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Day | Place | Highlights |
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Day 1 | Oslo, Norway | Spend the night, explore rich history, fashionable art scene, museums, galleries and architecture |
Day 2 | Longyearbyen | Fly to Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost town, Svalbard reindeer, embark |
Days 3 - 4 | At Sea | Attend lectures, go to the gym, relax in a hot tub, fine dining |
Days 5 - 14 | East Greenland | Polar bears and other incredible wildlife, sea ice, Ittoqqortoormiit, Northeast Greenland National Park |
Day 15 | Denmark Strait | Reflect on your experiences with newfound friends |
Day 16 | Reykjavik, Iceland | Disembark, explore the museums, galleries, restaurants and geothermal pools |
Purpose-built (2007) as an expedition cruise ship, MS Fram is an exceptional base camp for explorers. On board, comfort is a top priority (she was fully upgraded in 2022), so after a day of exploration you can relax in a hot tub, dine in your choice of two restaurants or at the outdoor BBQ and catch up with your fellow guests with a cocktail in hand as you watch the scenery glide past in the Explorer Lounge & Bar. In the Science Centre, at the heart of the ship, you’ll discover more about the places you sail to and listen to talks by the Expedition Team.
Your expedition begins in Oslo, Norway’s fjord-side capital. If you have time, why not explore the city centre.
With its rich history and fashionable art scene, Oslo is a fascinating city. You’ll find museums, galleries, and breathtaking architecture – including the beautiful Opera House and new Munch Museum.
Take a stroll in the Ekebergparken sculpture park, visit Akershus Fortress or relax in a floating sauna. Explore modern Sørenga and enjoy urban beach life or try New Nordic cuisine before spending the night in your airport hotel in Oslo.
After your morning flight to Longyearbyen, it’s time to explore the world’s northernmost town, a colourful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles.
Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer saunter by. Although wild, they’re curious and tame.
Before boarding your ship in the afternoon and continuing your Arctic discovery, join an included excursion after lunch, and get a glimpse of this amazing polar-bear inspired region at the top of the world.
As you sail into the Greenland Sea on your way to the world’s largest island, it’s time to relax, find your sea legs and get acquainted with the onboard facilities.
The Expedition Team will give talks about your upcoming adventure and will explain the protocols of respectfully visiting wildlife habitats and Indigenous Arctic communities. In the lecture hall, you’ll find out what to expect in the epic landscapes of East Greenland National Park and the stunning fjords of Scoresby Sund.
If you’re feeling active, head to the gym and do a workout with a view. On the other hand, you could sample the sauna, laze in a hot tub, indulge yourself at the onboard eateries or just find a quiet corner to read a book with a hot drink. Love science? Then why not join one of the onboard Citizen Science projects, a fun and engaging way to contribute to global research.
You’ll spend the next 10 days exploring Greenland’s remote and pristine east coast. Extending for over 1,740 miles from north to south, this long stretch of coast is cold, isolated, and remote even by Greenlandic standards. The south-flowing East Greenland Current brings lots of sea ice directly from the Arctic Ocean, challenging human settlement but creating a heaven for ice-dependant wildlife, including the polar bear.
Local weather and ice conditions will dictate your exact route, but the plan is to sail first to Scoresby Sund, the world’s largest fjord system. You’ll feel a deep sense of serenity in this wild and rugged region, with white and blue icebergs floating in mirror-like waters surrounded by looming mountains. If conditions permit, you’ll visit Ittoqqortoormiit – the most remote inhabited community in the Western Hemisphere.
Should the sea ice be favourable, you’ll continue your journey north to the beautiful Northeast Greenland National Park – the world’s largest national park. Visiting this fragile Artic wilderness is a rare privilege as only a few visitors are permitted here each year.
Apart from old trapper huts, some science research stations, and a military outpost, there are very few traces of human life in this 375,000 square mile park. Be assured that this is one of the quietest places on Earth, and you’ll enjoy a feeling of great peace as you explore this beautiful wilderness.
After exploring the remote beauty of Greenland, you will head to Iceland. Spend the days at sea recapping your experiences with new friends, studying nature in the Science Center, listening to a lecture or two, or just relaxing on deck. Look out for the seabirds that follow the ship and keep an eye out for whales.
As you reflect on your cruise, from witnessing the delicate ecology of the fjord systems to the ethereal elegance of the floating ice, east Greenland’s beauty is sure to have left its mark on you.
Say a fond farewell to MS Fram as you end our expedition cruise in the lovely city of Reykjavík. With its interesting museums, stylish galleries, restaurants and geothermal pools, there’s so much to enjoy in Iceland’s capital.
And if you want to discover more of Iceland, extend your stay to enjoy more of Reykjavík and its surrounding geothermal attractions. It’s a great place to end an epic journey!
To book this cruise contact us on 1300 784 794 or email: contact@arctictravelcentre.com.au