Hurtigruten Announces New Summer Expedition Land Excursions

Hurtigruten is offering 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 including camping trips in the wilderness with a polar bear watch; kayak tours among massive icebergs; glacier hikes on the ice; and fishing excursions in the sea. Excursions run from $40 to $410 per person.

Travelers to Spitsbergen, the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, can experience a night in the wilderness with 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 its 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 night in the wilderness, adventurers return to the MS Fram where a breakfast awaits.

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In Spitsbergen, guests can take part in 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.

Also available are the “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 for a day of reeling in the local catch. Afterwards, 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.

Kayak tours are available in Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland ($160). Alongside experienced guides, participants paddle together in a small group through the sea, past ice floes and icebergs. A variety of hikes are offered on expedition voyages ($40-$150). 

For more information, visit www.hurtigruten.us.