Itinerary
DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN HELSINKI, FINLAND Your Arctic adventure begins in Helsinki, renowned for its extraordinary architecture and intriguing mix of eastern and western influences. If you arrive early, explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District before retiring at your included hotel. DAY 2 | FLY TO LONGYEARBYEN, SVALBARD & EMBARK This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement. As your ship sets sail, enjoy your first view of the island’s rugged, glacier-topped mountains rising majestically from frigid waters.
DAYS 3 – 9 | EXPLORING SPITSBERGEN FOR DAYS 3–11 OF THE 12–DAY DEPARTURE, SEE PAGE 11 FOR DATES, AND PAGE 16 FOR ADDITIONAL ITINERARY DETAILS. You’ll cruise around this magical island on a constant search for wildlife. Your expedition will cover western Spitsbergen as well as stunning fjords to the north. From polar flora to immense glaciers, the natural landscape here is just as varied as the wildlife. Each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice conditions. Consequently, there is no fixed itinerary. However, some of the places we may visit include the 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Alkefjellet and the Hinlopen Strait. The destinations we visit will be selected for optimum wildlife
Kvitøya
Arctic Ocean
Nordaustlandet
Smeerenburg
Monaco Glacier
Hinlopen Strait
SPITSBERGEN
Barentsøya
Longyearbyen
Edgeøya
SVALBARD
Bellsund
Calypsobyen
TO/FROM HELSINKI
Hornsund
Pack Ice
SVALBARD EXPLORER: Best of High Arctic Norway
Onboard Ocean Explorer & Ultramarine Flights to/from Helsinki
Ice Definitions
FAST ICE Large solid ice sheets that don’t move by wind or currents as they’re fastened to the shoreline.
DRIFT ICE Detached floating ice masses that drift with the wind and ocean currents.
PACK ICE Pack ice is an expanse of large/medium pieces of floating ice driven together into a nearly continuous mass.
FLOW EDGE Where the water meets ice that’s still fastened to the shoreline, where sea ice meets open water.
ICE FLOE A large flat, free mass of floating sea ice.
BRASH ICE Accumulation of floating ice made up of fragments less than 2 meters wide. Wreckage of icebergs, pieces of ice from glacial calving.
Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details
2
Powered by FlippingBook