Fram, 8 Night Svalbard in Spring - The Return of the Sun ex Oslo, Norway Return

Day 1
Arrive in Longyearbyen
From Oslo to the town at the top of the world  After a flight from Oslo, your adventure begins with an overnight stay in the world’s northernmost town, Longyearbyen.  A colourful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles, Longyearbyen is a unique place on the edge of the Arctic wilderness. If you have time, head out to explore this special town, before enjoying a relaxing evening at your leisure.   If you'd like to spend two extra days exploring Longyearbyen and its surroundings before your voyage, see this voyage option. It includes the same sailing itinerary but with additional Arctic land adventures. 

Day 2
Longyearbyen adventures
Explore this colourful frontier town  After breakfast it’s time to experience Longyearbyen. The former coal mining settlement is small enough to explore on foot. Stroll down the main street lined with boutique shops, an art gallery, and restaurants. You might even see a Svalbard reindeer saunter by.    Before boarding your ship in the afternoon and continuing your Arctic discovery, join an included excursion and get a deeper look at this isolated and remote region at the top of the world.  

Day 3-4
Hornsund and Bellsund
Majestic glaciers, birds and pioneer history Your expedition cruise continues south towards Hornsund – one of Svalbard’s most beautiful fjords. Colourful vegetation makes way for towering mountains along this picturesque waterway. The cliffs here are home to large colonies of auks, guillemots and Northern Fulmars along with Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer below. Head out on deck to spot seals and whales, Mount Hornsundtind, and glaciers reaching into the sea, and learn about Wanny Woldstad, the first female trapper to hunt in Svalbard. Then we head to admire the classic beauty of the snowcapped mountains of Bellsund – a historic area where you can see the evidence of former whaling and mining activity on the shoreline. Our activities will be determined by the ever-changing weather conditions of Hornsund and Bellsund. Your Expedition Team will decide on the best possibilities for exploring on the day. 

Day 5-6
Northwest Spitsbergen National Park
Explore pristine snowscapes under the Midnight Sun  Over the next two days, we’ll explore the natural beauty and rugged tundra of this breathtaking national park where steep mountains, glaciers, and beautiful offshore islands form a unique Arctic landscape. We’ll scout for some of the animals of the Arctic – seals, walruses and reindeer. Early in the season, there’s a good chance we may spot polar bears too, so we’ll always be on the lookout for these iconic but elusive predators. And as we progress further into June, we may see whales returning to the region for summer and birdlife such as Little Auks, Arctic Terns, skuas, Eider Ducks and Barnacle Geese. From landings to kayaking, be ready for anything as your Captain and Expedition Leader decide on the best landing sites and activities based on the day’s conditions.  

Day 7
Ice edge attempt 
Experience the opportunity of sailing to the edge of the polar ice cap   If conditions allow, we’ll sail north and cross the 80th parallel to explore the ever-changing ice edge.The transition zone between the ice cap and the sea is a magical yet ephemeral place where the waters are filled with ice floes and drifting pack ice. From the ship, there are great opportunities for spotting wildlife, such as seals and walruses who lounge on the sparkling ice. And if the conditions are right, we’ll lower our expedition boats into the water and enjoy an unforgettable experience amid the floating ice.   The ice edge isn’t a fixed boundary, and it moves depending on the season and conditions, so visiting it will be an attempt rather than a certainty. From May to August, as summer progresses, it retreats further towards the pole, meaning it may be out of reach for us. If so, we’ll explore the no-less-impressive fjords, glaciers and incredible scenery of the Svalbard coast.  

Day 8
Peaceful Ny-Ålesund 
Experience science, serenity and epic scenery Today you’ll discover the serenity of Ny-Ålesund and neighbouring fjords such as Krossfjord and Kongsfjord. Disconnect and enjoy a day without distractions as the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s nearby geodetic station means we must switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. One of the northernmost settlements and a former mining town, Ny-Ålesund was the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions north with the airship ‘Norge’. Now a hub for global science and climate research, you can still see remnants of the town’s history. You’ll be immersed in rugged, glacial scenery as we explore the fjords around Ny-Ålesund. Be ready for adventure; we’ll seize any opportunity to launch our small expedition boats, go ashore to hike or cruise by majestic glaciers.

Day 9
Return to Longyearbyen
A last day on top of the world Your Arctic adventure ends in Longyearbyen, where you’ll catch your flight back to Oslo. You'll return home knowing more about Arctic animals, history, polar ice and climate change than you arrived with – and memories of an incredible experience. If you’re not ready to say goodbye just yet, why not spend some more time in the Arctic and join our optional Post-Programme.

The original Fram was the most famous explorer ship of its time, and the achievements of her expeditions are unparalleled. MS Fram brings on the heritage of the original Fram, using the most advanced technology to make her exceptionally well suited for expedition voyages in Polar Regions.

Fram means ‘forward’ – lifting expectations of the voyage at hand. MS Fram was built in 2007 with one mission in mind – to bring her guests closer to nature, wildlife and unforgettable experiences. The spacious outside decks include access to the very front of the ship – a great place to observe marine wildlife.

After a decade of exploring some of the most spectacular waters on our planet, Hurtigruten’s MS Fram will receive a total makeover – and reemerge as a brand-new expedition ship.

Leading up the 2020 season, MS Fram will be completely upgraded with new suites, new cabins, more environmentally friendly engines and a total makeover of all public areas – including new restaurants and Hurtigruten’s signature, high-tech Science Center.

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