Fancy exploring
ice caves inside the Longyear Glacier? Or riding a ‘Dog Cart’, a dog sled on
wheels? Or perhaps snowmobiling in the Arctic Desert? All this and much more is
now possible with Hurtigruten’s new short-break land programme to Spitsbergen.
Developed in conjunction with its subsidiary company, Spitsbergen Travel, two,
three and four-night trips are available every day in March, May, October and
December.
Three
excursions are included in each short break and all are centred around
Longyearbyen, the closest place to the North Pole. Each month brings different
experiences, from the return of the sun in March to the Midnight Sun in May, the
emerging Arctic winter in October and the full darkness and Northern Lights of
December.
ICE CAVING, EXPLORE INSIDE A GLACIER - Adventure
lovers can now wander through the heart of a glacier, using headlamps to make
their way into the meltwater channels under the glacier. Fascinating formations
of ice and stone create an experience that will take everyone’s breath away
(available in March).
RIDE A DOG CART – Travel like a local in
Longyearbyen! It is possible to drive a ‘Dog Cart’ with six huskies up front. As
the snow has gone, the huskies take to pulling a sled on wheels to show off the
local scenery (available in October).
Sample Short Break packages include:
RETURN OF
THE SUN, ICE CAVING AND MORE – March 2013, from £811pp: March is high season in Spitsbergen and the sun returns to the far
north after a long winter. Experience the characteristic blue light during dawn
and dusk and the Northern Lights during the hours of darkness. This break
includes a 45km snowmobile safari in the Arctic Desert and through narrow
valleys, ice caving in the heart of the Longyear Glacier and a wilderness
evening at a local camp to share experiences from the area with the hosts.
Priced from £811pp, including two nights B&B accommodation and all three
excursions. Three nights from £927pp and four from £1030pp. Flights are
extra.
ENDLESS
ARCTIC SUMMER NIGHTS – May 2013, from £696pp:
Come
May, the days last for 24 hours so the Midnight Sun can be experienced. However,
the country is still covered in snow so it’s possible to enjoy the best of both
seasons. This break includes a 45km snowmobile safari in the Arctic Desert and
through narrow valleys, a dog sledding trip with the opportunity to drive it and
a wilderness evening at a local camp to share experiences from the area with the
hosts. Priced from £696pp, including two nights B&B accommodation and all three
excursions. Three nights from £721pp and four from £810pp. Flights are
extra.
CRYSTAL
CLEAR AND COLOURFUL – October 2013, from £696pp:
In October, the
darkness slowly returns and the light changes to blue again with the chance to
see the Northern Lights. During October, the northernmost Blues Festival takes
place in Longyearbyen and this can be enjoyed whilst staying in the town. This break includes a boat trip powering out over the Isfjord on a
26ft open Polarcirkle boat to get to all the right places for the best views, a
‘Dog Cart’ ride with the opportunity to drive it and a wilderness evening at a
local camp to share experiences from the area with the hosts. Priced from £484pp,
including two nights B&B accommodation and all three excursions. Three nights
from £533pp and four from £576pp. Flights extra.
MAGICAL
DARKNESS & NORTHERN LIGHTS – Dec 2013 (inc Christmas), from
£696pp:
During December, the polar night transforms Spitsbergen into a
magical corner of the world – the only light sources are the soft lights of the
settlements, the twinkling stars, the dancing Northern Lights and the moonlight,
which makes the ice and snow sparkle. This break includes a
45km snowmobile safari in the Arctic Desert and through narrow valleys, a dog
sledding trip with the opportunity to drive it and a wilderness evening at a
local camp to share experiences from the area with the hosts. Priced from £602pp,
including two nights B&B accommodation and all three excursions. Three nights
from £648pp and four from £695pp. Flights extra.
For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's adventure cruising specialists.
