Sublime Svalbard – From Hamburg via Norway’s Springtime Fjords

Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city with a history dating back to Charlemagne. A major port, this vibrant city is home to art and culture, extensive shopping facilities, Baroque buildings and waterfront vistas. With its well-known fish market, art galleries and Museums together with several beautiful parks including a botanical garden, this is a city with something for everyone. British visitors who remember the Swinging Sixties may like to visit the streets around Grosse Freiheit, where an unknown pop group called The Beatles gave their first public performances in various local clubs before achieving worldwide fame.

Your adventure begins

Your expedition cruise starts in Dover. If you have time before boarding MS FRAM, take a walk along the famous white cliffs at St Margaret's Bay for incredible views of the coastline and the sparkling English Channel below. 

Once you've picked up your expedition jacket and settled into your cabin, you'll have a chance to meet your Expedition Team, who'll be your friendly hosts and knowledgeable guides. Then enjoy your first dinner aboard the ship – your adventure has begun. 

Experience the Frisian port city of Harlingen

Harlingen lies on the shores of the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s home to the last traditional pottery factory in the Netherlands. 

A city of canals and pretty harbours, you can explore on foot or by bike, and if conditions allow, we can take to the water to cruise the canals aboard our small expedition boats.  

You'll find traditional sailing ships and historic warehouses around the old harbours of Noorderhaven and Zuiderhaven. Don’t miss the Harlingen Aardewerkmuseum, where you can admire displays of distinctive Frisian pottery. 

Discover the peaceful charm of this historic island

Just off the German mainland, tiny Heligoland was once a base for pirates and the strategic prize for a string of warring nations. Now this peaceful, traffic-free island is better known for its stunning nature, and at certain times of the year, its birdlife.  

If conditions allow, local boats will take us ashore to explore both of Heligoland’s distinctive islands. On one island, you can walk the scenic trails along the red cliffs to look out for nesting birdlife such as Northern Gannets and Common Guillemots. On the other, you can stroll along the fine white sands lined by dunes in search for seals lounging around the shores.  

Explore UNESCO sites in Germany’s second city

We arrive in Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany and one of the greenest urban areas in Europe.   

There’s much to see and do in Hamburg – sometimes called the 'Venice of the North' due to its picturesque canals between lake Alster and river Elbe. You’ll find many attractions in the old town district of Altstadt, like St Nikolai Memorial and the historic street of Deichstraße. Hamburg is also home to UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Chilehaus, and the world's largest historic warehouse complex in “Speicherstadt”. Join a tour or discover the city at your own pace. 

A small town in Norway’s fjord country, Åndalsnes is a gateway to the rugged wilderness of the Romsdalfjord. Known as the 'village between the mountains and the fjords', it typifies Norway's striking natural beauty with its setting on a promontory lined by alps and set at the mouth of the Rauma River. The town itself is tucked under the lofty mountain peaks, backed by lush, green scenery. Nearby is the impressive Trollveggen, or 'Troll Wall', which at 6,000 feet is Europe's highest vertical cliff face and is often topped by cloud. The precipice is said to be the ultimate trial for rock climbers, who regularly flock here to accept the challenge. Åndalsnes is also the terminus of the famous Rauma Railway which runs 70 miles alongside the emerald-green Rauma river and through some of Norway’s most spectacular scenery to Dombås (2160 feet above sea level) where it then connects to the main Oslo to Trondheim line.

Get a taste of Denmark on the Jutland peninsula

The first stop on our journey to the Arctic is Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. As we approach, look out for the giant ‘Man Meets the Sea’ statues sitting by the shore.  

Esbjerg is a blend of historic charm and modern Scandinavian chic, and it’s easy to get around on foot. A shuttle bus will take you into the centre to explore at your leisure. Why not treat yourself to a typical smørrebrød for lunch. You’ll find Denmark’s famous open rye bread sandwiches irresistibly displayed in many bakery windows. 

After lunch, it’s time to say goodbye to Denmark as we set sail for Norway. Enjoy an afternoon at sea making the most of your ship’s facilities. Why not relax in the hot tubs or watch the world go by from the Explorer Lounge & Bar.  

Discover how glaciers shaped the Norwegian landscape 

In the morning, we plan to cruise deep into Sognefjorden, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, to the tiny hamlet of Fjærland. Only 300 people live in this idyllic village with its many charming old buildings and weaving traditions. This is also the place where Sognefjorden meets Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European continent. 

A visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum is the included activity of the day. There you can learn why glacier ice is blue and how the fjords were formed. You can even perform a few experiments with 1,000-year-old glacier ice and watch a panoramic film about Europe’s largest glacier. 

