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Climate Voyage

9 Days / 7 locations in Iceland, Norway, and Svalbard, Norway

CLIMATE VOYAGE

This expedition takes us from Iceland towards Svalbard. Crossing the Barents Sea, we may encounter a variety of large-bodied marine mammals. On our way we will make a stop at one of the most isolated islands in the world, Jan Mayen, where we hope to make a landing.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Reykjavik
On Board the M/S Fram

Reykjavik and Iceland is the starting point of the Climate Voyage. It was here the first references to Svalbard, the archipelago of which Spitsbergen is the largest island, were found. In the Icelandic Annals from 1194 the sentence ‘Svalbard fundinn’ is written. They gather the Vikings sailed four days and three nights northbound and hit something with a “cold edge” (meaning of Svalbard). Our route for this particular voyage is the Hurtigruten inaugural repetition of what the Vikings pioneered more than 800 years ago.

MS Fram will depart at 1800, setting sail for one of the most exotic islands on the Northern Hemisphere: Jan Mayen.

 
Day 2     Isafjordur
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The capital of the Westfjords (Vestfirðir) region of Iceland and with a population of about 4,100 Ísafjörður is the largest town in the Westfjords. The town has a long history and for centuries it was a major centre of commerce and trading, all based on fish. Take a stroll around this cozy town and enjoy its diverse architecture. You'll find the country's oldest dwelling here, along with other fine examples of timber houses built by wealthy foreign traders in the 18th century. Isafjordur offers a wide range of optional excursions of various levels of difficulty.

 
Day 3     At Sea
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

At Sea, lectures and observation of seabirds and sea mammals

Our northbound heading takes us across open Ocean this day. Our team of experts will invite you to the lecture halls where climate related themes will prevail. MS Fram is now heading in the same direction as what is referred to as the Global Conveyor belt – transporting warmer waters North Pole wards. This phenomenon is immensely important for the global climate and how temperatures are distributed on the globe.

We will also prepare for the big next day in Jan Mayen.

 
Day 4     Jan Mayen
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Norwegian territory and one of the most isolated islands in the world. The closest other land mass is Iceland some 600 kilometers away and Norway, almost 1000 kilometers to the east.

The volcano Beerenberg is the northernmost active volcano on earth and had its last eruption in 1985. It is also one of the highest mountains in Norway with its perfectly coned shape and a summit at 2277 meters above sea level. In the 16th century Dutch whalers operated out of Jan Mayen and today a Norwegian weather station holds a few souls all year round having mail dropped from a plane occasionally.

Tourists visiting Jan Mayen are extremely rare, specially being able to land on the shores. MS Fram and the expedition team will do their best to make it possible to set foot on this exotic outpost. This will be an experience of a lifetime

 
Day 5     At Sea
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

At Sea, lectures and observation of seabirds and sea mammals

This is a day to let the experiences from yesterday dwell and to prepare for Spitsbergen, the next highlight of the voyage - Spitsbergen. We will – in the lecture halls learn more about why Spitsbergen is such a symbol for climate change and what makes for the place being considered a global thermometer.

 
Day 6     Ny Alesund
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Situated at 78º 55' N, Ny-Ålesund is one of the world’s northernmost year-round communities. Coal mining was the origin for settlement here, but mining was put to an end after a serious accident in 1962, leaving behind numerous cultural remains of technical and industrial importance. Ny-Ålesund has also been the starting point of several historical attempts to reach the North Pole. Names like Amundsen, Ellsworth and Nobile are strongly linked to Ny-Ålesund.

Today, Ny Ålesund is an extremely important campus for scientists from leading institutes such as Alfred Wegener Institute and Norwegian Polar Institute. In 2005, a state of the art marine laboratory was opened to facilitate for the fieldwork of marine biologists and oceanographers – this is the most sophisticated marine laboratory in the world at this latitude.

There is also a small visitor’s centre in Ny Ålesund with a good muliti-media show, in addition to the northernmost post office in the world.

 
Days 7 - 8     Spitsbergen
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Dependent on ice conditions we will make a try to cross the 80th parallel. In the beginning of last century, up until less than a couple of decades ago, a plan to get this far north would have been unconceivable at this time of the year. However, times have changed and ice conditions as well. Today we will find ourselves in an area close to the marginal ice-zone, an area known for relatively large yearly variations. This is the edge of the frozen Arctic Ocean, the place the original Fram that Fritjof Nansen had purposely built with an egg-shaped hull to prevent being torn apart by the enormous power of shifting ice. Our Fram, the modern expedition vessel used for the Climate Voyage runs no larger risk taking us into this fairyland of ice flows and leads. And we will, with our own eyes observe the habitat where cornerstone biological production takes place in this region of the world. Only up until a few years ago, science were under-estimating the importance of algae growth underneath first year sea ice, propelled into production by rays of the 24hrs sunlight shining through the snow and ice.

If we are lucky we will spot some of the larger species using these waters as hunting grounds. Keep your eyes open for walrus, whales and polar bears.

 
Day 9     Spitsbergen - Longyearbyen
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

This morning we will wake up sailing into Isfjorden. This area of Svalbard is a fraction more hospitable than the savage Arctic Ocean and we will again observe giant bird cliffs. Isfjorden is the largest fjord system in Spitsbergen almost slicing the island in half.

In the morning we sail past the prominent; Alkhornet – one of the most prominent bird cliffs in Spitsbergen, home for species like the Brunnich Guillemot and the Kittiwake. Seabirds being an important linkage between the marine and the terrestrial food web we will experience the lush areas below the cliff – fertilized by bird droppings.

In the afternoon our expedition will search for a fitting bay where we can make our last expedition landing out of many on this epic voyage and we will wrap up everything with festivities and Polar Barbeque on deck of MV Fram. Late night we will set sail towards Longyearbyen, the main Norwegian settlement in Svalbard – leaving one of the last large European wildernesses behind, probably with a wealth of new climate knowledge and, maybe most important a love for the pristine Arctic nature and her population of vulnerable wildlife of the region.

 

Notes

Important Information

Planned landings will depend on weather and ice conditions.

We reserve the right to change the scheduled program and itinerary.

The rental of rubber boots is available on board.

We recommend purchasing travel and cancellation insurance

Price Includes
Free Tea and Coffee
Professional English Speaking Expedition Team
Landings With Polarcirkle Boats and Activities Onboard and Ashore
Wind and Water-Resistant Jackets
Expedition Voyage in Cabin Grade of Your Choice on a Full Board Basis
Price Does Not Include
 Transatlantic Air
 Optional Excursions
 Travel Insurance
HUR-1269
1.28.15.WP26