The vacation scene is looking pretty epic for BBC Earth fans and nature lovers as Tauck announces its newest family-friendly itinerary for 2019, Arctic Allure: Spitsbergen and the Midnight Sun. The name alone sounds intriguing, but add in the small ship cruise’s plans to host BBC Earth filmmakers next year on select sailings of four different expeditionary cruises, and you’ve got yourself a top-notch excursion.
The all-new, 10-day journey explores the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen — located within the Arctic Circle between the North Pole and Norway. This wild and seemingly untouched terrain is home to thousands of polar bears. In fact, in Spitbergen, polar bears are the majority population with humans the minority.
The body of Arctic islands also houses moose, fox, Svalbard reindeer and various species of birds by land and air, but is surrounded by water filled with walruses, seals, dolphins and whales. Needless to say, this destination is an idyllic retreat for wildlife viewing and natural beauty.
Spitsbergen is also world-renowned for its glaciers, fjords and mountains contained in the region’s six national parks. While possessing so much natural beauty and rugged landscape, Spitsbergen is not overly populated with tourists.
Beginning June 24, 2019, the Arctic Allure journey will be one of the first of its kind bringing more knowledge of the area’s wildlife and natural habitats to society, with added touches of luxury and leisure.
Being your family to cruise and journey with Tauck, including at an introductory hotel stay in Oslo. Rest, relax and enjoy the city before embarking on a charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. Once in Longyearbyen, guests board the Ponant yacht Le Boreal and sail along a seven-day cruise through Spitsbergen. The small group, incredible ship and experienced crew provide travelers with a uniquely personal experience through some impeccable wildlife.
With such a small group onboard, the crew can adjust and accommodate travelers with a flexible itinerary and customize the trip to guest needs. Some must-see sites included in the journey involve abandoned whaling outposts, some more than 100 years old; the most northern settlement in the world, Ny-Alesund; Pyramiden, an anctual ghost town and abandoned Russian coal mining village; as well as Monaco Glacier and Kongsbreen, or King’s Glacier.
© Betty Leung | Dreamstime.com
The entire journey lasts 10 days, is $10,990 per person based on double occupancy and includes accommodations in Oslo, round-trip flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen, a seven-day cruise aboard Le Boral and one last night in Oslo.
All gratuities, shore excursions, onboard house wine, spirits, beer, meals, taxes, port charges and luggage handling are also included, among a few other aspects. Read more about the special guest excursions including award-winning film makers and documentarians on the already sold-out January departure.
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