10-day Circumnavigating Spitsbergen – In the Realm of the Polar Bear
Oslo, Norway
This Arctic expedition cruise is one of a kind! Sail above 80º N while circumnavigating Spitsbergen under the Midnight Sun. Explore the largest Arctic wilderness in Europe with optional excursions that include hiking, kayaking and traversing a glacier, all with a good chance of spotting the mighty polar bear.
Highlights:
Longyearbyen | Svalbard | Spitsbergen National Park | Hinlopen Strait | Edgeøya | Hornsund | Isfjord
Amenities:
Cruise Ship: MS Spitsbergen.
Level of support:
Self Guided
Related Services Available to Add:
10 days
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Day 1: Oslo / Longyearbyen - Flight & overnight
Before your evening flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, spend the day in the museums, parks and cafés of Norway’s capital city. When you arrive in Svalbard, you’ll discover an entirely different world - a small town perched on the edge of vast Arctic tundra. Transfer to your hotel and overnight.
Day 2: Longyearbyen - Embarkation
Join an exciting excursion after lunch to get to know this frontier town. The mighty Arctic wilderness dominates life here, but Longyearbyen maintains a lively cultural life and is considered a prime destination for adventure travelers worldwide. Enjoy the unique atmosphere of this colorful outpost before boarding your ship, MS Spitsbergen.
Day 3-4: North West Spitsbergen National Park
Spitsbergen´s northwestern corner is strewn with rugged islands, beautiful fjords and isolated beaches. It is also the site of spectacularly scenic Northwest-Spitsbergen National Park.
Day 5-7: Eastern Svalbard Nature Reserve
Eastern Svalbard boasts the highest population of polar bears on the archipelago – and we have high hopes of spotting one on this journey! The ocean is full of drifting ice, and we intend to cross 80º N if conditions allow. We hope to sail all the way to Sjuøyane (Seven Islands) at the far north of the archipelago.
Day 8: South Spitsbergen National Park
We make our way to the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen, where Hornsund hosts a wonderfully varied landscape and geology. Ice pushed into the fjord early in the season attracts polar bears that hunt on the floes, so with a bit of luck, we may spot some of these magnificent predators.
Day 9: The Isfjord
We will spend the day exploring the Isfjord, the most prominent fjord system on Svalbard. The immense U-shaped valleys, carved out of the mountains by giant glaciers that covered the area some 10,000 years ago, are home to large populations of Svalbard reindeer.
Day 10: Longyearbyen / Oslo - Disembarkation & Flight
As we sail back into Longyearbyen, enjoy the magnificent surrounding scenery. A transfer vehicle will take you to the airport for your night flight. Arrival early in the morning in Oslo.
Location Map:
Price is per person, in United States Dollars, and includes all port fees & taxes. Price quoted is an indication of the lowest price you can expect to pay for an I-grade (inside) cabin and does not include Canadian Resident discount. Prices can fluctuate and are subject to change at any time at the discretion of Hurtigruten. Applicable price will be quoted at the time of booking. *Offer is valid for new, individual bookings only, is capacity controlled, and subject to withdrawal at any time without notice. Savings apply to the cruise portion of the package only. Other restrictions may apply.
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