Compare Norway's Arctic Adventure 2021 by Tauck vs Norway in 7 days - Vision of the Fjords - Superior by Exoticca

Day 1 Arrive Oslo

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol. A transfer is included upon arrival at Oslo Airport to Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol. Meet your expedition companions at our welcome dinner at the Grand Hotel Oslo.

MEALS : D

PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway

Day 2 Fly to Longyearbyen & embark ship

Take Tauck’s charter flight to Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost city, on the island of Spitsbergen, the largest in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. This is a tight-knit community unlike any other, where polar bears outnumber the 2,000 locals and you might spot docile Arctic reindeer at any time. Look for rows of colorful houses, but you won’t see trees; it’s too far north for them to grow. Embark your ship and enjoy dinner onboard this evening.

MEALS : B, L, D

PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway

Day 3 Cruising in the Arctic Ocean begins

For the next six days, you'll be able to join an expedition team leader for Zodiac excursions to a number of the Svalbard islands. Depending entirely on the weather and where the wildlife can be spotted, your itinerary will be flexible. Each new day aboard this Arctic cruise brings a new adventure. Land on rocky beaches and icy or snowy terrain, with an incline, for walking and hiking from 30 minutes to two hours at a time. All the while, keep your eyes peeled for walruses along the shore; you might hear their nasal, hornlike snoring even before you spot them. Look for Arctic terns flying in the air and whales in the water. At night, swap stories during cocktail hour and enjoy the company of your fellow explorers.

MEALS : B, L, D

Day 4 An abundance of wildlife

This dramatic glacier-carved landscape is home to the largest concentration of polar bears in the world – some 3,000. Keep your eyes peeled for them, along with bearded seals, minke whales, Arctic foxes, and Arctic moose as you explore this land of black mountains and fjords, where traces of centuries-old whaling outposts and mining camps remain – from Norwegian to American and Russian. Your expedition leader and naturalist guide will share insights with you.

MEALS : B, L, D

Day 5 Sailing in the ice floe

Weather permitting, you’ll have an opportunity to sail through the Arctic ice floe – frozen masses of flat, free-moving saltwater ice floating on the surface of the sea, a restless jigsaw puzzle of pieces constantly colliding and fracturing from the force of wind and ocean currents. Look for birds, seals, and polar bears who make their home in this wide-open landscape of immense beauty.

MEALS : B, L, D

Day 6 Royal glaciers and fjords

By your fourth day cruising the Svalbard archipelago, you may have reached the spectacular fjords of Northern Spitsbergen and the huge, blue-tinted Monaco Glacier, named for oceanographer and explorer Prince Albert I of Monaco. Be on the lookout for calving chunks of ice sculpture, the arched back of the minke whale, and bearded seals, sunbathing on ice floes close to the glacier front. Monaco is the last glacier before reaching a latitude of 80° North.

MEALS : B, L, D

Day 7 International stations & polar expeditions

Conditions permitting, you may reach Ny-Ålesund, the northernmost community of international polar research stations and a starting point for many historic North Pole expeditions, including that of Roald Amundsen. You might see barnacle and pink-footed geese, common eiders, Arctic terns, and several species of wader. The local reindeer are smaller in this area than their relatives on the mainland. You may have a chance to cruise to the majestic Kongsbreen (King’s Glacier) with its three nunataks or rocky “glacial islands” – they’re named Nora, Dana and Svea after Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.

MEALS : B, L, D

Day 8 Seabirds, Arctic reindeer & Arctic foxes

With luck, by this time you’ll have cruised to Alkhornet, large seabird cliffs on Spitsbergen where thousands of birds nest and breed. Below the cliff you might spot the Arctic foxes who den there, and look for reindeer grazing on the rich summer vegetation. You may also see Pyramiden, a former Russian coal mining settlement, now abandoned, a ghost town.

MEALS : B, L, D

Day 9 Disembark & fly to Oslo

Disembark your ship today in Longyearbyen for your flight back to Oslo. Enjoy exploring Oslo this evening as you please. Your hotel is located in the city center near a wide variety of restaurants; your Tauck Director will have suggestions for you.

