16 Day Svalbard & Norway Land Of The Polar Bears
✓ Return international airfares with a full service airline
✓ Return Oslo - Longyearbyen airfares
✓ Longyearbyen airport and port transfers
✓ 10 nights 3-4 star accommodation
✓ 3 night Hurtigruten Svalbard expedition cruise
✓ On-board lecturers & shore excursions by zodiacs
✓ Guided Norway fjords tour from Bergen to Oslo
✓ Daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 6 dinners
✓ Flexibility to extend your stay
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Get ready to see the best Scandinavia has to offer! Board your international flight for Oslo, Norway.
Welcome to Norway! On arrival in Oslo please make your own way to your hotel. There is a shuttle bus available to take you to the hotel (at own expense). We have chosen a hotel in close proximity to the airport to allow you to rest after you international flight before your flight to the Arctic realm of the Polar Bear tomorrow.
Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Gardermoen
This morning, make your way back to the airport for your flight to Svalbard. Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, it's known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
This Norwegian settlement is a unique little town. While the arctic environment is dominant, it is also a surprisingly cosmopolitan place, with art galleries, pubs, long wine lists at restaurants, stores and a mini-mall. Longyearbyen is often called an antidote to the stress of modern day life and is a prime destination for adventure travelers.
Hotel: 3★ Coal Miners Cabins
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, you are invited to a guided sightseeing tour in Longyearbyen that includes visits to the Svalbard Museum and Camp Barentz. This fantastic museum is really worth a visit, as it will provide you with a great deal of background information on all that you will come experience on your expedition. Then it's time to embark on the adventure and MS Nordstjernen. We sail south in Isfjorden until we reach the Russian settlement Barentsburg. This “company coal mining town” has been Russian since 1932, and is still home to about 500 people.
Ship: MS Nordstjernen
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Locally known as the North West Corner, this area, rich with islands, fjords and beaches, has a long history of exploration. In Magdalenefjord, you’ll discover cultural heritage: a whaling station from the 16th century, including a graveyard of whalers who died during the first “oil gold rush”. We arrive in the morning, and will make our first landing to come ashore and explore this wonderful Arctic wilderness. In this beautiful fjord, we might see polar bears, minke whales and bearded seals.
Ship: MS Nordstjernen
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Kongsfjord is the largest fjord in the Northwest coast of Spitsbergen. It is also known as King’s Bay. We will spend most of the day cruising into a large side fjord called Krossfjord. The landscape varies from large tundra plains to alpine peaks with dramatic glaciers tumbling into the ocean. The inner part of Krossfjord, Lilliehöökfjorden, is strikingly beautiful. Be sure to sight for the peak of Mitra – named for a ‘Mitre’ or a catholic bishop’s hat – located on the northern shore of the entrance to Kongsfjorden.
At the end of the fjord you will see the majestic Kongsbreen (King’s Glacier) with the three characteristic nunataks: Nora, Dana and Svea – named after the three Scandinavian countries. Later we dock at Ny-Ålesund. Situated at 78º 55’ N, this is one of the world’s northernmost year-round communities. Previously a coal mining centre, it is now an advanced High Arctic research station. A number of countries run their own national research stations here, and the activity is particularly high in the summer.
Ship: MS Nordstjernen
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Located in central Spitsbergen, Isfjorden is the most prominent fjord system on Svalbard. We will spend the morning sailing towards Longyearbyen. One of the most noticeable mountains in this area is Alkhornet, where thousands of brünnich’s guillemots nest during the summer season. As we sail into the outer parts of the fjord, the landscape changes. Marvel at the large U-shaped valleys, carved out of the mountains by the giant glaciers that covered the area some ten thousand years ago. After disembarkation in Longyearbyen you have the rest of the day at your disposal. Then there will be a farewell dinner in the hotel in the evening.
Hotel: Coal Miners Cabins
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Your Spitsbergen adventure is over. After disembarking the ship you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Oslo. When arriving in Oslo, please make your own way to your hotel. The airport train to the city centre is our recommend method (own expense), your hotel is then walking distance from the station or a short taxi (approx 1km). After checking in the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Munch
Meals: Breakfast
This morning make your way back to the central station to board your train to the gateway to the Norwegian fjords, Bergen. The Bergen Railway is a world famous rail journey through picturesque mountain scenery. The scenic journey takes you across one of Europe’s mightiest mountain planes. On arrival in Bergen make your way to the hotel. Your hotel is then walking distance from the station or a short taxi ride (approx 1km). After checking in the remainder of the day is at leisure. This evening, enjoy a briefing by your tour guide and meet your follow travellers for the next 7 days through the Norwegian fjords.
