Realm of the Polar Bear in Depth
11 days
From
$ 5999
Duration11 days
Similar to our "Realm of the Polar Bear" tour, but with three additional days of exploring. Scour the ice and tundra in search of the elusive polar bear and encounter even more icebergs, glaciers, and unique wildlife than you ever thought possible on this 11-day expedition. Search for lounging seals, grazing reindeer, and colonies of birds under the midnight sun.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 11 days
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Physical Grading: Light
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Ages: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Longyearbyen
Please make sure you drop your checked luggage off at the meeting point between 9am - 12pm. A local representative will be in the luggage storage room. They can provide general information about the town or the embarkation process.
All passengers will be transferred to the ship as a group for embarkation at 4pm. Please ensure that for embarkation you have your passport accessible (not in your luggage which is being transferred separately to the ship).
All passengers will be transferred to the ship as a group for embarkation at 4pm. Please ensure that for embarkation you have your passport accessible (not in your luggage which is being transferred separately to the ship).
Get a first glimpse of the midnight sun in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen's capital. Transfer from the city to the G Expedition for a late afternoon embarkation.
Meals: D
Day 2-10: Spitsbergen
Our goal is to give travellers the best possible opportunity to see wildlife in and around the Svalbard archipelago. Ice conditions sometimes allow for sailing through the Hinlopenstretet towards the east coast of Spitsbergen, then through Freemansundet towards the south. However, this is not always possible.
Some departures will explore alternative routes to maximize time in this remote destination. Early season voyages often provide the greatest opportunity to see large ice floes in the Arctic pack ice, which usually means excellent wildlife viewing. Later in the season, the group will cover more territory, which may allow the chance to explore the entire archipelago. This can lead into the less explored regions of Nordaustlandet and Kvitøya, or the continental edges where large whales are attracted by nutrient rich upwellings.
Some departures will explore alternative routes to maximize time in this remote destination. Early season voyages often provide the greatest opportunity to see large ice floes in the Arctic pack ice, which usually means excellent wildlife viewing. Later in the season, the group will cover more territory, which may allow the chance to explore the entire archipelago. This can lead into the less explored regions of Nordaustlandet and Kvitøya, or the continental edges where large whales are attracted by nutrient rich upwellings.
Each day is planned to take advantage of local ice and weather conditions. Svalbard is one of the few places on the planet to offer such a plethora of natural and historical extravaganzas. Spend the next nine days exploring the remote polar regions. Visit ice-sculpted fjords with breathtaking mountain scenery, and glaciers crashing into the sea. Spend time exploring pack ice edges in search of polar bears hunting seals. At one or more of the stops, it's possible to encounter Svalbard's Arctic fox and the region's unique reindeer.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 11: Longyearbyen
On departure day, transfers to the Longyearbyen airport will be offered to all passengers with flights scheduled.
General disembarkation from the vessel is at approximately 8:00am. You will be transferred to either the airport or the Radisson Blu Polar hotel, depending on the time of your flight. Those transferred to the hotel will have an opportunity to explore the town centre on their own, and then be transferred to the airport later in the day as per flight schedules. Transfer times will be confirmed and communicated onboard prior to departure. Luggage storage at the Raddison Blu Polar hotel will be available until time of departure.
Due to restrictive airline schedules for flights departing from Longyearbyen, we are pleased to offer an early morning disembarkation and transfer to the airport for those passengers with flights departing Longyearbyen around 2:30am (dependent on airline schedules).
Due to restrictive airline schedules for flights departing from Longyearbyen, we are pleased to offer an early morning disembarkation and transfer to the airport for those passengers with flights departing Longyearbyen around 2:30am (dependent on airline schedules).
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- 10 nts aboard the G Expedition
- Arrival transfer
- Zodiac excursions with our expert expedition team
- Lectures and educational programs
- Insulated, waterproof boots supplied for USA sizes 4 - 16
- Expedition parka
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Transport
G Expedition, Zodiac, Local bus, Walking -
Accommodation
Aboard the G Expedition in quad-, Triple-, Twin-share cabins, Or suites (all with en suite bathrooms and porthole or window, 10 nts) Please note that all cabins consist of twin-size berths and are ocean-facing Suites have one queen-size bed