Arctic Cruise Adventure: Polar Bear Country

Adventure Cruising: Expert-led expeditions to exotic locales, with shore excursions

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Oslo, Norway

Arrive in Oslo, Norway’s capital, a mixture of the ancient and the modern, coexisting in close harmony with nature. On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, meet your local guide for a walking tour. Join fellow travellers this evening for a welcome cocktail reception.

Grand Hotel Oslo

Day 2: Oslo/Longyearbyen/Spitsbergen

Board a charter flight to Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard on the main island of Spitsbergen, the sovereign Arctic archipelago of Norway. It is one of the most remote archipelagos on the globe, with nearly two-thirds of its surface covered in spectacular glaciers. After a tour of the town, board ‘Le Boreal,’ your luxurious expedition cruiser.

'Le Boreal'   |   Meals: B L D

Days 3-6: Svalbard Islands

Very few people have had the opportunity to view the remote wilderness of the Svalbard Islands. In the Svalbard archipelago, polar bears, walrus, musk oxen and an incredibly rich variety of birds are as abundant as are cathedrals of ice, glaciers and craggy mountain peaks. Unexpectedly, an amazing amount of flora surrounds this barren landscape which comes alive with color under the July midnight sun. Your captain and expedition crew take advantage of local conditions to determine the day’s best sightseeing, which may include visits to stunning fjords, a polar research station or a 17th-century Dutch whaling station. However, the main focus is to search for polar bears as they hunt in their true natural habitat. Each landing is under the close supervision of the bear guardians, who have the best knowledge about where to find the white giants.

'Le Boreal'   |   Meals: B L D

Days 7-8: Cruising the Greenland Sea

Cruise along the Arctic ice edge and through the Greenland Sea, as lecturers recap their presentations on the wildlife, history and geology of the Svalbard and prepare you for the world’s largest island: Greenland.

'Le Boreal'   |   Meals: B L D

Days 9-11: Scoresby Sound/East Greenland

Explore the rarely visited east coast of Greenland and Scoresby Sound, disembarking in the village of Ittoqqortoormiit. This small settlement was only founded in 1925 and is still one of the most isolated villages in Greenland. Cruise the intricate fjord network and be on the lookout for musk oxen and reindeer. Visit Uunartoq (the “warming island”), discovered in 2005 when Greenland’s glaciers receded. Conditions permitting, take a dip in the hot springs.

'Le Boreal'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 12: Cruising the Denmark Strait

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea cruising the relatively narrow strip of water that separates Greenland from Iceland and connects the Arctic Sea with the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Watch for seabirds and whales from the deck. This evening, gather for the captain’s gala farewell dinner. ‘

'Le Boreal'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 13: Husavik

Early arrival in Husavik, the first permanent village settled in Iceland. Visit the Husavik Whale Museum, one of the world’s foremost centers focused on research of whales and their habitat. Continue to Godafoss and Lake Myvatn for a comprehensive tour of this thermally active region which provides a rich habitat for a vast variety of bird and wildlife species. After lunch, proceed back to Husavik before re-boarding the ship.

'Le Boreal'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 14: Grundarfjördur

The glacier-carved terrain of the West Fjords of Iceland provides a rugged and scenic landscape highlighted by Drangajokull Glacier with its sparkling waterfalls and icebergs. Visit the small village of Grundarfjördur, which was one of the first villages in Iceland. Embark on a sightseeing tour of the stunning Snaefellsnes Peninsula including the Snaaefelsnes Glacier with views of the majestic extinct volcano, Snaefellsjokull, site of Jules Verne’s fictional Journey to the Center of the Earth.

'Le Boreal'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 15: Depart Reykjavik

This morning, disembark ‘Le Boreal’ in Reykjavik and transfer to the airport for your return flight home or enjoy an extended stay in Iceland with a Reykjavik extension.

Meals: B

Optional Post-tour Extension: Reykjavik

Enhance your journey with a post-tour small-group extension.
4 days, priced from $2,195. Available on this departure.

Venture out daily to see the rugged mountains, spectacular lava formations and streaming geysers that make up the striking landscapes of Iceland: Thingvellir, Geysir, Stokkur and Thorsmork. Available on this departure.