Hurtigruten
Spitsbergen Voyages - Polar Encounters
Kingdom of the Polar Bear
9 Days from £3456pp
Departures June, July & August 2009
Aboard one of the finest ice class vessels available, this captivating itinerary travels the remote regions of the spectacular Svalbard archipelago, following the Midnight Sun through landscapes ruled over by the magnificent ‘Lords of the Arctic’.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in the Svalbard Peninsula, named after James Munro Longyear, an American who founded a mining company here in 1906. Overnight stay at Spitsbergen Hotel.
Day 2
After a sightseeing tour of the town we board MV Polar Star after lunch and sail through the Icefjord and onto the Russian mining community of Barentsburg (named after a Dutch explorer). Visit to the Pomor Museum (optional) and a folklore show. Following the stunning northwestern coastline you then pass through a landscape of towering ice fields and hidden fjords that are rich in wildlife and where isolated settlements still struggle to survive along the dramatic coastlines of this most remote and harsh landscape.
Day 3
Stop off briefly at the tiny coastal settlement of Ny–Ålesund, then continue north, towards Magdalenefjord, one of the island’s most beautiful fjords, and Smeerenburgfjord, the appropriately named ‘Blubbertown’, site of an old whaling station dramatically lying in the shadow of a barren mountain landscape.
Day 4-7
Rounding the top of Spitsbergen today we hope to cross the 80th parallel, to explore the fjords, glaciers and icebergs of a landscape that is rich in natural diversity, with over 170 species of plant, 110 types of migratory birds, and a mammal population that includes reindeer, walrus, seal, Arctic fox, whale and, of course, the majestic polar bear. With an estimated 2,500 polar bears in Svalbard, Spitsbergen is the only place in Europe where these formidable and magnificent beasts can be seen in their natural habitat and there is a chance of catching sight of a nomadic lone male, or a mother and cub. From here our itinerary will be determined very much by local sea and ice conditions, with regular landings and Zodiac excursions a planned feature of our days. We will explore remote locations, seek out Arctic wildlife – including polar bears – and learn more about the heritage of this fascinating region. The intention is to sail through the Hinlopen Strait, spectacularly hemmed in on either side by breathtaking fjords and continue to Vibebukta, close to the Austfonna Glacier with its massive 200 km wide ice sheet. If conditions allow, we may circumnavigate the island of Spitsbergen, visiting Nordaustlandet – deep within the Arctic Circle – via Wahlenburgfjord or Murchisonfjord and possibly later in the year even voyage as far as Edgeøya and Sørkapp (Southern Cape).
Day 8
Returning to Icefjord we hope to make a landing in the Billefjord and Skansebukta, before continuing our final day sailing. This evening there will be a farewell dinner on board.
Day 9
Early morning arrival in Longyearbyen, where tour ends.
MV Polar Star
MS Expedition
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*Single supplement. Prices are in £s based on 2 people travelling together
sharing a twin/cabin room. Your voyage price includes: Voyage in a
cabin grade of your choice including full board and current voyage fuel
surcharges, sightseeing in Longyearbyen, 1 night at the Spitsbergen Hotel
(half board). Not included: Travel insurance, international flights, luggage
handling, optional excursions, gratuities. Early booking price and savings
are subject to availability.
Flight Package
All departures £655pp
Your flight package includes: Return economy class flights from
London Heathrow to Longyearbyen (via Oslo), including applicable
taxes and current fuel surcharges. Dinner at an Oslo airport hotel,
transfers in Longyearbyen (for Hurtigruten group flights only). Not
included: Optional carbon balancing fee (£5.00).
Departures & supplements from other UK airports are available on request.
More information
Please refer to the voyage dossiers for more information about the programme, day to day itinerary, recommended equipment and reading.
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