Spitsbergen Climate Pilgrimage

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11 days / 10 nights, Tromso - Honningsvag - North Cape - Gjesvaerstappan - Bjornoya - Hornsund - Bellsund - Ny Alesund - 80^th Parallel - Isfjorden - Longyearbyen |
Join Hurtigurten on a groundbreaking climatology expedition above the Arctic Circle to northern Norway and Spitsbergen. An illuminating and life-changing encounter with our robust-but at-risk-environment.

On this activity-rich foray aboard the state-of-the-art, luxurious and polar-ready M/S Fram, travel to Norway's Arctic north, a pristine, remote environment--and prime bellwether for measuring global climate change. Visit research stations, track wildlife, participate in field studies and observe local culture. Journey farther north than you'd ever dreamed.

Svalbard has become a climate icon where state leaders and dignitaries such as the Crown Prince of Norway, the UN Secretary General and other executives go to study climate change.

In places such as Longyearbyen and especially in Ny Alesund, the northernmost research community in the world some of the brightest climate scientists spend parts of the year doing fieldwork - collecting pieces of information that will contribute to a broader understanding of what is happening with the global climate.

Ironically enough, while the Climate Pilgrimage is taking place the world will learn the results of the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the most important since the Kyoto Conference in 1997. The goal of this conference is to get an international agreement that to fit the climate challenges ahead.

Together with partners from some of the most prominent scientific communities, participants will be empowered on this voyage with up-to-date climate information and understanding how to observe basic indicators of climate change in a High Arctic environment.

Prices are per person, double occupancy, in USD and subject to change without notice. Single supplement 75%. Rates valid for North, Central and South American residents only. Rates are per person, double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to withdrawl without notice. Cruise fuel surcharge is additional and will be advised at time of booking. Restrictions apply.

General information & Travel Tips
Norwegian Polar Institute: Polar Bears in Svalbard in pdf
Specials for Greenland Expedition Cruises

Day 1 TROMSO (D) Upon arrival in Tromso we will invite all guests to the Polar Environmental Centre, where the Centre for Ice, Climate & Ecosystems (ICE) and Norwegian Polar Institute are situated. Hurtigruten representatives and our scientific partners will arrange a welcome meeting with a light snack. After this meeting you will be transferred to beautiful M/S Fram to check in and enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 2 TROMSO - SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM & DEPARTURE (B, L, D) After breakfast onboard, either stroll the harbor or embark the transfer to the Polar Environmental Centre to receive introductions from the Expedition Staff and Climate Scientists about the task at hand and the current status of research taking place in Svalbard and Norway. Explore The Polaria Visitor Centre and the historic Polstjerna, a vessel used in the early days of scientific exploration and seal hunting in the Arctic Ocean. Lunch will be included. Transfer back to the Fram at 2:30 and depart Tromso at 4pm and head north along the Lyngen Alps.

Day 3 HONNINGSVAG - NORTH CAPE & GJESVAERSTAPPAN (B, L, D) Honningsvag is one of the northernmost cities in the world, only Qaanaaq and Upernavik in Greenland and Barrow in Alaska are further north. This is also the starting point for our excursion taking us to the North Cape Platau - the famous cliff first ascended by Fransesco Negri in 1864. After our excursion to the North Cape, we return to the Fram for lunch re-position to Gjesvaerstappan, one of the most important bird cliffs off Norway's mainland. Here the Norwegian Polar Institute has performed research on sea birds and their role as climate indicators. We will get a thorough introduction to this while observing this teeming colony of puffins, gannets, fulmars, auks, kittiwakes and guillemots.

The excursion to the North Cape Plateau is included in the program (no extra cost).

