Dates & Rates - Tromso, Bear Island and Longyearbyen: Fjords and Bears 2015| Start - End Date | Duration (days) | | Ship | Price Range
(per person) | Adventure
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This expedition includes
This expedition excludes
• International airfare
• Passport and any applicable visa expenses
• Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above
• Any meals ashore
• Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and medical travel insurance
• Excess baggage charges
• Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
• Laundry and other personal charges
• Telecommunications charges
• The voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew
• Any overnight accommodation required due to flight connections
• Optional kayaking activities
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Overview - Tromso, Bear Island and Longyearbyen: Fjords and Bears 2015 From $0
Venture from Tromsø deeper into the Arctic Circle past iconic fjords towards the usually ice-bound Svalbard Archipelago. We’ll discover the rarely-visited Bear Island, an important bird area. We’ll explore the wildlife haven of Spitsbergen, a rugged land of deep fjords, mountains and ice sheets. And we'll spend our time here searching for walrus, seals, reindeer, arctic fox and the illusive polar bear. You'll also marvel at the colorfully-carpeted tundra which we'll be able to see first-hand on some of our hikes.
Expedition in brief:
• Unique Arctic wildlife: polar bears, walrus, reindeer
• Polar desert exploration
• Continuous daylight
• Hiking and Zodiac cruising
• Snowshoeing on selected expeditions
• Optional kayak adventure on selected expeditions
• Combine this voyage with Scotland to Norway: Crossing the Arctic Circle
Day 1: Tromso, Norway
You may plan to arrive early to see all that Tromso has to offer before boarding the Ocean Nova in the afternoon.
Day 2: Hammerfest
Hammerfest is known as the center of Sami culture, the northernmost indigenous people of Europe. It’s also the oldest town in Norway, though it was almost completely destroyed in WWII. You’ll also be invited here to join the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society, which is neither royal nor ancient (founded in 1963) but membership does include a hat and a pin.
Day 3: Porsangerfjorden and Nordkapp
Porsangerfjorden is Norway’s fourth longest fjord at 76mi (123km), and an amazing example of the legendary Norwegian fjords. We’ll visit one of the small settlements for a taste of small-town Norway. As we head out to sea, we’ll pass by Nordkapp, with its 1,000ft (307m) high cliff face.
Day 4: Bear Island
Today we will have a full lecture schedule in advance of our landing at Bear Island, the southernmost island in the Svalbard Archipelago. It is poorly named as we rarely find polar bears here, but we will encounter hundreds of thousands of sea birds. It has been identified as an ‘Important Bird Area’ by Bird Life International on account of the great numbers of northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes, little auks and thick-billed guillemots. We will also find the remnants of a whaling station in Walrus Bay and a coal mining station in the north. Due to the cold and dry climate, you’ll find the ruins to be remarkably-well preserved.
DAYS 5-10: Exploring Spitsbergen
We’ll sail around this magical island on a constant search for wildlife. Your expedition will cover western Spitsbergen as well as some stunning fjords and outlying islands to the north. From polar flora to immense glaciers, the natural landscape here is just as varied as the wildlife.
Each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice, so there is no fixed itinerary, however we do have some favorite destinations, including the 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Alkefjellet and the Hinlopen Straight. The destinations visited on your voyage will be selected for optimum wildlife viewing and appreciation of the history and geology of Spitsbergen. Polar bear viewing is almost guaranteed, with Hornsund being one of their preferred hunting areas and the towering cliffs of Alkefjellet providing many free bird egg meals for bears and the Arctic fox.
Poolepynton is great for walrus viewing and photography. Coming across a walrus haul-out is a moment you won’t forget. These lumbering giants of the Arctic create quite a noisy scene, as each walrus vies for a choice spot of coastline.
If you’re itching for a more personal and intimate view of the Arctic scenery, consider booking the optional kayaking excursions which will give you several occasions to paddle during your voyage to some of the more isolated pockets of Spitsbergen. Smeerenburg is a great place for a snowshoeing excursion, if conditions permit. You can visit a memorial erected in 1906. This historical site remembers the whalers who lost their lives in the 17th and 18th centuries while working in extreme Arctic conditions.
There is no shortage of natural beauty in Spitsbergen. The tundra can be surprisingly colorful in summer, with wildflowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Each day you’ll see something new, whether it is a rare bird species, a polar bear on the hunt, or a century-old abandoned hut.
DAY 11: Disembarkation Day in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
Your adventure ends in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here we’ll transfer you directly to the airport for your flight home.
Important Reminder
Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. When travelling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. The above is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this cruise – please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.
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