Norwegian Fjords and Polar Bears

Itinerary

Day 1 Edinburgh, Leith

This afternoon, board the expedition ship in Leith the port suburb of Edinburgh.

Day 2 The Orkneys

Few places in the world have the impact of the Stone Age sites of Orkney. Visit historic and mystical sites such as the standing stones of Stennes, the intriguing Ring of Brodgar, village of Skara Brae and of course, the 5, 000 year old tomb of Maes Howe.

Day 3 Shetland Islands

Continue northwards to the remote Shetland Islands. The Shetlands are a engaging mix of Scotland and Scandinavia, with spectacular coastlines, varied and abundant bird life and a number of archaeological sites that date back thousands of years.

Day 4 Bergen, Norway

Beautiful Bergen is set on a fjord and known as the city of seven hills. Explore the city by coach and by foot, spending time around the Bryggens Wharf - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in a fascinating museum or exploring the ancient architecture of the city's old quarter.

Day 5 Runde & Alesund

Runde offers us some fantastic zodiac explorations, where seabirds are plentiful. In Alesund visit a local aquarium to take a deeper look into the marine life of the area.

Day 6 Trondheim

The medieval history of Trondheim is most evident with a visit to the ominous Niadros Cathedral, erected in the 11th Century and is the largest medieval building in Scandinavia.

Day 7 - 8 Norwegian Fjords and Lofoten Islands

The rugged coastline of Central Norway features some of the world’s most famous fjords. The mountain scenery and steep fjords offer breathtaking scenery and our captain will negotiate with local Norwegians pilots to determine our best shore landing options. We will go ashore in the Lofoten islands and get a taste of the ancient Viking history of the area

Day 9 Andoya Island

Today is whale watching day! The cold, deep waters around Andoya Island make this area a well known whale-watching area. Sperm whales are the most abundant but there is the possibility to see minke, pilot or humpback whales.

Day 10 Tromso

Tromso, the capital of northern Norway, is known as the "Gateway to the Arctic" since so many arctic expeditions originated here. Explore this northern haven and be sure to visit the Arctic Cathedral, whose unique architecture is evocative of snow and icebergs.

Day 11 Bear Island

Zodiac cruises take us around mist-shrouded Bear Island, populated by thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemost and gulls; this is a birdwatcher's paradise and the views are spectacular.

Days 12 - 14 Svalbard

Svalbard is an archipelago of deep fjords, mountains and massive ice sheets. Keep your eyes open for walrus, seals, reindeer, arctic foxes and, of course polar bears.