Hurtigruten - Climate Voyage 2016
9 days / 8 nights
Reykjavik • Longyearbyen
MS FRAM
Day 1 : Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik, is the starting point of your climate pilgrimage. Your route for this particular voyage is Hurtigruten's inaugural homage to the journey the Vikings pioneered more than 800 years ago. You are setting sail for one of the most diverse and isolated islands on Earth, Jan Mayen.
Day 2 : Ísafjörður, Iceland
The capital of the Westfjords (Vestfirðir) region of Iceland and with a population of about 4,100 Ísafjörður is the largest town in the Westfjords. The town has a long history and for centuries it was a major centre of commerce and trading, all based on fish. Take a stroll around this cosy town and enjoy its diverse architecture. You'll find the country's oldest dwelling here, along with other fine examples of timber houses built by wealthy foreign traders in the 18th century. Ísafjörður offers a wide range of optional excursions of various levels of difficulty.
Day 3 : At sea
As your northbound heading takes you across open sea today, you are welcome to join a programme of lectures and observations on seabirds and sea mammals. Hurtigruten's team of experts will also invite you to the lecture halls to learn more about climate change. MS Fram is following the so-called Global Conveyor Belt - transporting warmer waters towards the North Pole. This global superhighway of seawater is immensely important for the global climate and temperature distribution on the planet.
Day 4 : Jan Mayen, Norway
Jan Mayen is a Norwegian territory and one of the most isolated islands in the world. The closest land mass is Iceland some 600 kilometres away. The volcano Beerenberg is the northernmost active volcano on earth and had its last eruption in 1985. It is also one of the highest mountains in Norway with its perfectly coned shape and a summit at 2277 meters above sea level. In the 16th century Dutch whalers operated out of Jan Mayen and today a Norwegian weather station holds a few souls all year round having mail dropped from a plane occasionally.
Tourists visiting Jan Mayen are extremely rare, and not many of these are able to land on the shores. MS Fram and the expedition team will do their best to make it possible to set foot on this fascinating outpost as it is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.
Day 5 : At sea
Once again you are welcome to join the programme of lectures and observation of seabirds and sea mammals. This is the day to remember the experiences from yesterday and to prepare for the next highlight of the voyage - Spitsbergen. You will learn more about why Spitsbergen is such a strong symbol for climate change and why it is considered a global thermometer.
Day 6 : Ny Ålesund, Spitsbergen, Norway
Situated at 78° 55' N, Ny Ålesund is one of the world's most northerly permanently occupied communities and an important field station for scientists from all over the world. In 2005, a state of the art marine laboratory was opened to facilitate for the fieldwork of marine biologists and oceanographers – this is the most sophisticated marine laboratory in the world at this latitude.
Coal mining was the original reason for settlement here, but this was put to an end after a serious accident in 1962, leaving behind numerous cultural remains of technical and industrial importance. Ny Ålesund has also been the starting point of several historical attempts to reach the North Pole. Names like Amundsen, Ellsworth and Nobile are strongly linked to Ny Ålesund.
There is also a small visitor's centre in Ny Ålesund with a good multimedia show, in addition to the northernmost post office in the world.
Day 7 - 8 : North West Spitsbergen National Park, Svalbard, Norway
Dependent on ice conditions the Fram will make a try to cross the 80th parallel. Up until less than a couple of decades ago, a plan to get this far north would have been unconceivable at this time of the year, but times have changed and ice conditions as well. Today you will find yourselves in an area close to the marginal ice-zone, an area known for relatively large yearly variations.
This is the edge of the frozen Arctic Ocean, the place the original Fram that Fritjof Nansen had purposely built with an egg-shaped hull to prevent being torn apart by the enormous power of shifting ice. Your Fram, the modern expedition vessel used for the Climate Voyage runs no larger risk taking you into this fairyland of ice flows and leads. You will observe the habitat where cornerstone biological production takes place in this region of the world. Only up until a few years ago, science were under-estimating the importance of algae growth underneath first year sea ice, propelled into production by rays of the 24hrs sunlight shining through the snow and ice.
If you are lucky you will spot some larger species using these waters as hunting grounds. Keep your eyes open for walrus, whales and polar bears.
Day 9 : Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Norway
Today you will visit the "capital" of Svalbard, Longyearbyen. This Norwegian town of about 2,000 inhabitants is very much an Arctic outpost, but with modern amenities such as a hospital, school, university and power plant.
The University Centre here is very much focused on natural sciences and one of the prestige projects of this institution is to find a viable method of storing CO2 in a geologic layer underneath the permanently frozen ground – the vision is to make Longyearbyen climate neutral.
Your Climate Voyage has come to an end. Early morning transfer from the pier of MS Fram to Longyearbyen airport and charter flight back to Oslo.
The route described here is only an indicative. Based on the weather conditions at the time, the final itinerary will be presented to you after embarkation.
DEPARTURES:
2016
13 July
CLIMATE VOYAGE - PRICES : 2016
Occupancy | 2016 | |
---|---|---|
July | ||
Cabin Grade : I - Inside | ||
Twin | Price from | £2,141 |
Single | Price from | £3,677 |
Cabin Grade : FJ - Outside Superior limited or no view | ||
Twin | Price from | Full |
Single | Price from | Full |
Cabin Grade : N - Outside | ||
Twin | Price from | £2,346 |
Single | Price from | £4,036 |
Cabin Grade : U - Outside | ||
Twin | Price from | £2,571 |
Single | Price from | £4,430 |
Cabin Grade : F - Outside Superior | ||
Twin | Price from | £2,819 |
Single | Price from | £4,864 |
Cabin Grade : M - Suite | ||
Twin | Price from | £3,146 |
Single | Price from | £5,436 |
Cabin Grade : MG - Grand Suite | ||
Twin | Price from | £3,604 |
Single | Price from | £7,115 |
EARLY BOOKING PRICES
- Save up to 25% on the brochure price by booking early.
- The early booking prices are subject to limited availability.
- Be aware that Hurtigruten has a flexible pricing system and the early booking prices are capacity controlled.
- Prices may change at any time before departure date, the applicable price will be quoted at the time of booking.
YOUR HURTIGRUTEN VOYAGE PRICE INCLUDES :
- • Hurtigruten Expedition Voyage in cabin grade of your choice on a full board basis.
- • Wind and waterproof jacket.
- • Landings in Polarcirkel boats and activities onboard and ashore.
- • Professional English speaking Expedition team that gives lectures as well as accompany landings and activities.
- • Free tea and coffee.
- • Suites include a range of additional complimentary amenities such as drinks with meals and a welcome gift.
NOT INCLUDED :
- • International flights
- • Travel insurance
- • Luggage handling
- • Optional excursions
- • Gratuities
NOTES :
- • Prices are in £s per person.
- • All planned landings are subject to weather and ice conditions.
- • All itineraries are subject to change.
- • Rubber boots rental service on board.
ADD A FLIGHT PACKAGE - Price from £715 per person
FLIGHT PACKAGE PRICE INCLUDES :
- • Flight in Economy class from London to Reykjavik and from Longyearbyen to London including current taxes and charges.
- • Transfers airport-ship-airport.
NOT INCLUDED :
- • Travel insurance.
- • Regional departures and upgrades may be available at extra cost.