Embark on a truly amazing 17-day Arctic adventure divided between the some of the best and most exciting of Norway’s fjords and an intensive exploration of the Svalbard archipelago – calling at mainland Europe’s most northerly spot, North Cape. The five-star expedition ship sets sail from the medieval city of Bergen and visits a wonderland of tiny harbors, grandiose fjords and rocky islands, not to mention the cities of Trondheim and Tromso, before reaching Spitsbergen in the High Arctic.
Highlights
Hike into the mountains for magnificent views of Norway’s fjordlands
Learn more about the breathtaking polar region
Watch for arctic foxes, walruses, seals, whales, and polar bears
Enjoy the mellow warmth of the Arctic Circle's midnight sun
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
The magnificent gateway to the fjords, Bergen is a medieval port surrounded by mountains. From the beauty of Bryggen, the seafront maze of ancient timber buildings, to the modern Fløibanen Funicular that soars up Fløyen peak for awesome views, no one would want to miss this city. Exploring on foot is dreamlike but there are other attractions – the aquarium, the four-building KODE art museum encompassing Norway’s Edvard Munch as well as Picasso and more while outside town is composer Edvard Grieg’s enchanting house.
Capital of the fjords, the village of Flåm is unmissable. The village sits at the end of Aurlandsfjord, a branch of huge Sognefjord – at 204 km Norway’s longest, a dream voyage in itself – and the 650 m-high Stegastein viewing platform shows the area, a world of waterfalls and towering rock faces, in all its glory. Don’t miss the Flåm Railway, a 20 km ride on one of the world’s steepest, most spectacular rides. Deep in Sognefjord, the ancient village of Vik opens up the fjord’s dramatically different arms – waterfall-fringed Arnafjord and tiny, narrow and steep-sided Finnafjord to the west, and the wild World Heritage landscape of Nærøyfjord, itself 17 km long, to the east. Boats and buses explore everywhere from the shimmering waters to the Vikafjellet mountains, across which are the delights of Flåm. Vik itself sits amid rich farmland – and has a dramatic 26 m-high statue of Viking saga hero Fridtjov the Bold.
A stopping off point for Briksdal Glacier and overland excursions to Geiranger on the beautiful, UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, the Eidsfjorden village of Nordfjordeid is wedged between Jostedalsbreen glacier, the biggest in mainland Europe. Nordfjordeid has a craftsman-built replica of the country’s biggest known Viking ship, Myklebust, while the area around is rich in Viking burial mounds. Nearby, at the end of Innvikfjorden, the Loen Skylift gondola rises 1,011 m for the most staggering views.
Storfjorden is the grand opening section of one of Norway’s mightiest fjords, a sea of islands giving way to near-vertical sides; it splits and the main arm heads south to Geiranger while less-visited Tafjorden heads east. Tafjord is at the very end, an isolated village reached only by road or a tricky mountain road. Just outside town is a steep but enchanting walk up to Muldalsfoss, one of the country’s biggest waterfalls, with a free fall of 200 m.
Tucked away amongst the hills of Trondheim fjord, this is a Viking city founded in the 11th century that is filled with colorful timber buildings. Mighty Kristiansten Fortress is the country’s best preserved fortification, the architectural pot-pourri of Nidaros Cathedral is the burial site of Viking king St Olav while Stiftsgården, the royal residence, is believed to be the largest wooden building in northern Europe. Boat trips head to unhurried beauty spots.
Glomfjord is a village in the municipality of Meløy in Nordland county, Norway. The industrial community is located along Norwegian County Road 17 at the head of the Glomfjorden, just north of the Arctic Circle. The 1.14-square-kilometre village has a population of 1,077 and a population density of 945 inhabitants per square kilometre. Although located north of the Arctic Circle and not far from Norway's second largest glacier Svartisen, the climate is well suited for living due to the Gulf Stream, albeit rather wet. The temperature is seldom below −10 °C (14 °F) during winter time. During summer time the sun does not set. The midnight sun also makes the plants grow faster.