MEALS : B, L

PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway

Day 10 Journey home

Tour ends: Oslo. Fly home anytime. A transfer to Oslo Airport from Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol is included. You should allow three hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway

Day 1: US - Night on board

Ready to discover the spectacular landscapes and scenic fjords of Norway? Arrive at your departure airport to catch a flight to Oslo.* Night on board. * Important: If your outbound flight leaves at dawn (before 04:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the selected departure day.

Day 2: Oslo

Arrive at Gardermoen airport and transfer to the hotel.* Oslo is the capital of Norway and a great place to discover the local culture and cuisine. The city is known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, its green spaces and its numerous museums, many of which are dedicated to the country's Viking heritage. Overnight stay in Oslo. * Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service.

Day 3: Oslo - Oppland

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning enjoy a fascinating panoramic tour of Oslo including Frogner Park which houses the Sculptural Ensemble of Vigeland, the Town Hall, the Royal Palace, and the Modern Opera House. Afterwards, set off for Lillehammer, the city famous for the Olympics of '94, which is situated on the shores of Lake Mjøsa. Admire its tiny picturesque streets. Here you have the option to visit the Maihaugen Open-Air Museum.* Continue through the Oppland region and check-in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Oppland. * Optional Maihaugen Open-Air Museum: Maihaugen is Norway’s largest open-air museum outside of Oslo. The museum offers more than 200 buildings from different eras, superb cultural experiences and numerous exhibitions. You may find a cheaper price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.

Day 4: Oppland - Briksdal Glacier - Sogn og Fjordane

Breakfast at the hotel. An exciting day awaits as you set off for Briksdal Glacier. On the way, stop for a brief visit to the beautiful Lom Church.* Located inside the Jostedalsbreen National Park, the Briksdal Glacier is set within the breathtaking Briksdalen Valley, rising to a height of 1200 metres. Enjoy some free time in Briksdal to admire the unbelievable views, take photos, explore the valley and have lunch (at your own expense). Afterwards, head to the Førde region, to check in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Sogn og Fjordane. * Optional Entrance to Lom Church: Enjoy entrance to Lom Stave Church where you can admire the beautiful Romanesque architecture of this 12th-century site, one of the largest churches in Norway.Please note: You may find a cheaper entrance ticket price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.

Day 5: Sogn og Fjordane - Sognefjord - Bergen

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off into the landscapes of the land of fjords, and enjoy a panoramic cruise through the beautiful Sognefjord, one of the most famous and beautiful in the whole of Norway. Admire the Nærøy Fjord and the Sognefjord with its high mountains, waterfalls and breathtaking landscape, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Afterwards, continue to Gudvangen to enjoy some free time in this quaint village, nestled at the base of the Angosto Fjord. We recommend taking an optional excursion to the fascinating Viking Museum here.* Afterwards, continue to Voss where you can explore at your leisure until finally arriving in Bergen the 'capital of the fjords'. Transfer to the hotel and get settled in. Overnight stay in Bergen. * Optional Viking Museum Visit: Visit Gudvangen's Viking Museum to learn more about this important period in Norwegian history. The Viking Museum is home to impressive Viking-style buildings, re-enactments and brilliant insights into Norway's Viking heritage.

Day 6: Bergen

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on a fascinating panoramic tour of Bergen for an overview of its sights and history. Visit the Fish Market, famous for its busy atmosphere and excellent produce, and the Hanseatic Neighbourhood or Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with traditional buildings, museums, restaurants and cafes. The afternoon is free at your leisure. We recommend an optional Funicular Ride to Mount Floyen.* Overnight stay in Bergen. * Optional Mount Floyen Funicular Ride: Ride to the top of Mount Floyen for exceptional views of Bergen and the surrounding fjord-lands. You may find a cheaper price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.

Day 7: Bergen - Hardangerfjord - Oslo

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off early towards Oslo and on the way travel across the mighty Hardangerfjord. On the shores of this fjord you can watch the various different farming communities, many of them dedicated to fish farming. After admiring the glistening fjord, head to the Hardangervidda Plateau, home to large herds of wild reindeer. Continue to Olso and watch the changing landscapes and natural beauty of the Buskerud region pass by. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Oslo.

Day 8: Oslo - US

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to Gardermoen airport for your return flight back to the US.* Arrive in the US and end your trip. * Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service.