SPITSBERGEN IN DEPTH Big Island, Big Adventure Contents 1 Overview 2 Itinerary 4 Arrival and Departure Details 6 Your Ship 8 Included Activities 9 Adventure Options 10 Dates & Rates 11 Inclusions & Exclusions 13 Your Expedition Team 13 Extend Your Trip 14 Meals on Board 15 Possible Excursions 18 Packing Checklist Overview Spitsbergen in Depth: Big Island, Big Adventure This 14-day journey offers the most extensive exploration of Spitsbergen in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, including the opportunity to witness iconic Arctic wildlife like walrus, reindeer and polar bears, a glimpse into 16th-century EXPEDITION IN BRIEF maritime culture at secluded landing sites, and the rare chance to appreciate breathtaking views at the birdwatching utopias 14th of July Glacier and Alkefjellet. Encounter iconic Arctic wildlife, such as polar bears, walrus and reindeer If conditions allow, we will also attempt a full circumnavigation of the Arctic during this memorable voyage, including a visit to the remote, uninhabited Arctic desert View numerous Arctic bird species, like puffins, Arctic terns and purple of Nordaustlandet. sandpipers The wildlife-viewing opportunities on this trip will leave you with plenty of Take advantage of continuous daylight memories—and photos: the walrus with its long tusks and distinctive whiskers; Explore glaciers, fjords, icebergs and Arctic birds in the thousands—in all their varied majesty; small herds of reindeer more with included Zodiac cruising loping across the tundra; and that most iconic of Arctic creatures, the polar bear, Immerse yourself in the icy realm especially as it prowls the edges of the pack ice on the perpetual hunt for food. Shore of the Arctic with optional kayaking excursions by Zodiac will enable you to set foot in places only a few humans have adventures walked before. This voyage truly is the big adventure you’ve been waiting for. Hike the tundra and polar desert 1 Itinerary DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN OSLO, NORWAY DAYS 3 TO 13 | EXPLORING Your Arctic voyage begins in Oslo, SPITSBERGEN Kvitøya Phippsøya Expect a new adventure every day as Norway’s vibrant capital city. If you Arctic Ocean arrive early, there are many museums, we begin our journey by heading north Scheduled route Nordaustlandet restaurants and green spaces to keep you and around the island of Spitsbergen, If conditions allow busy before retiring at your included exploring smaller, outlying islands. We Monaco airport hotel. plan to circumnavigate Spitsbergen, but Glacier if conditions are favorable, we will also SPITSBERGEN Smeerenburg Barentsøya DAY 2 | EMBARKATION DAY IN attempt a larger circumnavigation of LONGYEARBYEN, SVALBARD the region, including many of the outer Longyearbyen Edgeøya This morning, the group will transfer islands in the Svalbard archipelago. Every to the airport and board our private expedition will be different, depending SVALBARD charter flight to Longyearbyen, Bellsund Calypsobyen on the weather and ice, but some of the Greenland Spitsbergen’s largest settlement, where Sea places we may visit include the 14th of July Hornsund TO/FROM you’ll have some time to explore before OSLO Glacier, Ny London, Phippsøya, Alkefjellet embarkation. As your ship sets sail, and the seldom-visited Kvitøya. enjoy your first view of the island’s SPITSBERGEN IN DEPTH: rugged, glacier-topped mountains rising Big Island, Big Adventure majestically from icy waters. Onboard the Ocean Adventurer Flights to/from Oslo 2 These names may seem strange to home to sea ice, the bears’ preferred you, but each site has its own unique habitat for hunting, which translates IMPORTANT REMINDER appeal. There is no shortage of natural into great potential for you to view and Embracing the unexpected is part beauty in Spitsbergen, where colorful capture them in action. of the legacy—and excitement—of tundra meadows are complemented by A big part of appreciating Spitsbergen expedition travel. When traveling immense glaciers. For birders, the 14th in extremely remote regions, your comes from understanding the history— of July Glacier is home to puffins, purple Expedition Team must consider the not just how people live today, but sandpipers, common eiders, barnacle sea, ice and weather to guide the route also how this land was first explored. geese and Arctic terns, while Alkefjellet’s and itinerary details. This itinerary is Whaling was a key industry, and you will cliffs are teeming with nesting Brünnich’s a tentative outline of what you may see remains of outposts from the 16th guillemots (thick-billed murres). experience on this voyage; please be century, plus other evidence of whaling aware that no specific itinerary can be Always on the lookout for wildlife, at landing sites such as Smeerenburg. guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife be sure to have your camera ready to encounters as described are expected, DAY 14 | DISEMBARK IN capture reindeer when we visit sites like but not guaranteed. Your Expedition LONGYEARBYEN & FLY TO OSLO Ny London, Sundneset and Alkhornet. Team will use their considerable Your adventure ends in the frontier-style Searching for the iconic polar bear is a experience to seek out wildlife in settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, constant activity for your Expedition known habitats, but the presence we’ll transfer you to the airport for your Team. Phippsøya and Isbukta are often of any particular species of bird or return group charter flight to Oslo. marine wildlife is not guaranteed. 