Patty Disken‐Cahill Lindblad Expeditions 212‐261‐9081 [email protected]
NEW YORK, NY, March 2011‐‐‐ Lindblad Expeditions has been introducing travelers to the wonders of Arctic Svalbard for over two decades. This summer, Land of the Ice Bears: An In‐Depth Exploration of Arctic Svalbard will provide guests the most complete Arctic experience they can have and a complimentary two‐ day Fjords by Flam Railway adventure or free charter airfare on the June 30th departure.
The Land of the Ice Bears is an 11 day/9 night voyage aboard the 148‐guest National Geographic Explorer, a fully‐stabilized, state‐of‐the‐art, ice‐class vessel with the best Ice Team on earth. Departures for 2011 include June 9, 16, 22 and 30.
The voyage will travel to Arctic Svalbard, into the land of the midnight sun to a world of deep fjords, snow‐capped mountains, massive ice sheets and the best place to view polar bears in their natural habitat ‐‐ on the pack ice. During summer the tundra experiences a warm awakening carpeted with wildflowers and the thunderous sound of glacial ice crashing to the sea. Seabirds, reindeer, arctic fox, seals and great pods of walrus are out for up‐close viewing, and with temperatures averaging from 30° to 45°F, the weather is good for walks, hikes, kayaking and Zodiac forays under the sun that never sets.
The complimentary two‐day extension on the June 30th departure will combine the arctic landscapes of Land of the Ice Bears with Norway’s green fjordscapes and will explore the fjordlands from two perspectives: via Flam Railway, one of Europe’s most scenic rail journeys, and small boat. A must‐do on any exploration of fjord country, the Flåm is one of the world’s steepest railway lines on normal gauge. It connects the mountain plateau of Myrdal down 2,838 feet to the town of Flåm, and provides some of Norway’s most magnificent scenery. The second day’s spectacular fjord cruise will provide a different perspective of the fjordlands with steep mountain slopes and cascading waterfalls at every bend.
In addition to the natural wonders the Land of the Ice Bears voyage promises, there is the extra advantage of extraordinary travel companions flanking Lindblad’s expert team throughout the season. They include Gil Grosvenor, Chairman of the National Geographic Society's board of trustees and its Education Foundation on the June 9th voyage; David Wright, filmmaker and winner of an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking for his National Geographic film, The Great White Bear, on June 16th; Elizabeth Kolbert, staff writer for The New Yorker, her series on global warming, The Climate of Man, and her award‐winning book, Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change make her presence on board highly relevant on the June 23rd voyage; and joining on the June 30th departure will be Richard Louv, whose book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Children from Nature‐ Deficit Disorder, was the first voice heard in what is becoming an international dawn chorus of concern about the way children are deprived of nature. His soon to be released, The Nature Principle, shifts the focus from the children to adults in the discussion of the growing human disconnect from nature.
The complimentary two‐day extension is for new bookings only on the June 30th departure. For guests not interested in the two‐ day extension, Lindblad Expeditions will provide roundtrip complimentary charter airfare from Oslo/Svalbard, which must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions.Rates for Land of the Ice Bears begin at $7,490 per person based on double occupancy.
For reservations contact your travel agent, or for additional information on Lindblad Expeditions’ voyages to some of the most beautiful and fascinating places on earth, visit www.expeditions.com or call 1‐800‐EXPEDITION.
About Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company that offers voyages in the Galápagos, Antarctica, Baja California, Alaska, Costa Rica, Panama, Egypt, the Arctic and beyond. The company works in alliance with the National Geographic Society to inspire travelers to explore and care about the planet. As pioneers of global exploration, the organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine expedition programs and to promote conservation and sustainable tourism around the world. Lindblad Expeditions has been named “#1 Small Ship for Families” (Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Family Hotel & Cruises 2010) and one of the best Small‐Ship Cruise Lines (Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2010); “Best for Adventure” (2010 Cruise Critic Editor’s Pick Awards); “Best Expedition Cruise Line (Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2010 Reader’s Choice Awards) and Conde Nast Traveler 2009 Gold List for Cruise Lines.
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