Spitsbergen
and Subarctic Islands
For the ultimate polar bear expedition adventure, take a journey to the Spitsbergen islands (a.k.a., Svalbard), where you can expect to see polar bears and floating icebergs. History tells us that Svalbard was probably discovered in 1194 by Vikings from Iceland, forgotten, then rediscovered by the Dutch in the 16th century.
Even though men have been visiting Svalbard for centuries, it was not until 1990 that the Norwegian authorities opened up tourism to the world. Today there are daily flights, first-class hotels and restaurants, varied and exciting programmes for visitors, and it has become the main hub for those embarking on our polar bear expedition cruises. The unique natural environment of Svalbard is spectacularly beautiful and rich in plant and animal life. Massive glaciers cover 60 percent of the land, and the fjords are lined with steep cliffs and rugged mountains. But this seemingly eternal landscape is also surprisingly vulnerable. As a result, tourism is carefully supervised in terms of visitor numbers. The spectacular and abundant wildlife on view includes walruses, three species of true seals, the wild Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes and of course the majestic polar bear.
Since the 1990's we have pioneered the use of ice-strengthened vessels to carry travellers deep into the Arctic in safety and comfort. Each voyage is accompanied by international specialists on everything from polar exploration to Arctic birds and marine life, providing the atmosphere and hands-on leadership you need to fully appreciate the Far North. Whether you're exploring a remote shore where no one may have walked before, sighting a whale from a Zodiac or watching your powerful ship plow through pack ice under the midnight sun, you'll discover Svalbard not as a passing vista, but as an immediate, vital, constantly changing environment - a place where the indescribable mystery of raw nature can still be experienced firsthand.
On specific Spitsbergen trips we offer scuba-diving to experienced dry-suit divers, a unique chance to explore the fascinating underwater ice floes and marine wildlife of the Arctic. We hope you'll join us on one of these unique Arctic experiences in the 2007 season.