Day 4 BJORNOYA (BEAR ISLAND)(B, L, D) This isolated island is the southernmost island in the Svalbard Archipelago and has been named to have the largest concentration of sea birds in the Northern Hemisphere. Around the southern tip the overhanging cliffs with stacks off shore represents an extremely important breeding habitat for seabirds. This is the northern limit for some auk species. One of the reasons for this being such a hot spot is the cold waters from the Arctic Ocean meeting warm, Gulf Stream currents - part of the global marine conveyor belt system. This convergence of waters of various salinity and temperatures provide an optimal feeding ground for sea birds. Our goal here is to observe and understand the habitat, how it's affected by climate change and other environmental threats and to enjoy the spectacular wildlife shortly after the breeding season has started. If conditions allow, we will do a tender cruise. No landings are permitted in the area.

Day 5 HORNSUND (B, L, D) Hornsund is the southernmost fjord in Spitsbergen and has a long research history. The Polish Academy of Sciences have a field station situated here. During our visit we can still expect fast ice to be found in the bottom of the fjord and we should keep a sharp eye open in case the King of the Arctic, the polar bear is hunting, taking advantage of the ice platform they are so dependent upon. We will spend the whole day in this relatively compact fjord system, exploring giant bird cliffs and enormous glacier fronts. Interesting climate research projects such as investigating which crustaceans the little auks consume and how far off shore they have to travel to find their feeding grounds.

Day 6 BELLSUND (B, L, D) Bellsund is the next fjord north of Hornsund. Van Mijenfjord and Van Keulenfjord are subsidiary arms of Bellsund. In Van Keulenfjord we will observe the Finsterwald Glacier which has been closely measured by scientists since the 1950s. We will learn more about the phenomenon called surging glaciers and spend time ashore, right on top of the interesting geological stratas from the upper Permian period.

Day 7 NY ALESUND (B, L, D) Situated at 78º 55' N, Ny-Alesund is one of the world's northermost 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-Alesund 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-Alesund.

Today, Ny Alesund 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 fieldwork for marine biologists and oceanographers. This is the most sophisticated marine laboratory in the world at this latitude.

There is also a small visitor's center in Ny Alesund with an interesting multi-media show as well as the northernmost post office in the world.

In Kongsfjorden, (in which Ny Alesund is situated), we will explore a large glacier front and its subsidiary arms. If we're lucky, the Mellageret pub will be open and serving Arctic Beer, especially for those who hiked in the area and need a local refreshment.

After our visit to Ny Alesund and Kongsfjorden we'll head north towards the ice edge of the Arctic Ocean, just around the Northwest corner of Spitsbergen.

Day 8 FARTHEST NORTH (B, L, D) Depending on ice conditions we will try to cross the 80^th 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 and ice conditions have changed. 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, runs no risk taking us into this land of ice flows and leads. We'll observe the habitat where cornerstone biological production takes place in this region of the world. Only up until a few years ago, scientists were under-estimating the importance of algae growth underneath first year sea ice, propelled into production by rays of the 24 hours of 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 ISFJORDEN (B, L, D) Isfjorden is the largest fjord system in Spitsbergen, almost slicing the island in half. Here we will again observe giant bird cliffs. We will wrap up our epic voyage with festivities and a Polar Barbeque out on deck of the Fram. Late night we will set sail towards Longyearbyen, the main Norwegian settlement in Svalbard - leaving one of the last European wildernesses behind, with a wealth of new climate knowledge and, maybe most importantly, a love for the pristine Arctic nature and her population of vulnerable wildlife of the region.

Day 10 LONGYEARBYEN (B, L, D) Some of be transferred to the airport in Longyearbyen immediately upon arrival (2am) while others may rest until breakfast. After breakfast we will transfer into the center of Longyearbyen where we will visit the University Centre of Svalbard and Svalbard Museum. Here we will get information about science taking place out of Longyearbyen and we will learn more about the CO-2 storage project that may make Longyearbyen the first CO-2 neutral High Arctic town in the world. Enjoy time on your own to wander around this fascinating town, still bearing the signs of outpost but also modern, with a hospital, school and sport facilities.

Day 11 LONGYEARBYEN - DEPARTURE (B) Early morning flight to Oslo and then the US.