Hurtigruten’s New Line-up of Summer Expedition Land Excursions

Allow Guests To Experience the Arctic From a New Perspective
Polar Bear Watches and Glacier Hikes Put Explorers in Touch With Nature

Travelers looking to explore the arctic landscape in novel and exciting ways are in luck with Hurtigruten’s new summer land excursions. Guests of the Hurtigruten expedition ship MS Fram in Greenland, Iceland and Spitsbergen can disembark the ship and experience land excursions that put them in touch with hard to reach environments, including camping trips in the wilderness with a polar bear watch; kayak tours among massive icebergs; glacier hikes on the eternal ice; and fishing excursions in the polar sea. Excursions run from $40 to $410 per person and can be booked through travel agents or with Hurtigruten at 877-301-3117.

Travelers to Spitsbergen, the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, can experience a night in the wilderness with an exciting twist—a 24-hour polar bear watch. Participants in the “A Nansen Night – Camping in the Arctic” excursion ($410) spend the night on land, camping in tents and sleeping bags specially equipped for the Arctic. Spitsbergen is known for it’s polar bear population, and thus, each participant takes a one-hour shift watching for polar bears with the expedition team throughout the evening. After this exciting night in the wilderness, adventurers return to the MS Fram where a hearty breakfast awaits.

Another special treat awaits adventurers in Spitsbergen—a glacier hike ($75). Participants are equipped with climbing spurs and secured in teams with a rope, so no prior experience in ice climbing is required. The day hike is not only exhilarating, it also offers epic views along the way of the imposing icy landscape of Spitsbergen.

Anglers will enjoy fishing like the locals with the exiting “Fishing and Cooking with the Crew” excursions ($160) in Spitsbergen and Greenland. Together with the crew of the MS Fram, participants embark on a small boat to the best fishing areas of the region in order to test their fishing skills. After a day of reeling in the local catch, participants are invited to join the head chef of the Fram in the kitchen to help prepare the fish, which is served for dinner that evening.

Adventurers looking for tranquility and a chance to get up-close-and-personal with the icy terrain will want to try the kayak tours available in Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland ($160). Alongside experienced guides, participants paddle together in a small group through the polar sea, past ice floes and icebergs. These kayak excursions are an ideal way to experience the arctic landscape front and center – a completely different perspective.

Travelers who feel the genuine explorer spirit and want an intense experience with nature should try one of a variety of hikes offered on expedition voyages ($40-$150). The expedition team of the MS Fram has a collection of hikes in all destinations that bring participants to the most stunning and untouched places. These trips call for the desire to go beyond the ordinary and fair level of physical fitness, and difficulty levels vary depending on location.

Hurtigruten’s explorer voyages take guests to Greenland, Iceland, Spitsbergen in the summer months and Antarctica in the winter. Each adventure is a voyage through pristine environments that are only accessible by ship. Explorer voyages take guests to places that are out of reach for all but the hardiest and most dedicated of travelers, where they can explore another world of cultures, ecosystems and history, from the comfort of the MS Fram, a deluxe ship built in 2007. The MS Fram, which holds only 276 guests, is designed for sailing in polar waters and is the perfect size for optimum nautical maneuverability and was built with one mission in mind: to bring her guests closer to nature, wildlife and unforgettable experiences.

Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition voyages, sailing to the most remote of destinations, including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen as well as year round along Norway’s coast and Europe in the spring and fall. The company’s fleet of 12 intimate ships, which each carry 100 to 646 guests, allows travelers to enjoy the scenery and culture of the destination in a relaxed atmosphere.

Additional information, brochures and reservations can be obtained from travel agents or Hurtigruten’s visitor-friendly website, www.hurtigruten.us; by phone at 877-301-3117; or fax at 888-524-2145. To order brochures 24 hours a day, call 800-582-0835.