Jan Mayen
NOTICE... because of new ruling from the Norwegian Government on serious restrictions on landings and camping on Jan Mayen we are reviewing our plans for the island - please email Sigurdur@BoreaAdventures.com for further info.
In 2012 we are running two exclusive expedition to the remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen (70°59′N 8°32′W). It lies 600 km north of Iceland, 500 km east of Greenland and 1,000 km west of the Norwegian mainland. It's most northerly point is about the same latitude as Nordkapp on the Norwegian coast.
An expedition to Jan Mayen can be challenging. First all the North Atlantic can be stormy any time of the year, even if the dates we have chosen normally give us the best option for good weather. Secondly the landing on the island can be a challenge as there are no good harbours and there is often heavy surf on the beaches. But for those looking for an exiting expedition to an exclusive destination visited each year by only a handful of tourists this is it!
We will start in Dalvik just north of Akureyri on NE Iceland and use 2-2,5 days sailing onboard our comfortable 60ft sailing yacht AURORA. Enroute we should have good oportunities to see whales such as Humpbacks and Orcas as well as Porpoises and Dolphins.
When we arrive in Jan Mayen, the group will move to a basecamp on the island and get ready to climb Mt Beerenberg (2277m), the worlds most northerly active volcano. This volcano last erupted in 1984. The climb can be serious arctic mountaineering depending on weather and conditions on the mountain. Normally it is technically easy though, even if we will be roping up on the glacier. We will also use the opportunity to look at the sights on the island: icecaps, black cliffs, birdlife and even visit the small Norwegian weather station at Olonkinbyen.
After a successful climb of Mt Beerenberg (5-6 days on the island), we´ll set sails again and take the course back to Dalvik, Iceland (to Isafjordur on the second trip).
Borea Adventures is the most experienced operator of trips to Jan Mayen with numerous expeditions under our belt and many successful ascents of Beerenberg.
Here is also a spectacular set of photos with excellent descriptive narrative from Erik Aaseth of Norway - this is from one of our trips in 2008. Check also photos in our own collection here.
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Trip itinerary
Day 1 - Monday
Meeting onboard AURORA. Departure from Dalvik at 19:00. Course set NE towards Jan Mayen crossing the Arctic Circle later same night.
Day 2 - Tuesday
Sailing north while keeping a sharp lookout for whales and dolphins. Good chance of seeing White-beaked dolphin, Humpback and Minke whales, Orcas etc.
Day 3 - Wednesday
Getting close to Jan Mayen and if the wind is cooperating we may arrive this evening. In clear weather it may be possible to see Beerenberg from up to 80 nautical miles offshore.
Day 4 - Thursday
Landing on Jan Mayen island. The landscape is quite unique with black lava cliffs, green moss and many seabirds. We'll anchor on the leeside of the island, most likely either Jameson bay on the east side or Stations bay on the west side. It may also be possible that we'll anchor in Kvalross bay on the west side. People and equipment will be ferried ashore in a rubber dinghy and basecamp established. Jan Mayen is rich of driftwood and we may have a small campfire on the beach this first night.
Day 5 - Friday
If weather permits we'll start our preparations for a summit attempt for Beerenberg. We'll start in moss and loose volcanic gravel and ascend between small craters towards Kronprins Olavs Glacier (Bre) which we enter at around 600 meters elevation. We continue up the glacier and from around 1300 meters we'll tie up with climbing ropes. We arrive at Nunataken (the Nunatak), a cliff sticking out of the glacier at around 1600 meters. Above Nunataken the climb is steeper, and there are numerous crevasses. - But they are usually not a major technical challenge. After 10-16 hours climbing we will reach the rim of the main crater. The main crater is about a kilometre in diameter and 300 m deep. Quite often you can see steam rising from crevasses where the great Weyprecht glacier breaks out of the crater and falls all the way down to sea level. We continue along the crater rim, to the highest point, Haakon VII peak. Return is the same way and we should be down at camp after about 16-20 hours.
This plan can of course change depending on weather and snow conditions. We may for instance establish a high camp on the glacier to be in a better position for a summit attempt when the weather breaks.
Day 6 - Saturday
A days rest after the summit. Options include short hikes and nice evening at a campfire on the beach.
Day 7 - 8 Sunday to Monday
Options include various hikes.
On the southern part of Jan Mayen the mountains rise to 5-700 meter high crater landscape with Rudolftoppen (769m) as the highest. From it's peak we can get great view over the whole island, of course with Beerenberg as the main attraction, towering over everything else to the north.
The narrow central part of the island diminishes to a width of only 3 km and this is also the lowest part of the island with summits under 300m. Here one can cross the island without having to walk up to more than 30m height. The loose sand can be heavy for walking but the landscape is fascinating. In the Schmelk valley there is a labyrinth of lava caves so we'll bring along our head-torches in case we take a look inside.
Eggøya is a quite peculiar cliff that used to be a separate island crater. After a volcanic eruption in the 1800s it is now attached to the main land. It's only 200m high and can be climbed fairly easily. The view from the top is spectacular and small steam fumaroles can still be found.
There are no mammals left on the island as the foxes were hunted to extinction. Seabirds breed on the steep cliffs out near the coast with Fulmars and Razorbills as the most numerous. There are also large colonies of Puffins and Little Auks.
The island is rich of historical sites. Some from the times of whaling centuries ago, but most of them from more recent times. The old weather station (Gamle Metten) on Libergsletta is still well kept but the even older station (Eldste Metten) is more of a ruin. Jan Mayen also has sites from WW2 and even wreckage from a German bomber-plane that crashed in the mountains.
Day 9 - Tuesday
Opportunities for short hikes in the morning. Break camp, pack and get ready for departure. Move people and equipment onboard AURORA and depart in the early afternoon.
Day 10 - Wednesday
At sea en route to Iceland
Day 11 - Thursday
At sea, keeping a good lookout for whales and dolphins as we get closer to Iceland. Should see the Icelandic mountains in the morning. Arrival in Dalvik in the evening.
View slideshow
| Trip no | Dates | Days | Price | |
| 2012160 | Jun. 18 - Jun. 28, 2012 | 11 | 2650 EUR | BOOK! |
| 2012200 | Jul. 02 - Jul. 12, 2012 | 11 | 2650 EUR | BOOK! |
Included:
- All food onboard and on land on Jan Mayen
- Accommodation onboard, all port fees, fuel cost and local taxes
- Use of sailing clothing (Gore-Tex jacket and pants), safety harness and life jacket
Use of tents, stoves (incl fuel) and climbing ropes - Guiding on land, one guide pr 3-4 guests
Not included:
- Travel to and from Ísafjörður, Iceland unless specifically mentioned in itinerary.
- Food the first day until boarding the yacht in Ísafjörður
- Personal medical insurance
- Personal equipment as pr recommended equipment list.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Terms and conditions
The Borea Adventures trips/voyages are of an adventurous nature and to relatively remote locations in Iceland, Greenland and other places. Borea Adventures makes best effort to stick to the planned itinerary but participants must appreciate and acknowledge that the trip/voyage requires considerable flexibility. The company and captain of the vessel reserve the right to adjust the itinerary without notice for reasons beyond their control such as weather, ice-conditions or other unpredictable or unforeseeable circumstances. Once departed on the voyage the captain will have final say on all decisions affecting safety etc and this must be accepted by all participants.
Download full version of "terms and conditions" here.