LAND OF THE ICE BEARS:
AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF ARCTIC SVALBARD
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10 DAYS
A high Arctic archipelago situated beyond Norway’s fjord-fretted coast, a mere 965 kilometres from the North Pole, Svalbard is a place of deep fjords, snowcapped mountains, and massive sheets of ice––glowing under the midnight sun during our season there. It’s a magnificent polar bear habitat that provides opportunities for thrilling up-close observations of polar bears and other Arctic wildlife. It’s Arctic nature in its purest form.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Oslo, Norway | Explore the capital city of Norway |
| Days 2 - 8 | Longyearbyen, Svalbard | Embark on your voyage. View Polar bears, walrus, seals, seabirds and incredible landscapes |
| Days 9 & 10 | Longyearbyen to Oslo | Disembark in Longyearbyen, explore the town before the charter flight to Oslo. |
SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
National Geographic Endurance
Launching in 2020, the National Geographic Endurance is a next-generation expedition ship, purpose built for polar navigation. The Category A vessel is a fully stabilized, highly strengthened ship designed to navigate polar-passages and uncharted waters all year round. Designed to provide an extremely smooth ride in even the most adverse of conditions, reduced spray on deck and wave-splicing action making for superior observation.
Day 1 Oslo, Norway
Arrive in Oslo, the capital city where each year the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in the presence of the King of Norway.
Arrive in Oslo, the capital city of Norway. Enjoy a stroll amoung the Vigeland sculpture, hunderds of life-sized human figures in a park. Continue on the Polar Ship Fram Museum which is dedicated to Norwegian explorers Nansen and Amundsen. You have the evening at your leisure to enjoy a good night’s rest and perhaps visit one of the nearby restaurants.
Stay overnight at the Thon Hotel Bristol, or similar.
Day 2 Embark Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Take a charter flight to from Oslo to Longyearbyen where you will board the National Geographic Explorer and set sail. Enjoy the beautiful mountains surrounding the small town of Longyearbyen as you pull out into the waters surrounding Spitsbergen. As you cruise around Svalbard you will be spoiled with deep fjords, snow-capped mountains, huge sheets of ice, and the opportunity to view Polar Bears up close in their natural habitat.
Days 3-8 Exploring Svalbard
As with all polar expeditions the itinerary is kept flexible as it is determined heavily on weather. Our main focus is to find Svalbard’s amazing wildlife: polar bears, reindeer, walrus, seals, arctic foxes and sea birds. Spend your days on board Zodiacs cruising around icebergs or on kayaking getting an up-close view of hard to access areas of the region. Visit the foot of tidewater glaciers and see the wildflowers that give colour to this remote region in the High Arctic.
Days 9-10 Longyearbyen to Oslo, Norway
Disembark the National Geographic Explorer and enjoy some time to explore Longyearbyen before the flight to Oslo. Spend the night at the Radisson Blu Airport Hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your homeward flight.