The Ultimate Fjord Expedition in the Arctic Iceland - Greenland - Norway Raw beauty and epic landscapes - join us for an expedition from Iceland to the largest fjord system in the world, before we explore the gems of the great Norwegian fjords. Explore the Arctic seas with our original expedition ship, MS Fram, designed to take you to close encounters with nature and wildlife in some of the most isolated places on Earth. Travel Period : 06 September 2017 Duration - 15 Days Ship - MS Fram
Explore the biggest fjord system in the world and experience the change in climate Visit Iceland, Greenland and Norway on the same trip See the wildlife in the Arctic including birds, Arctic hare, lemming and ptarmigans Discover the most isolated town in Greenland inhabited by trappers with special permission to hunt within the area On this amazing expedition, you explore the magnificent nature of Greenland in the Scoresbysund fjord. This fjord extends 217 miles inland and o 埏 ers spectacular scenery and tranquil surroundings. Understand the meaning of "isolated" Starting in Iceland's capital Reykjavik, we cross the ocean to visit the most isolated and remote town on Greenland. Ittoqqortoormiit is almost as far as you can get from any other inhabited area in Greenland. For up to nine months of the year, the town is cut o 埏 from the outside world, as ice freezes the ocean. Neighbouring the town is the world s largest national park, a vast wilderness featuring 11,000 miles of rugged coastline. Enormous and stunningly beautiful
Then, we spend eight days cruising this vast wilderness, including the world's biggest fjord, which features high mountains and basalt cli 埏 s. The awe-inspiring beauty of this enormous fjord system is enhanced further by its native wildlife. You will see birds, musk oxen, reindeer, walrus and maybe even a polar bear. Several places show no evidence that people have ever set foot there before. We cross the Arctic Ocean and land on Jan Mayen, a volcanic island in the middle of the sea. You'll then have the chance to see some of the Norwegian fjords and the gems along the rugged Norwegian coast. Your holiday price includes Hurtigruten Expedition voyage in cabin grade of your choice on a full board basis Wind- and water-resistant jacket Landings and activities on board and ashore Professional English-speaking Expedition Team that gives lectures as well as accompany landings and activities Free tea and co 埏 ee Not included International Flights Travel Insurance Luggage handling Optional Excursions and Gratuities Note Prices are in EUR per person All planned landings are subject to weather and ice conditions All itineraries are subject to change Rubber boots rental service on board free of charge
The Itinerary This is an expedition where the elements rule, and the weather, wind and ice conditions will determine our schedule. Safety is paramount and the captain will decide the final sailing itinerary during the voyage. Hence, this itinerary is just an indication of what you can experience and why every expedition with Hurtigruten is unique. 6 September 2017 Departs From: Reykjavik, Iceland DAY 1 The cool capital Location: Reykjavik Iceland's capital Reykjavik is home to an impressive collection of interesting attractions and places of historic significance, from landmarks such as Hallgrímskirkja and the Pearl to the natural wonders in close proximity to the city, which include glaciers, waterfalls, geysers and mountains. Enjoy discovering Reykjavik on your own before you embark on MS Fram in the afternoon.
DAY 2 Charming Ísafjörður Location: Ísafjörður, Iceland Ísafjörður was an ancient church site before becoming a trading port in the 16 th century. Today, it boasts charming streets of old timber houses, many of which have stayed unchanged since the 18 th century when the harbour was full of ships and Norwegian whaling crews. Explore the city on your own or join the expedition team on activities including hikes, horse riding or sampling the local cuisine.
DAY 3 The most isolated town in Greenland Location: Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund), Greenland Ittoqqortoormiit or Scoresbysund is our first call in North East Greenland. This is the most isolated town in Greenland. With only 560 inhabitants, the trappers living here are the only people allowed to hunt within the North East Greenland National Park as you explore the town, you'll notice racks used by local trappers to dry the skins of the animals they have hunted. The town is right next to the world's largest and deepest multi-branched fjord system. A special basalt rock formation with horizontal lines runs through the cliffs, marking the transition to the even more desolate area of North-eastern Greenland. The local guides will meet us and hand out maps as well as give information on what is open during our visit. The program is set individually for each stay, and would normally include museum, church, photo exhibition and even a launch of a weather balloon, all with local guides. You are welcome to walk around on your own, and see the places of interest.
