SPITSBERGEN EXPLORER
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12 DAYS
Spitsbergen is home to the iconic polar bear, as well as whales, walrus, Svalbard reindeer and tens of thousands of seabirds. Exploring the tundra is a breathtaking experience—the natural beauty of the landscape is surprisingly colorful and so striking. See the best that Spitsbergen has to offer via the western edge of the island, plus a few outlying northern regions.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
Day Place Highlights
Day 1 Helsinki, Finland Arrive in Finland and explore this vibrant city
Day 2 Longyearbyen Embark on your voyage in Longyearbyen
Day 3-11 Circumnavigate Spitsbergen View Polar bears, walrus, seabirds and incredible landscapes
Day 12 Longyearbyen Disembark the ship in Longyearbyen, fly to Helsinki
SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Ocean Adventurer
The expedition ship Ocean Adventurer is designed to carry 132 travelers in comfort and has a classic style and feel. She was originally built in Yugoslavia in 1976 and has undergone several renovations; in 1999, 2002 and her most significant in 2017. The Ocean Adventurer is ice-strengthened and a beautiful small ship upon which to discover the wonders of Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland.
Ultramarine
The expedition ship Ocean Adventurer is designed to carry 132 travelers in comfort and has a classic style and feel. She was originally built in Yugoslavia in 1976 and has undergone several renovations; in 1999, 2002 and her most significant in 2017. The Ocean Adventurer is ice-strengthened and a beautiful small ship upon which to discover the wonders of Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland.
Day 1 Oslo Norway
Overview:
Your arctic voyage begins in Oslo, Norway’s vibrant capital city. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep you busy before spending the night at the airport hotel.
Day 2 Longyearbyen, Norway
This morning you will join a group transfer to the airport and fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen. This is the largest settlement in Spitsbergen. You will have a little bit of time to take a look around this remote town. Your Spitsbergen Arctic cruise begins in Longyearbyen when you board your ship. Enjoy views of the rugged, glacier-topped mountains, rising from icy waters.
Days 3-11 Exploring Spitsbergen
Explore western Spitsbergen as well as stunning fjords and outlying islands to the north. From polar deserts to immense glaciers, the natural landscape here is just as varied as the wildlife. As you cruise around this interesting island located above the Arctic Circle, your Expedition Team will constantly be searching for wildlife.
Each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice, so there is no fixed itinerary; however, some of the places we may visit include the 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Phippsøya, Alkhornet and the Hinlopen Strait.
The destinations visited will be selected for optimum wildlife viewing with an appreciation of the history and geology of Spitsbergen. The island offers multiple opportunities for wildlife photography. Spotting polar bears is more likely here than almost anywhere else, as the Svalbard archipelago is one of their preferred hunting areas.
The towering cliffs of Alkefjellet provide homes to thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). Coming across a walrus haul-out is a moment you won’t soon forget. These giant pinnipeds of the Arctic create quite a noisy scene as each walrus vies for a choice spot of coastline.
In Spitsbergen, there is no shortage of natural beauty, the tundra can be surprisingly colorful in summer, with wildflowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Each day, you’ll see something interesting, whether it is unique arctic wildlife a polar bear resting between hunts, or abandoned sites from centuries ago.
Day 12 Longyearbyen to Oslo, Norway
Your adventure ends in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. Farewell the expedition team and from here, you will be transferred to the airport for the charter flight to Oslo.