Wildlife cruises to Spitzbergen, Greenland and Iceland

country:Arctic Cruises, Greenland, Iceland
location:Spitsbergen 
departures:2010: 22 Jul
price:From £4290 (14 days) excluding flights.
more info:Price includes: 13 nights on ship, full board with meals on ship
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

introduction to Wildlife cruises to Spitzbergen, Greenland and Iceland

This voyage combines the spectacular wildlife in Spitzbergen with the striking desolate landscapes of Eastern Greenland, and the fascinating history of the Westman Islands. After several days in the Svalbard Archipelago, scouring the ice and glaciers for bears, walrus, foxes and birdlife, the ship crosses the Greenland Sea to explore the rugged coast of Greenland, with an excursion into Scoresbysund, the largest fjord complex in the world, and the birthplace of many icebergs. Finally, off the coast of Iceland we visit the extraordinary volcanic Westman Islands. Being above the Arctic Circle means 24 hour daylight so there is virtually unlimited time to relish in the experiences on this remarkable Arctic voyage. Anyone booking a Polar Expedition voyage by 31 December 2009 will receive a magnificent set of the acclaimed Opticron Countryman 8x42 binoculars. They come with a 10-year guarantee and are critical on any wildlife holiday. In the Poles they are as important as your passport!  
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Start Longyearbyen, board ship and begin exploration.
Days 2-4: Explore the Spitzbergen Archipelago.
Days 5-6: Greenland Sea.
Days 7-12: Explore Eastern Greenland.
Day 13: Visit Westman Islands, Iceland.
Day 14: Disembark Reykjavik.
award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Society

how this holiday makes a difference
During the last Arctic season we started a pilot project, which raised awareness and funds to better understand how polar bears are being effected by the warming climate and loss of habitat (sea ice). The project was incredibly successful and our passengers purchased several satellite tracking collars to follow the bears movements.

We also participate in the “Clean up Svalbard” project which resulted in several thousand tons of rubbish being removed from the shores of the archipelago. This interactive program has achieved a positive result that has made a tangible difference to the environment.

This operator is an Associate Member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and has agreed to abide by one of the tourism world's most conscientious codes of conduct. Our ship operator is also a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), which covers operations in Spitzbergen. We support various conservation initiatives:

Polar Bear Study: The polar bear’s migratory patterns have long been a mystery to conservationists. With money raised from expeditions and donations, we have made valuable contributions to the purchase of the expensive tracking collars – critical in monitoring their hunting and mating patterns.

Albatross Campaign: Almost half a million US dollars has been raised through staff and passengers towards the ‘Get the Albatross off the Hook’ campaign, aimed at stopping the death of albatrosses by long-line fishing.

Scott Polar Research Institute: We support the work of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge. The Institute is the oldest international centre for Polar Research within a university.

Polar Ambassadors: Polar Ambassadors believe that the preservation and conservation of the polar regions is imperative. There are 10 simple things that you can do now that will make a difference. Our expedition team on each ship takes this very seriously, and look forward to explaining how everyone can become involved.

We have at our offices worked to reduce our carbon footprint through a reduction of energy use and energy conservation measures. We also actively reduce the waste produced by having active reduction and recycling policies in place. We run annual staff workshops on Responsible Tourism.

Global warming is a reality and to help you make a difference by reducing the carbon dioxide that is produced when you travel we offer a chance to carbon balance your flights. We encourage all our clients to do this and do so for all our staff travel. Go on do your bit!

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'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

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