NORWEGIAN FJORDS, BEAR ISLAND & SVALBARD

26th April - 13th May 2014

A TRUE EXPLORATION TRIP ON BOARD M/S STOCKHOLM

Day 1: The journey starts in Gothenburg, which is, in spite of the ship’s name, M/S Stockholm’s hometown. We embark in the afternoon and head towards Norwegian Sørlandet.

Day 2: Early morning we reach Sørlan-det, whose beautiful coastline is charac-terised by islands, islets and idyllic small settlements. A landing takes place on a, by the Captain, carefully selected location.

Day 3: Today we visit the friendly little village Skudenæshavn, located on the

southern tip of Karmøy. Here the herring fishing industry has been the main focus since the 1800s and the old settlement, mostly made up of white-washed houses and fishing sheds, is beautifully preser-ved.

Day 4: Today we call into Bergen. We go ashore and get to know this city that offers cosy atmosphere and is beautifully surrounded by high mountains and deep fjords.

Day 5: During the morning we pass through

the beautiful passage of Alversund and we keep heading north. In the afternoon we reach our next destination - Kinn. We explore this fabulously and gentle green island. Here is a church from the 1100s in rural Romanesque style, one of the oldest churches in Norway. In the evening we sail past the mighty Hornelen, Northern Europe’s highest mountain cliff, 860 meters above sea level.

Day 6: Today we get to know the majestic Storfjord. If we have a chance we will pay a visit to the UNESCO-protected Geiranger-

Do not miss this unique chance to join the pearl M/S Stockholm and Captain Per Engwall on an 18-day adventure, with the opportunity to reach some of Norway’s most exciting and scenic locations. A journey on board M/S Stockholm is a rare luxury. The atmosphere on board, the attentive crew and the Captain’s extensive experience, makes the trip extra-ordinary. The adventurous spirit is palpable aboard M/S Stockholm and to change course to discover a new place, is common practice on board. Below is a preliminary itinerary, but please note that it may change along way, as a result of weather, wind and curiosity! Your Captain, crew and Expedition Leader will do everything possible to maximise your adventure!

NORWEGIAN FJORDS, BEAR ISLAND & SVALBARD

fjord, which is characterised by deep blue water and lush mountain plains crossed by beautiful waterfalls.

Day 7: We reach Ålesund and explore the streets of this charming city with pinnacles and delightful facades, in true Art Nouveau style.

Day 8: North of Ålesund is Grip, an aban-doned fishing village with original colour-ful wooden buildings. Here is a beautiful church, Grip Stave Church, and we will also pass by the small and very dramatically placed Grip Lighthouse. On our way north we sail past the famous natural attractions like the mountain peaks known as the Seven Sisters, followed by Torghatten – a rock with a big hole, that the ice sheet once created, or according to the legend; the hole a giant created in despair from a broken heart.

Day 9: We stop on the beautiful island of Træna, beautifully green and surrounded by towering mountains. Here we take a nice hike and we keep our eyes peeled for sea eagles, which are often seen in this area. Later on in the day, we celebrate the passage of the Arctic Circle! North of this line the sun reigns around the clock for a few summer months.

Day 10: Today we arrive to the village of

Kerringøy, where heavy trade was con-ducted in the 1800s. In the afternoon we visit the fishing village of Reine, over-looking Kirkefjord, and it is not difficult to see how it was voted Norway’s most beau-tiful place. In the evening we do a Zodiac cruise deeper into Reine’s fjord system and there will be an opportunity to walk across a ridge to the beautiful Bunesstranda.

Day 11: We visit Nusfjord, a well-preserved and authentic fishing community with fo-cus on cod fishing. The village is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list of unique wooden houses and there is a charming old-fashioned shop well worth a visit. We sail further along what is known as the Lofoten Wall and late evening we enter the magical Trollfjord.

Day 12: In Tromsø we visit the prestigious Polar Museum and learn more about the first polar explorers, who went north to seek fame and fortune. The city is known as Paris of the North, which derives from its vast cultural offerings.

Day 13: At sea towards Bear Island!

Day 14: Bear Island! Today we reach this marvellous rocky island, situated in the middle of the Barents Sea. On the 400-meter high cliffs, hundreds of thou-sands of seabirds are nesting - puffins,

guillemots, razorbills, guillemots, kittiwa-kes among others. And of course we will try to make a landing on this rarely visited island!

Day 15-17: Svalbard! This mighty archi-pelago offers so much. Here we search for polar bears, walrus and other Arctic animals, but above all we enjoy the stun-ning scenery that surrounds us - glaciers and icebergs, snow-capped mountain pe-aks and vast tundra. This early in the se-ason Svalbard is incredibly beautiful and untouched. Few ships are around and everything is embedded in a white, glazed snow cover. We begin by exploring parts of Storfjorden. How far we can reach is determined by the drift ice that often accumulates here this time of year. We continue towards majestic Hornsund, consisting of several fjords, which glaciers calve out shimmering blue icebergs. It is also a favourite haunt for the polar bears. In Bellsund we hope to reach Vårsolbukta where the cute little auks nest in tens of thousands.

Day 18: We arrive in Longyearbyen and begin our journey home.

Please note: This itinerary is subject to change. Our exact route will depend on weather conditions and sightings. We always strive to maximise your experien-ce. Remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

EXPEDITION SHIP M/S STOCKHOLM

Stockholm

21 22 23

25 26 27

Main deck

Upper deck

Mess

Twin cabin (bunk bed, shower/WC) USD 8 190

The M/S Stockholm is a classic vessel built in 1953 for the Swedish National Maritime Administration. In 1999 she was totally refitted and started her career as a comfortable polar passenger ship. The M/S Stockholm exclusively carries a maximum of 12 passengers in outside twin cabins, all with upper and lower berth and private facilities. She is a marvellous piece of maritime history with beautiful brass details and pine decks. It is no wonder the M/S Stockholm is loved by so many! On board the ship you will enjoy delicious meals in the company of likeminded travellers who enjoy the nature and who are as fascinated by remote areas as you are. The food on board is of a high standard. All wine, beer and drinks are included in the price. With such a small group on board, it is like travelling on a private yacht. An entirely different experience and perspective to that of a larger and more conventional vessel! The owner/Captain as well as the crew of the ship have long experience and they are great enthusiasts of the unique wildlife and nature. The genuine curiosity of the crew is a prerequisite for expedition cruises of this kind. A trip on board M/S Stockholm with is an experience of a lifetime, simply hard to beat.

Cabin category Price per person

Rate includes: 17 nights on board the M/S Stockholm, all meals, all beverages, an experienced Expedition Leader/guide, all excursions and activities by Zodiac, customary gratuity to the ship’s crew, an illustrated post expedition log.

Not included: Flights to Gothenburg and from Longyearby-en, travel and cancellation insurance, personal expenses.

Date: 26 April - 13 May 2014.Group size: Maximum 12 passengers.Number of days: 18.Accommodation: Cabin on board M/S Stockholm.Transportation: Expedition ship, Zodiac.

Captain Per Engwall. Joyfull days on deck, surrounded by spectacular nature.

Get to experience a unique expedition on board a unique ship - the M/S Stockholm. Delicious meals are served on board.

Photo: Adam Rheborg (p 2,4), Emma Nilsson (p 2), Erik Edvardsson (p 2), J-P Lahall (p 3), Johanna Vakkila (p 4), Lisa Ström (p 4), Magnus Lundgren (p 2), Maurizio Biacarelli (p 3), paologozzi/dreamstime.com (front cover), Tor Amundsen (p 2), Vera Simonsson (p 3).