Polar Regions / Arctic / Norway
Arctic Polar Bear Adventure Cruise
Small Ship Cruise, Zodiac Excursions, Hiking and Wildlife Viewing Adventure above the Arctic Circle
Join us on this small ship expedition over 600 miles above the Arctic Circle. Under the "Midnight Sun" we cruise, hike and explore this wonderland of rugged mountains and massive glaciers home to whales, seals, walrus, reindeer and polar bears!
Day 1: Lonyearben, Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago)
Before embarking, there is time to stroll this former mining town Board ship this afternoon and set out for Kross Fjord. With more than 2,500 polar bears, Spitsbergen is the world's premier destination for seeing these fascinating animals in the wild.
Day 2: 14th of July Glacier-Ny Alesund
With rugged peaks, sweeping tundra, sparkling icebergs and glaciers, Spitsbergen is a classic high arctic archipelago with the largest concentration of seabirds in the North Atlantic plus whales, walruses, seals, arctic fox, reindeer and polar bears. Zodiacs provide an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted ice-front of 14th of July Glacier. Sail to Ny Ålesund, the world's most northern settlement.
Day 3: Liefde Fjord-Monaco Glacier-Andøya Island
Cruising to the mouth of Liefde Fjord, go ashore on the island of Andøya. Near the 3-mile face of stunning Monaco Glacier, the waters are a favorite feeding ground for kittiwakes and polar bears often prowl here.
Day 4: Phippsoya
Today we reach our northernmost point on our cruise--Phippsoya, in the Seven Islands north of Nordaustlandet. Here we reach 81 degrees north, just 540 miles from the North Pole! Polar bears and ivory gulls are often seen in the pack ice of this area.
Day 5: Laagoya-Sorg Fjord
We hope to see a herd of walrus today near the big lagoon on Laagoya island. Walruses are aslo seen frequently at Sorg Fjord near the graves of 17th century whalers.
Day 6: Hinlopen Strait-Nordaustlandet Island
Today offers a good chance to spot seals, polar bears and the rare ivory gull. A Zodiac cruise through ice floes to the cliffs of Alkefjellet shows off thousands of guillemots nesting in a breathtaking setting. We explore the polar desert of Nordaustlandet next to the world's third largest ice cap.
Day 7: Barentsoya-Edgeoya
We visit a trapper's hut and take a brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen reindeer and Barnacle Geese. A zodiac cruise takes us to a beach littered with whale bones and tree trunks that have drifted here from Siberia.
Days 8-10: Hornsund
We cruise the side fjords in southern Spitsbergen with peaks rising to more than 4,500 feet. We discover piles of Beluga skeletons, the remains of a 19th century slaughter. We have a good opportunity of encountering a pod of Belugas and to explore the tundra once again in search of reindeer. We return to Longyearbyen, disembark and transfer to the airport for our flight to Oslo.