3 Arrival & Departure Details As you prepare for your journey, you may be interested in your arrival and departure details. Since international air transportation is not included in the cost of your expedition, you have some flexibility in planning your flights. Looking to extend your adventure beyond your polar expedition? On page 13, learn how to add on a pre- or post-expedition stop—or both!—in Oslo or a nearby region of your choice. Arrival Day and Embarkation ARRIVING IN OSLO You may arrive at any time during Day 1 of your itinerary. Upon your arrival in Oslo, you will make your way to the included group hotel. Check in time is 3pm. Early the following morning, on Day 2, your group will transfer to the airport and PLEASE NOTE board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen. The scheduled flight time will be There is a strict luggage limit of communicated in your final documents. 50 lbs (23 kg) checked luggage and 18 lbs (8 kg) cabin baggage on the flights LONGYEARBYEN AND EMBARKATION between Oslo and Longyearbyen. Should Upon arrival in Longyearbyen (Day 2 of your itinerary), you will be transferred from you have additional luggage, it can be the airport to a drop off point to have some free time to explore this historic town. stored at the hotel in Oslo. There is NO Your luggage will be taken directly to the ship, and later you will be transferred option to pay for additional luggage. from the designated meeting point to the pier. Details of ship transfer times will be provided during your arrival transfer. Due to port logistics, it is possible that you may need to board the vessel by Zodiac, rather than from the pier. 4 Final Day and DEPARTING FROM OSLO Arrival and Departure Upon arrival in Oslo, you may connect Departure directly with your onward flight. Transfers DISEMBARKATION IN Scheduled charter flight times will OSLO AIRPORT TRANSFERS LONGYEARBYEN AND ONWARD appear in your final documents, and any Arrival and departure transfers in Oslo Your ship is scheduled to arrive back in additional updates will be communicated are not included in the expedition. Your Longyearbyen between 7am and 8am on board prior to disembarkation. first night’s included accommodation will local time. After breakfast, you will have be provided at the airport hotel, so please time to bid farewell to your Expedition Included Hotel make your way to the lobby for check-in Team and shipmates before completing Accommodations when you arrive. The voyage concludes your disembarkation. The process on arrival at the Oslo airport; if you Your included accommodation begins on takes about an hour and due to port require a transfer to the city, a Polar Day 1 of your itinerary, and the specific logistics, may involve one last Zodiac Travel Adviser or your travel professional hotel(s) will be indicated in your final ride to the pier. After disembarkation, can arrange one for you. voyage confirmation. If you are arriving there will be a group transfer to your prior to Day 1 of your expedition or are If you are flying home right away, hotel if you have booked additional staying after the disembarkation day and you will most likely be able to board a accommodation. If you have purchased would like help booking a pre- or post- connecting flight on the same day. Please the Oslo hotel and transfer package, after stay, please contact your Polar Travel be sure to allow three hours between our disembarkation you will be transferred to Adviser or travel professional for hotel charter arrival and your international the central downtown shopping area in options. As accommodation space is departure. Longyearbyen for some free time, before limited, you are encouraged to request transferring to the airport for our return any extra nights as early as possible. charter flight to Oslo. Your luggage will be transferred directly from the ship to the airport, where you will pick it up for check-in to the charter flight. 5 Your Ship Quark Expeditions® boasts the largest polar-class fleet of any polar operator, and the ability to offer you this incredible voyage on one of our ice strengthened vessels. The entire Quark Expeditions® fleet is built for challenging polar environments, allowing us to take you to places ordinary cruise companies wouldn’t dream of going. 6 FUNNEL OBSERVATION DECK BRIDGE FUNNEL OCEAN ADVENTURER —Newly Renovated! BRIDGE DECK Our popular ship Sea Adventurer has been relaunched as OBSERVATION DECK Ocean Adventurer after a multimillion-dollar renovation.