DAYS 4-8 Exploring the Scoresbysund fjord system Location: Scoresbysund, Greenland Day 4 sees us sailing into the world's largest fjord system. You will notice the change in climate as we leave the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream and enter the cold water current that follows the coast of East Greenland. Some of the places we visit on this expedition have not been visited by other humans for the last 200 years, if at all! As we explore the Scoresbysund fjord system, we will attempt to land in several places. These landings are performed as pure wilderness expeditions. When we visit the former trading post Syd Kap, you will see old blubber ovens and the remains of Thule dwellings. In Bjørne Øer, you can see the even bigger remains of an old Thule settlement. The hunters' cabin in Hecla Havn is a great place to spot birds and smaller mammals, including Arctic hare, lemming and ptarmigans. At Viking Bay, you can study the Colombia basalt rock formations or visit a large glacier. Qupaulakajik is significant for its abundance of plant fossils it is possible to find fossils that are over 200 million years old here. The mountains in this area are almost alpine in nature, rising right out of the largest fjord systems on earth to an altitude of more than 2,500 metres above sea level. The waters are scattered with large icebergs and the valleys are inhabited by musk oxen.
As we continue to explore this fjord, watch out for other wildlife such as the allwhite Arctic hare, the Arctic fox or the very rare Arctic wolf. Turn your eyes to the sky to spot the white Greenland falcon, ptarmigan, snowy owl and a variety of sea birds. Sailing in this fjord is an experience of a lifetime it's like a maze surrounded by spectacular snow-capped peaks. Remember to watch out for polar bears wherever you see ice. DAY 9 One of the most isolated islands in the world Location: Jan Mayen Jan Mayen is Norwegian territory and one of the most isolated islands in the world. The closest other land mass is Iceland some 600 kilometers away and Norway, almost 1000 kilometers to the east. 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, especially being able to land on the shores. The crew and captain on MS Fram and the expedition team will do their best to make it possible to set foot on this exotic outpost. This will be an experience of a lifetime. DAY 10 Sailing the Norwegian Sea Location: Norwegian Sea This whole day will be spent sailing towards the Norwegian mainland. Our expedition team will wrap up our on board academic programme, and you may enjoy the lectures, the view from our observations lounge or maybe just relax in one of our outdoor Jacuzzis. Remember that we have several interesting books in our library.
DAY 11 Explore Raftsundet, Trollfjord and the Lofoten Islands Location: Lofoten Islands, Norway As we reach the Norwegian mainland, we sail through the narrow Raftsund before navigating into the narrower Trollfjord where the vertical mountain walls rise right out of the sea. Then, we spend the day in Lofoten, giving you chance to explore this spectacular area, known for its excellent fishing, extreme nature and picturesque fishing villages. DAY 12
The mountain with a hole Location: Torghatten Torghatten is one of the famous landmarks along the Helgeland coast, and from deck you have orchestra seats to this mountain with a hole in the middle. DAY 13 The amazing archipelago Location: Sistranda and Frøya The island of Frøya is located off the coast of Trøndelag, and is surrounded by more than 5,400 islets and reefs, making up an amazing archipelago. The landscape of Frøya is hilly, and the island has the charming village of Sistranda as its administrative centre.
DAY 14 Witness the Trollstigen Moutains and Vermafossen Waterfall Location: Åndalsnes We will spend a day in Åndalsnes, a popular destination due to its location at the foot of some spectacular mountains and well-loved hiking routes. The Trollstigen mountain road and Vermafossen waterfall are both popular attractions here. DAY 15 Return to civilisation
Location: Bergen Our expedition ends in Bergen. Enjoy the day in this international city with smalltown charm, surrounded by seven mountains. Stroll through the picturesque streets of Bergen and enjoy the well-known and famous sites like Håkon s Hall and Rosenkrantz Tower, St. Mary s Church, Bergen Harbour and the famous fish market. Bergen was founded in 1070, and we recommend a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage famous houses of Bryggen (the wharf). We hope that you have enjoyed the time onboard with us, that you have learn something new and that you have filled your mind with unforgettable memories from parts of the most isolated places on Earth. 20 September 2017 Location: Bergen, Norway 130 B Jodhpur Park, Ground Floor, Kolkata -700068.W.B.INDIA info@expeditionvoyages.in ( 91 33 2473 8096 / 91 44 31926777 John: +91 9830053005 / Shanthini : +91 9283190875