A day in Hinlopen

This day M/S Stockholm spent in Hinlopen - the gap between the two largest islands of Svalbard, Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet.

Shortly after breakfast, we boarded the Zodiacs for a cruise along Alkefjellet - Svalbard's largest bird mountain. About 65,000 pairs of Brünnich's Guillemots nest here along with thousands of Black-legged Kittiwakes. The bird mountain is a vertical cliff that plunges into the sea which is a truly impressive sight.

Among all the birds, we also managed to spot an Arctic Fox foraging along the steep slope.

After this fine morning, the journey continued to the eastern side of Hinlopen and into Wahlbergfjorden while the guests enjoyed lunch. Once in the fjord, we were met by pack ice. While M/S Stockholm carefully navigated among the ice floes, the guides were constantly looking for wildlife, which at times was hampered by fog.

After a couple of hours, we saw a female polar bear with her young cubs some distance away. They followed the starboard side of the ship for a short while before moving on into the foggy pack ice again. A fantastic experience and a memory for life for everyone on board.

Later in the afternoon, we again joined the Zodiacs for a cruise among the pack ice. The fog that surrounded us added a certain mystique to the adventure into the unknown.

Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.