Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard

Take an overnight flight to the Hanseatic town of Bergen, gateway to the Norwegian fjords. Before embarkation, enjoy a stroll along the old Bryggen Wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage site; its colorful wooden merchant warehouses seem little changed from when the Hansa ran their trading empire from here during the Middle Ages. This afternoon, embark our ship, the National Geographic Endurance or National Geographic Resolution, your floating base camp for the expedition.

Meals Included: Dinner

Arrive at the spectacular glacial mountain landscape of Nordfjord, a haven for adventurers. Travel up the Loen Valley by coach amidst picture-book beauty, surrounded by a turquoise lake and craggy peaks. Consider walking one of several relatively gentle trails through valleys shaped by massive glaciers; more strenuous hikes are also available. Walk with a naturalist along a tongue of the vast Kjenndal Glacier. By afternoon, view these scenic peaks from the deck as we sail back out of the fjord.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend three days exploring the central Norway coast, revered by travelers worldwide for its mountainous islands and steep-walled fjords. Your Expedition Leader and Captain will consult with local Norwegian pilots on landing spots offering optimal adventure options. Zodiac under vertical rock faces, paddle serenely in a deep fjord surrounded by cascading waterfalls, or venture ashore for hikes with our naturalist staff. One example of the special places we’ve discovered over our years traveling this region is Melfjord, a narrow channel walled by steep granite cliffs polished smooth by glaciers. It's surely one of our journey’s most photogenic spots.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Lofoten archipelago boasts an enchanting landscape of picturesque villages ringed by jagged, granite peaks. Head ashore at Værøy, where fishing remains a backbone of the economy, and look for Atlantic puffins, razorbills, and guillemots as your Zodiac driver investigates the coastline. A bit later, admire one of Norway’s most dramatic fjords from the deck as we glide through Trollfjorden.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our nimble ship enters Tysfjorden, where mile after mile of near-vertical walls ascend above us and a scant few villages manage to cling to the rocky shores. Enjoy a Zodiac cruise or kayak within this magical place alive with birch forests and tumbling waterfalls. Explore a hiking trail through Hellemobotn Valley that reaches almost to the Swedish border.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend today in a city spread over 627 islands. At the Polar Museum, gain adventurous perspectives on the milestone Arctic expeditions that have originated here in Tromsø. And learn about immensely colorful characters like Henri Rudi (the Polar Bear King) and Wanny Wolstad (first female trapper to overwinter in Svalbard). At the Arctic Cathedral, a daring modern architectural landmark evoking the shape of Arctic nature, gaze up at Europe’s largest stained-glass window.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Zodiac cruise around mist-shrouded Bear Island, a remote birdwatcher's paradise housing one lonely meteorological station—and countless thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, and gulls. It’s the southernmost member of the Svalbard archipelago and sets the stage for the spectacularly wild environment yet to come on our expedition itinerary.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We operate in true expedition style, letting nature dictate our day-to-day movements within an immense Arctic wonderland. Our fully stabilized, ice-class expedition ship probes deep into the ice where the polar bears forage. Join our spotters on the bridge as we scan the floes and islands for these iconic creatures, along with huge walrus, bearded and ringed seals, Arctic fox, reindeer, and immense whales. There’s no greater thrill than a sighting that brings everyone rushing to the bow or Bridge for a close-up view. We often sail deep into Hornsund, where even a novice kayaker can comfortably paddle in a cove surrounded by sparkling bergs and dramatic mountains. A venture to Monacobreen glacier delivers a classic High Arctic sensory experience: the booming sound of ice calving off the glacier cliff, heard even miles away. And video from our high-tech remotely operated vehicle (ROV) allows you to peer into the mysterious world that exists 1,000 feet below us.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark in Longyearbyen. Visit the Svalbard Museum to learn about the history of Svalbard and the Arctic, from 17th-century whaling to modern scientific research. Explore the Svalbard Art Gallery, home to a permanent collection of historic items as well as contemporary exhibitions of local artists. Then, board our charter flight to Oslo and check in to the Radisson Blu Airport Hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to the airport for flights home.

Meals Included: Breakfast