Explore the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago just above the Arctic Circle. Leknes, the islands’ main town, on Vestvågøya, sits on bay-like Buksnesfjorden. The scenery is otherworldly, little red-painted houses against a backdrop of craggy, mountainous isles. In the height of summer the white sand beaches look almost like the South Seas – and this is the Land of the Midnight Sun for almost two months each year. Tours take in the mountainous interior while there are also whale watching excursions. Trollfjorden doesn’t come more startling than this – a 100 m-wide entrance to a narrow fjord with near-vertical mountainous sides up to 1,100 m high. The passage slices through Austvågøya, on the edge of the Lofoten Islands, and there’s no way in, other than by boat or a dizzying hike. Appreciate the silence while you cruise gently onward as white-tailed eagles soar overhead - and marvel as the ship slowly spins around to leave.
Known as the Arctic gateway, Tromso is a remote Norwegian city at 69° north, 250 miles above the Arctic Circle, where you can take in the soft glow of the midnight sun. Learn more about early polar explorations at the Polar Museum. Famed for the Northern Lights on winter nights, you can find out more about this natural spectacle at the Science Centre.
With just 60 permanent human residents, Skarsvåg is as stark, remote and naturally beautiful as Norway gets. Just a little further north is the North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe above the Arctic Circle. From here the only thing standing between you and the North Pole 2,100km away is the Svalbard archipelago. Back in Skarsvāg, the island’s famous bird cliffs are home to thousands of puffins, gannets and cormorants. If you have some energy to burn, the hike to the Cape Knivskjellodden, the northernmost point on Magreøya, is worth the effort for the incredible cliff face views of the North Cape Plateau.
The greatest bird cliff in the Barents Sea is on Bear Island, or Bjørnøya, Svalbard’s southernmost island. Thousands of breeding seabirds - Atlantic puffin, northern gannet, glaucous gull, great skua, black-legged kittiwake, little auk, common guillemot and Brünnich’s guillemot colonies nest on the steep cliffs south of Sørhamna around Kapp Kolthoff. Only Zodiacs can come alongside, where distinctive sea stack rock columns, impressive sea caves and tunnels, such as Perleporten, have been created by the battering seas.
Located deep inside the Arctic Circle, approaching the Svalbard archipelago feels a lot like sailing towards the edge of the world. Known as the kingdom of the polar bears, you’ll be hoping to spot some of its subjects as you explore some of the most varied polar landscapes in the Arctic. Down in the Zodiac boats, get close to the gargantuan glaciers, rapidly retreating from the oceans that they feed. In the north of the archipelago, past the magnificent fjords, the remaining sea ice offers the perfect hunting ground for polar bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, the landscape is punctuated with large areas devoid of snow and ice alongside vast tundra and exposed beaches. Alongside Svalbard’s 3,000 polar bears, this Arctic wildlife hotspot is also home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seal, the arctic fox and many species of marine mammals and seabirds.
Day 16: Longyearbyen | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Longyearbyen is the world’s most northerly town and with it comes the world’s most northerly high street and pub. On Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island, Longyearbyen is home to The North Pole Expeditions Museum which chronicles early efforts to reach the pole by air. The nearby Svalbard Global Seed Vault preserves duplicates of seeds held in gene banks worldwide. The surrounding Arctic waters are populated by whales including bowheads and narwhals, while walruses are regularly seen hauling.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Longyearbyen airport to catch your flight to Oslo, Norway. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Clarion Hotel & Congress Oslo Airport or similar.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$11,519
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Oceanview D4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
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Oceanview M4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
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Balcony D5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Balcony M5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Balcony D6
Located on decks 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
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Junior Suite
SH Diana’s Junior Suites features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area with homely flame-effect fireplace, private kitchen, luxurious en-suite bathroom and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
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Suite
Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
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Premium Suite
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious en-suite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Initial deposit is 20% (30% for Suite bookings), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
16 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners
16 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Room Service
Wifi
Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
Onboard gratuities & port taxes
Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions.
Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
Excluded
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
We recommend every traveler to take out a travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance and a travel health insurance policy with an assumption of the return transport costs of repatriation
Map
When to Go
Jan
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Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
