Escorted Tours 2024 - 2025

Day 1: UK to Helsinki D Depart the UK on your flight to Helsinki. Spend some time exploring or relax and unwind within a traditional Finnish sauna before retiring to your hotel. Day 2: Helsinki to Longyearbyen - Board your cruise ship B/L/D After breakfast you’ll be transferred to your private chartered flight bound for Longyearbyen – the world’s most northern settlement with a population above 1,000 people, and the starting point of your Arctic expedition. Once you’ve had a chance to see Longyearbyen you’ll be embarking on your life-changing voyage across the seas of Svalbard to reach the isolated island of Spitsbergen. As your ship sets sail, enjoy your first view of these magnificent landscapes where rugged mountains rise majestically from the clear blue, icy waters. Day 3-9: Arctic Cruise - Spitsbergen B/L/D Continue your expedition, meandering around this magical island. Your expedition will cover Western Spitsbergen as well as some stunning fjords to the north. Each day in this region presents fresh opportunities to experience the varied character and attributes of the place, as the weather and ice patterns here are so changeable meaning there will be no fixed itinerary as such; we allow nature to guide our path for us. Some of the potential sites we could visit include; Smeerenburg, Alkefjellet, the Hinlopen Strait, and the ‘Fjortende Julibreen’ – a vast glacial wall of ice more than 16km long. Since most of Svalbard’s ecosystem is uninhabited and so well-protected, this remote archipelago is one of the world’s best places to spot polar bears in their natural habitat. Beyond the mighty polar bear, there’ll be many thousands of migrating Brünnich guillemots, as well as intimate gatherings of giant pinnipeds. And, for those itching to experience a more intimate view of the surroundings from sea- level, you’ll be given the chance to journey on either a sea kayaking or paddling adventure. Day 10: Disembark - Longyearbyen to Finland B Today, you’ll be setting sail for the town of Longyearbyen where your cruise will conclude, and you’ll fly back to Helsinki. Upon Arrival in Helsinki you’ll have the evening at leisure. Day 11: Finland to the UK B After breakfast you’ll be taken back to the airport where you’ll take your return flight back to the UK. NEW Arctic Cruise: The Svalbard Explorer For the more adventurous and discerning travellers looking to experience somewhere truly outlandish and unique - join us on an Arctic expedition across and within the spectacular landscapes and sceneries found in the Svalbard region of the Greenland Sea. This exciting journey to this most remote Norwegian island will both thrill and amaze with its dreamlike scenery and abundant, varied wildlife. Polar Bear What you’ll see ⚫ Encounter iconic mammals such as polar bears, walrus and reindeer which abound in the Svalbard region: “the wildlife capital of the Arctic” ⚫ Make the most of the continuous daylight as you explore the pure and picture-perfect mountain- scapes and fjords ⚫ Wrap up warm for an exhilarating hike around the arctic tundra and polar desert ⚫ Step into a timeless scene aboard a high-speed Zodiac boat for a thrilling ride amidst the island’s mighty glaciers and floating icebergs ⚫ Immerse yourself in the icy realms with the option of embarking on a sea-kayaking adventure Longyearbyen Alkefjellet Smeerenburg Monaco Glacier Finland < < Helsinki 2 Boat Air Nights 2 Ocean Cruise Europe 120 Hundreds of escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk