Hurtigruten’s MS Fram new excursion

(Dominic Barrington)

Polar Bear watch & other adventures

Hurtigruten’s expedition ship MS Fram is offering some exciting new excursions starting this month, including a camping trip in the Spitsbergen wilderness, during which passengers will take turns in an overnight polar bear watch.

Participants in the “A Nansen Night – Camping in the Arctic” will be provided with tents and sleeping bags designed for the polar regions, and will spend the night far away from any sign of civilisation, in this remote area of Arctic Norway

The small excursion group will pitch the camp together and, due to the high risk of polar bears, each participant takes a one-hour shift of polar bear watch together with the expedition team. After this exciting night in the wilderness, the next morning it’s back on board the MS Fram where a hearty breakfast awaits the adventurers.

The experience is overseen by local experts, with the highest regard for the safety of those participating in the excursion. The ‘Polar Bear Watch’ is designed to add to the customer experience and is operated in addition to the stringent safety measures already in place.

The excursion is bookable locally and costs approx £250 per person (subject to local exchange rates).

There are a limited number of cabins available on the ‘Circumnavigating Spitsbergen: In the realm of the Polar Bear’ itinerary on several departure dates this Summer. The seven night voyage departing on 23 July 2014 costs £4,236 per person, based on two people sharing an outside cabin. The price includes the voyage on full board basis and one night in a hotel in Longyearbyan (including breakfast and lunch) as well as landings and a range of activities.

Other new excursions for passengers on the MS Fram this Summer include:

Kayak tours – paddle through the polar sea, past ice floes and icebergs in Greenland, Spitsbergen or Iceland.

A glacier hike in Spitsbergen – participants are equipped with climbing spurs and are secured with a rope in teams. The glacier hike offers fantastic views over the imposing ice landscape of Spitsbergen.

Fishing and cooking with the crew – keen anglers can try their luck in the rich fish stock of the Arctic waters and are then invited into the kitchen by the head chef of the Fram, who helps them with the preparation of their catch, which is then served for dinner. This excursion is available in Greenland and Spitsbergen.

For more information email Discover the World on hurtigruten@discovertheworld.com.au or call 1800 OCEANS (1800 623 267).