With its centre located on the island of Tromsø, the municipality of Tromsø is more than five times the size of Norway’s capital, Oslo, and is the world’s northernmost university city. Lying 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, it is known as the 'Gateway to the Arctic' because it was used as a starting point for hunters looking for Arctic foxes, polar bears and seals. In the 19th century it was a base for explorers on Arctic expeditions – a history that is remembered in the city’s Polar Museum, which you can visit on an excursion. Also commemorated in the area is the history of Norway’s indigenous people, the Sami. Visitors can learn about the traditions, heritage and modern preservation of the Sami culture at the Tromsø Museum. Nowadays, Tromsø is a charming mix of old and new, with wooden buildings sitting alongside contemporary architecture such as the impressive glacier-like Arctic Cathedral, which features one of the largest stained glass windows in Europe. Looking down on the city is Mount Storsteinen, and a cable car runs to the top, giving wonderful views over the surrounding countryside of forested peaks and reindeer pastures.

Soak up breathtaking panoramas in this fjordside town 

Nestled at the end of the Romsdalsfjord, Åndalsnes is surrounded by soaring mountains, deep valleys and dramatic fjords. The scenery around this alpine town is simply awe-inspiring. 

To take it all in, hop on the gondola from the town centre for the five-minute scenic journey up Mount Nesaksla, some 2,300 ft above sea level. Here you can revel in 360-degree views of the town and the towering mountains of Romsdalshorn and Venjetinden beyond. 

To truly immerse yourself in this incredible landscape, join us for an exhilarating hike or, if conditions allow, you can enjoy a peaceful kayak paddle in the fjord.  

Searching in 1553 for a northeast passage to India, British navigator Richard Chancellor came upon a crag 307 yards above the Barents Sea. He named the jut of rock North Cape, or Nordkapp. Today Europe's northernmost point is a rite-of-passage journey for nearly all Scandinavians and many others. Most cruise passengers visit Nordkapp from Honningsvåg, a fishing village on Magerøya Island. The journey from Honningsvåg to Nordkapp covers about 35 km (22 miles) across a landscape characterized by rocky tundra and grazing reindeer, which are rounded up each spring by Sami herdsmen in boats. The herdsmen herd the reindeer across a mile-wide channel from their winter home on the mainland. Honningvåg's northerly location makes for long, dark winter nights and perpetually sun-filled summer days. The village serves as the gateway to Arctic exploration and the beautiful Nordkapp Plateau, a destination that calls to all visitors of this region. Most of those who journey to Nordkapp (North Cape), the northernmost tip of Europe, are in it for a taste of this unique, otherworldly, rugged yet delicate landscape. You'll see an incredible treeless tundra, with crumbling mountains and sparse dwarf plants. The subarctic environment is very vulnerable, so don't disturb the plants. Walk only on marked trails and don't remove stones, leave car marks, or make campfires. Because the roads are closed in winter, the only access is from the tiny fishing village of Skarsvåg via Sno-Cat, a thump-and-bump ride that's as unforgettable as the desolate view.

Along the Helgeland coast to Arctic Norway

As we sail towards the wild beauty of the Lofoten archipelago, enjoy a day at sea. 

Continue your discovery on board with your Expedition Team by joining a talk or workshop and deepen your understanding with a visit to the Science Centre. Relax in the panoramic Explorer Lounge & Bar, and as we pass Helgeland, watch for the silhouette of the Seven Sisters mountain range. This impressive coastal range is home to the Torghatten mountain, recognisable by its distinctive hole through the middle. 

Later in the day, we’ll cross the Arctic Circle as we venture further north and into the Arctic. 

Follow in the footsteps of polar explorers at the gateway to the Arctic

Set in a majestic landscape, this small, cosmopolitan city has an exciting past and plenty of fascinating sights to discover. 

It was the base for many a historic Arctic expedition, including those of Roald Amundsen, and its situation 250 miles north of the Polar Circle has led to it being called the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’. At the Polar Museum, discover the city’s exploration heritage, and see the Arctic Cathedral – with its huge stained-glass window, it’s one of the most striking landmarks in Tromsø. You can also take the Fjellheisen cable car to the top of Storsteinen for incredible views. 

Longyearbyen is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen’s airport can be used all-year round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center, where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around Longyearbyen and even in town.

A land of spectacular beauty

Svalbard’s largest island Spitsbergen showcases Arctic beauty in its untouched glory; a wilderness of steep mountains, stark glaciers and eerily beautiful islands. Over the next three days you’ll visit some of the world’s most dramatic fjords and see glaciers preparing to calve icebergs into the sea.  

Each day will be different. From landings to kayaking, be ready for anything as your Captain and Expedition Team decide on the best landing sites and activities based on the day’s conditions. Perhaps we’ll head to the snowcapped peaks of Hornsund, or visit Ny-Ålesund, the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions north with the airship ‘Norge’. Now a hub for global science and climate research, you can still see remnants of the town’s history. 

If we’re lucky, we might even see the elusive polar bear in its natural environment, so keep your binoculars close at hand. 

Longyearbyen is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen’s airport can be used all-year round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center, where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around Longyearbyen and even in town.

A final day on top of the world

Your Norway and Svalbard adventure draws to a close in Longyearbyen. A transfer will take you to the airport for your flight home. You'll return with a wealth of knowledge about Arctic animals, geology, history, polar ice and climate change – and memories of an incredible experience that will last a lifetime. 

If you’re not ready to say goodbye just yet, why not spend some more time in the Arctic and join our optional Post-Programme.