with
great Arctic views, ten comfortable beds,
an indoor toilet, and a traditional wood
sauna. Don’t expect running water or
electricity, and get your drinking water
by melting ice from the glacier. A true
adventure.
Article • Svalbard | 73