GRAND ARCTIC CIRCUMNAVIGATION PDF

We will sail above 80º N, to take you to the ice edge of the Arctic Ocean. The adventure will include several excursions including hiking, kayaking and other activities on land and on the water.There’s also a good chance that we’ll see a polar bear –after all, there are more polar bears than there are humans on Svalbard, the largest Arctic wilderness in Europe.

  • Dates04 , 14 August 2017
  • Duration12 Days
  • Starting From € 6 328.00
  • Ship NameMS Fram
Tabs
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Try what the Norwegians call 'Brevandring'

In Norway we have a special kind of activity that we call; brevandring – this means to cross a glacier. Don’t mistake this for ice climbing. Brevandring is on relatively 'even ice', but on some occasions we may have to negotiate small crevasses. You can expect an exceptional experience 'on the ice'. Glaciers cover 60% of the landmass of Svalbard, so stepping out onto the ice is an almost obligatory part of your Svalbard experience.

More polar bears than people

Within the Svalbard archipelago, there are approximately 3,000 polar bears, and 2,500 humans. Polar bears are solitary animals with no established territory – they simply roam wherever they can expect to find food. As polar bears are marine mammals, we are more likely to see one close to the water or even in water, especially around drift ice, which they like to use as a platform. The more eyes scouting for polar bears through binoculars, the higher the chance of seeing a King of the Arctic in the flesh!


Departs From
Oslo/Longyearbyen

Day 1

The journey begins

Location: Oslo/Longyearbyen

This Grand Arctic Circumnavigation starts with an evening flight from Oslo. Norway's capital is often called 'The blue, the green and the city in between' because of its location between the fjord and the forest. Spend a day checking out the many museums, parks and varied architecture or relax in a café or bar. The contrast will be significant when you arrive in Longyearbyen a couple of hours later. Still, Longyearbyen is a modern town with first-class facilities, charming architecture, an internationally renowned museum and several bars and restaurants – all in the midst of the untouched Arctic wilderness.

Explore

Location: Oslo/Longyearbyen

After an overnight stay in a hotel, you can join an exciting excursion in the unique little town of Longyearbyen and the surrounding area before boarding the MS Fram. The influence of the Arctic environment is obvious but the town is also surprisingly cosmopolitan, with art galleries, pubs, long wine lists at restaurants, shops, and a small shopping center. While the town is often called an antidote to modern-day life and is a prime destination for adventure travelers, the history and heritage of the first coal miners are evident everywhere. Barentsburg is a Russian settlement, known for its coal mines and Soviet architecture, and is very different from Longyearbyen. The museum, library, and newly opened brewery function as meeting places for the community and a research station is under construction. See a colorful folklore show and visit the hotel and museum. Here you'll experience a different side of Svalbard, a little piece of Russia in the Arctic.

Day 2

Day 3

Explore

Location: North West Spitsbergen National Park

Kongsfjorden is considered to be one of the most beautiful fjord areas in Spitsbergen, with mighty glaciers calving icebergs into the sea, framed by characteristic mountain formations.

Explore

Location:North West Spitsbergen National Park

As we sail northwest, we reach Krossfjorden and Mitrahalvøya, where you can see ruined buildings from the whaling period, beautiful alpine flora, bird cliffs and quite often Svalbard reindeer. Try crossing a glacier with our Expedition Team. On our way back, we visit the former mining settlement of Ny-Ålesund, now an international centre for research, with a picturesque mix of old and new buildings.

Day 4

Day 5

Explore

Location: North West Spitsbergen National Park

The North West Corner of Spitsbergen offers the largest concentration of graves, blubber ovens and other cultural treasures from when we first started to inhabit Svalbard. Raudfjorden offers plenty of opportunities for great hikes. Hamiltonbukta is too shallow for our ship to navigate, but it’s perfect to explore by kayak. We will also see the enormous Monaco Glacier in Liefdefjord.

Explore

Location: Eastern Svalbard Nature Reserves and South Spitsbergen National Park

Eastern Svalbard also boasts the highest population of polar bears on the archipelago – we really hope that we’ll get the chance to see one on this journey! Today, we'll explore Sorgfjorden, which borders the North East Spitsbergen Nature Reserve, and was the location of a famous 17th-century battle between whalers. Enjoy the view from on deck as we pass the spectacular bird cliff of Alkefjellet, one of the largest of its kind.

Day 6

Day 7

Explore

Location: Eastern Svalbard Nature Reserves and South Spitsbergen National Park

Edgeøya is the third-largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. On its western shores, the landscape is largely un-glaciated, unlike most other places on the east side of Spitsbergen. Kapp Lee is a wonderful site where you will find cultural heritage from all eras of human exploration of Svalbard.

Explore

Location: Eastern Svalbard Nature Reserves and South Spitsbergen National Park

We continue to the southern cape and the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen, where Hornsund has large variations in its landscape and geology within short distances. Ice being pushed into the fjord early in the season attracts polar bears that hunt on the ice.