A NORDIC SPRING GALORE

Breakfast and checkout
Private transfer to Oslo airport for onward departure (in the morning) to Longyearbyen, one of the
world's northernmost settlements, in Svalbard with a landscape dominated by tundra, bare mountains,
glaciers, extreme light variations, and exciting animal life including the majestic polar bears that
would be hard to match anywhere on earth.
Private transfer and check-in to the boutique hotel of Funken Lodge.
Around 17:00, we set off for an exciting adventure into an ice cave under the glacier. The trip up and
down is made on a heated Snowcat, a tracked all-terrain vehicle, a unique way of scoring the glacier
landscape.
We will be picked up from our hotel by the snowcat, and head up onto the ‘Longyear Glacier’, right
above Longyearbyen. Longyearbreen is a landlocked glacier, filling the valley between two mighty
mountains. It is not a long drive, but once we make our way up onto the glacier, we will be rewarded
by stunning views over Longyearbyen and the imposing Hiorthfjellet on the other side of the fjord. A
frozen world appears as we make our way down into the ice cave. Stuck in the ice, we can see 1000-
year-old remnants of frozen plants, fantastic ice formations, narrow passages, and big caverns. The
ice cave changes from year to year, and we never know what type of formations the glacier may have
created this time around.
Return to the accommodation

Breakfast
In the morning (9:00-13:00), in the heart of an icy paradise, we suit up for an unparalleled adventure
(6-7 hrs) mushing our dog sledding team through a snow-kissed landscape in a snowmobile-free zone
of Bolterdalen, a 12 km outside Longyearbyen. In pairs, we will take turns mushing the dog sled team.
Two guests will be sitting in the guide sled, riding with 10-12 dogs. We will picked up and driven to our
kennel in Bolterdalen, where we meet the dogs, and our guide will give us a thorough briefing about
dogsledding and we get to experience the dynamics of mushing the dog-sledge team. We sled for
around 1,5 hours, depending on conditions.
Return to the accommodation
In Svalbard, the sun does not set between mid-April and the end of August and region is immersed in
sunlight around the clock. The sun shines bright both during the day and night, which is a very odd
feeling! We would kickstart our Svalbard experience with a thrilling expedition on the Electric
snowmobiles (3 hrs - starting at 17:30). The trip goes out into the Advent Valley, towards "Jernsenga"
(the ‘Iron bed’). There we get to hear the story of this strange little mound and the iron bed on top of
it, which is a famous landmark near Longyearbyen. We also drive by Mine 7, the only coal mine that is
still active. Along the way, we will experience the majestic landscapes, combined with learning a lot
about the local history and life on Svalbard. If we are lucky, we may also meet some Svalbard
reindeer, ptarmigans, Arctic foxes, and snow buntings. Return to the accommodation

Breakfast
Join us on an exciting boat trip (14:00-18:00) to the impressive Tuna and Von Post glaciers in the
middle of Tempelfjorden on a closed hybrid electric speed boat. When we approach wildlife or glacier
fronts, we only use the boat's electric motor. This gives us completely silent propulsion, and the unique
opportunity to experience Svalbard's quiet wilderness up close. Along the way, we will pass Villa
Fredheim, the trapper Hilmar Nøis' main station. We will also make a stop at the impressive bird cliff at
Diabas, where we will get close to the busy birds that nest there. Our ultimate destination is the
majestic Tunabreen glacier, one of the calving glaciers on Svalbard, so if we're lucky, we can see large
masses of ice detach from the glacier front and plunge into the sea.
Return to the accommodation

Breakfast and checkout
Private transfer to the airport for onward domestic departure to Bergen.
On arrival in Bergen, a private transfer is arranged to the city hotel.
Check-in to the city hotel and evening at leisure
Optional transfer and visit to the Mount Ulriken cable car or Mount Floyen funicular can be arranged

Breakfast.
Private transfer to the Bergen train station in the morning and embark on the legendary tour which
takes us through Norway's most breathtaking UNESCO-protected fjord well as a trip on Europe’s top
scenic rail journey, all in a day's trip. We will experience the scenic Bergen Railway, the breathtaking
Flåm Railway, the Aurlandsfjord, the narrow and dramatic UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjord through the
beautiful scenery of Nærøy valley.
We change to the Flåm Railway, the Steepest line in Northern Europe, and descend to the village of
Flåm, passing by Kjosfossen on the way. We then take a Fast RIB boat on a Fjord Safari through the
World Heritage areas of Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord to the town to Gudvangen. From Gudvangen we
will drive through spectacular Nærøydalen and hair-pins of Stalheims road, back to Bergen
We can then return to Bergen

Timetable
07:04 Depart Bergen
08:25 Depart Voss
09:17 Arrive Myrdal
09:25 Depart Myrdal
10:23 Arrive Flåm
11:40 Check in for Fjord Safari
12:00 Fjord Safari
13:15 Arrive Gudvangen – Shuttle to Voss
14:00 Arrive Voss Train Station
15:30 Depart Voss
16:28 Arrive Bergen

Breakfast and checkout
Private transfer to Bergen airport for onward departure to Ålesund
On arrival at Ålesund airport, we have a private transfer to the Hotel Union, Geiranger (approx 3 hrs
including car ferry)
During the private transfer from the airport to the majestic Geiranger, we drive along the deep blue
UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord, surrounded by majestic, snow-covered mountain peaks, wild
waterfalls, and lush, green vegetation
Check-in at the Panoramic Hotel Union and we have the rest of the day at leisure to relax at the hotel

Breakfast
Enjoy a peaceful short walk (approx 1 km) from the hotel down to the harbor along the Waterfall Walk
steps
Get up close and personal with the Geirangerfjord on an adrenaline-filled RIB-boat tour, where we will
get to experience the waterfront view of the impressive waterfalls of the fjord and a clear view of
Skageflå mountain farm located high up in the cliffs, one of the most famous farms in the
Geirangerfjord and the very symbol of the shelf farms in Norway. There will be stops during the trip and
the guide will tell us interesting facts and exciting stories about the fjord, life, and the people in and
around Geiranger. With a bit of luck, we can even spot some porpoises!
In the afternoon, we will set off on the iconic Trollstigen road, part of the Norwegian Scenic Route on
a private vehicle at our disposal (for 7 hrs). Driving through Geiranger-Trollstigen is a bucket list
experience as the route meanders through lush valleys, sheltered strawberry farms, precipitous
mountains, and viewpoints, offering some of Norway’s most scenic views. During the dramatic drive,
the road twists through 11 hairpin bends, as it climbs up to Stigrøra where grandiose views await us
(The opening of Trollstigen road is subject to weather conditions in May. If the road happens to be
closed, we will replace the place to road trip to Dalsnibba)
Return to the accommodation.

Breakfast and checkout
Private transfer to the älesund airport for onward departure to Oslo.
Private transfer to the city hotel and check-in
We have a vehicle at our disposal with a private guide for 4 hrs (can be alternatively arranged on Day
10 as well) for exploring the local highlights.