Land of the Ice Bear
Sail to the high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, one of the best places on the planet to see polar bears in their native habitat. Over the past 50+ years, our ace spotters have given our guests multiple opportunities to experience close sightings. In addition to the bears, we’ll be on the lookout for walrus, reindeer, elusive arctic foxes, fur seals, and numerous species of birds. The archipelago offers unique hikes, with artful, sculptural arrangements of whale bones on pebbled beaches and the ghostly remains of trapper’s huts.
Highlights
Search for polar bears and walrus alongside our veteran spotters
Explore under the midnight sun and take advantage of spectacular photo ops with tips from a National Geographic Photography Expert, Camille Seaman
Sail up to rock-wall rookeries teeming with thousands of birds, see pelagic birds from the ship’s rail when we’re underway, and Zodiac cruise near a cloud of feeding arctic terns
Actively explore––kayak, Zodiac cruise, hike, and walk
Hike the spongy tundra in search of reindeer, Arctic fox, and a variety of endemic plants
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Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight. Arrive in Oslo, the capital city, where each year the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in the presence of the King of Norway. Check in to the Hotel Bristol (or similar). After lunch, our introduction to Oslo begins with a stroll among the famed Vigeland sculptures—hundreds of life-size human figures set in terraced Frogner Park. Next we visit the Fram Museum, dedicated to Norwegian explorers Nansen and Amundsen. Join your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening.
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Depart Oslo on a charter flight and enjoy breathtaking vistas enroute to Longyearbyen. On arrival, visit the Svalbard Museum to learn the story of Svalbard and its context in Norway and the Arctic, from 17th-century whaling to modern mining, research and tourism. Embark National Geographic Endurance or National Geographic Resolution, your base for the next six days.
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Our travel in the archipelago is truly exploratory by design, and our exact day-to-day movements will remain flexible, depending on local conditions. Our main focus is the search for Svalbard’s amazing wildlife: polar bear, reindeer and walrus. Observe seals and arctic foxes and search for the very symbol of the Arctic—majestic polar bears. Cruise in Svalbard’s fjords, venture to the foot of stunning tidewater glaciers. We take our Zodiacs and kayaks among beautiful icebergs, and experience the geology, wildlife and wildflowers that give color and vitality to the High Arctic.
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Disembark in Longyearbyen, meet up with a local guide and take a short bus ride to Camp Barentz in the nearby Advent Valley for a taste of Arctic culture. Here, you’ll discover a unique collection of buildings including an authentic gamme, a traditional round building with an open fire in the center, and a lavvo, the traditional tent of the Sami people. Enjoy refreshments and meet some of the friendly sled dog huskies that reside at camp. Fly back to Oslo and overnight at the Radisson Blu Airport Hotel.
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After breakfast, proceed to the airport for the return flight home.
