Arctic Cruise: Day 2
DAY 2 - Saturday, 25 June 2022 - Hornsund: Svalbard's southernmost fjord with 8 glaciers cascading into the water - SPECTACULAR! Whale bones dating back to circa 1620!
Arctic Cruise: Day 1
The word Antarctica comes from the Greek language, antarktikos, which means “opposite to the Arctic”. In turn, Arctic comes from the Greek word arktikos, which means “of the bear”, in reference to the northern constellation called Osa Menor, in which is the Polar Star, which marks the North Pole. An Arctic Expedition was a bucket list dream come true! Sadly our rustic Photographic Expedition Ship was delayed on a final inspection at the last minute so we were forced to switch to a Luxury Cruise with Ponant, the only other vessel sailing in the same timeframe. 'The scenery in this part of the world is simply spectacular. Icebergs, sea ice and volcanic mountain landscapes extend as far as the eye can see. And amidst it all roams the polar bear, king of the Arctic, in complete peace and tranquillity. To take an Arctic cruise is to allow yourself to be transported to a world where man is simply a spectator and nature reigns supreme.'
Norway: Fjords to Oslo
Longyearbyen is a small coal-mining town on Spitsbergen Island, in Norway's Svalbard archipelago. This Arctic town is known for its views of the Northern Lights and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault which is a secure backup facility for the world's crop diversity. Live bears can occasionally be seen in the area. The North Pole Expeditions Museum recounts early efforts to reach the pole by air. The scenery is spellbinding, and the islands offer you the chance to enjoy experiences that few other destinations can offer.
Norway: Aurlandsfjord and Flam Railway
Aurlandsfjord is a fjord in Vestland county, Norway. The fjord flows through the municipalities of Aurland, Vik, and Lærdal. The 29-kilometre long fjord is a branch off of the main Sognefjorden, Norway's longest fjord. The Flåm Railway has been described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway. The train runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, up to the high mountains at Myrdal station. The journey features the finest aspects of the stunning scenery of Western Norway. It offers an immediate return journey.
Sri Lanka: 2022 – Ahangama: Mirissa Beach
Mirissa Beach is the largest fishing port on the south coast. It is popular with tourists and is the base from where to set off on whale watching activities. In the evening it transformed to many little pop up restaurants on the beach offering freshly caught seafood. It has a good vibe.
Italy: Capri – 2021
Capri, an island in Italy’s Bay of Naples, is famed for its rugged landscape, upscale hotels and shopping, from designer fashions to limoncello and handmade leather sandals. One of its best-known natural sites is the Blue Grotto, a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cave. In summer, Capri's dramatic, cove-studded coastline draws many yachts.
France: Corsica -2021
Corsica, a mountainous Mediterranean island, presents a mix of stylish coastal towns, dense forest and craggy peaks (Monte Cinto is the highest). Nearly half the island falls within a park whose hiking trails include the challenging GR 20. Its beaches range from busy Pietracorbara to remote Saleccia and Rondinara. It's been part of France since 1768, but retains a distinct Italian culture.Most famous as Napoléon Bonaparte's birthplace, its strategic position has meant invasion and resistance have been recurring themes in the island's history.
Italy: Sardinia – 2021
Sardinia is a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. It has nearly 2,000km of coastline, sandy beaches and a mountainous interior crossed with hiking trails. Its rugged landscape is dotted with thousands of nuraghi – mysterious Bronze Age stone ruins shaped like beehives. One of the largest and oldest nuraghi is Su Nuraxi in Barumini, dating to 1500 B.C. An amazing yacht trip!
Portugal: Madeira – Day 10 & 11 – Deep Sea Fishing … and Farewell beautiful Madeira…
The big game fishing charters in Madeira target Blue Marlin, Tuna, White Marlin, short bill Spearfish, Albacore, Tuna, Dorado and Wahoo. Bottom fishing produces all kinds of smaller reef fish like Snapper, Jack, Sea Bream, Skate, Dentex and many other local species.