Hotel: 4★ Scandic Neptun
Meals: Breakfast
This morning your guide will take you on the city tour of Bergen including the popular fish market and the historical port district. Known as Bryggen, the port features colorful wooden houses on the old wharf which was once the centre of the Hanseatic League's trading empire. We then board our coach and drive to Hardangerfjord. The Hardangerfjord is the fourth longest fjord in the world, and the second longest fjord in Norway.
Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Sandven
Meals: Breakfast
Today we continue our spectacular drive through the various fjords passing through Voss enroute to Stalheimen situated at the very top of the Naeroydalen Canyon with views of the whole valley. We then drive to innermost bank of the Aurlandsfjord, surrounded by steep mountains, thundering waterfalls and narrow valleys, where we find the small village of Flåm before embarking on a fjord cruise to Gudvangen before reboarding our coach to Vangsnes crossing the Sognefjord, the longest and deepest Fjord in Norway. This afternoon we arrive into Balestrand. Tonight we enjoy dinner at our hotel.
Hotel: 4★ Kviknes Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
This morning we board a ferry accross the Fjaerlandfjord reaching the Breheimsenteret Glacier Centre located next to the Jostedal Glacier. Almost half of the Jostedalsbreen National Park is covered by the Jostedalsbreen glacier, which is the largest glacier in mainland Europe. Unlike many other Glaciers, here you can get right up close where you can hear the ice melt while exploring the beautiful landscape. We enjoy lunch before returning to Balestrand.
Hotel: 4★ Kviknes Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
This morning enjoy a journey across the Sognefjord again, this time to Flam to board the Flam Railway. The Flåm Railway has been named one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway. The train runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, up to the high mountains at Myrdal Station. The journey displays the very best aspects of Western Norway's stunning scenery. After arriving in Myrdal, board a train back to Oslo where your guide will lead you to your hotel.
Hotel: 3★ Scandic St. Olavs plass
Meals: Breakfast
Today we set out on a city tour of Norway’s capital. Our tour includes the Vigeland Park with over 200 sculptures and a visit to the menkollen ski jump for incredible views over the city. This afternoon, enjoy free time at leisure to explore Oslo at your own pace.
Hotel: 3★ Scandic St. Olavs plass
Meals: Breakfast
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, but we hope you have enjoyed your adventure to Scandinavia. At the appropriate time, make your own way to the airport to board your homeward flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Arrive home in Australia today.
Secure your package with a deposit of $3499 per person. You will then be invoiced for final payment 90 days prior to departure.
For detailed information on your ship, click HERE.
The ship was built for the Coastal Voyage fleet in 1956 and extensively modernised in 2000 for exclusive Arctic sailing. Despite modernisation, she still retains the aura of an old Atlantic ship, restored to her former splendour with new brass, classic wooden interiors and all her original art.
Bedding on board the cruise is restricted to the following configurations:
If you wish to upgrade your ship cabin the following amounts are payable in addition to the package price:
Your selection is made prior to payment.
Some customers like to enhance their holiday by extending their stay post tour. If you wish to do so, please follow the following steps:
We strongly encourage all travellers to purchase travel insurance to protect yourself against the unexpected.
We have partnered with QBE Insurance to offer our customers competitive rates for their Travel Insurance. You can book comprehensive or budget cover, earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points and save 25% on retail rates.
Simply click HERE to arrange your policy.
final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Single supplement is $3,499 per person in addition to the twin share price.
A $1,500 per person reduction from the twin share price applies if you wish to arrange your own airfares. Should you wish to purchase land only, please select this option in the booking process, under 'Departure City'.
Not available
Not available
Available for an additional $6,500 per person in addition to the standard price (subject to availability).
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.
2-20 people.
Children must be 5 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are the same price as adults.
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences however any changes are beyond our control.
Refundable deposit within 28 days of purchase:
For cancellations made within 28 days of paying the deposit on any tour, your deposit can be refunded in full or can be transferred to a new booking should you decide to change to another package or destination. Please note this change of mind guarantee does not apply for bookings made within 90 days of departure, after which time our standard 48 hour cooling off period applies. After this time, your booking becomes non-refundable.
All cancellation or change requests must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Refund times will vary and the timeframe of which will be advised at the time of cancellation. Any refund of deposit will be issued back to the original form of payment.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Transferrable second installment up until 90 days before scheduled departure:
Following the second installment payment and up until 90 days before your departure only, should you wish to postpone your travel or transfer to another package, we can provide you with a credit note of the current balance paid on your booking, to be used to rebook within 18 months of the credit being issued.
Any change request must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions for more details
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