Svalbard & Arctic Journey

You can thank Olav Kyrre.

He’s the Viking king who founded Bergen in 1070. During the Middle Ages, the city became Scandinavia’s primary port, and today, against all odds, you can still see buildings and other relics of this long period. There’s the medieval fortress of Bergenhus, as well as the summer home of composer Edvard Grieg. Bergen, Norway is also a jumping off point for excursions to some of Norway’s wonders, such as Sorfjord, Samnangerfjord, Tokagjel Gorge and Steindalsfjoss Waterfall. After you’ve visited all of these, there will be a short spelling quiz.

Elegant is the word that will come to mind.

As you take in the Danish capital’s rich history and traditions. With castles and crown jewels, galleries and museums, cathedrals and canals, the sightseeing ranks among the best in Europe.

The Strøget is a series of pedestrian-only streets which make strolling and shopping a pleasure. And be sure to visit Tivoli, a unique combination of picture-perfect flower gardens, lakes, theaters and restaurants with more than 100,000 colored lights.

Your welcome to the most northerly town in Europe than the latitude would imply. Located at 70*40 North, Hammerfest has continuous daylight from may through July.

This is the town where north was invented. That’s right no village in the entire world is further north than Honningsvag, Norway. How far north is it? It is so far north the sun doesn’t even think of setting from mid-May until the end of July-which seems like an awful lot of work, and that could explain its need to set and stay set from late November to late January. (This period is especially difficult if you have a night job.) Honningsvag is the gateway to the North Cape, but hey, if you want to head that direction, you’re on your own.

Main industries in Húsavík are fishing and fish processing but also different service industries, both public and private, agriculture in Reykjahverfi, and tourism. Tourism has been growing very rapidly in the last few years, especially in connection with Whale Watching tours on Skjálfandi-bay from Húsavík harbour on traditional renovated fishing boats. Tourism has grown to the point that Húsavík is now well known as “The Whale Watching Capital of Europe.”North of Husavik, the Tjörnes peninsula is known for fossilised seashells from pre-historic times some of which are on display at Hallbjarnarstaðir fossil Museum.The National Park in Jökulsárgljúfur is about 65 km northeast of Húsavík, with it’s many fantastic rock and earth formations. Nearby in Jökulsá á Fjöllum is Europe´s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss.Less than half day drive from Húsavík, in the wilderness of the interior are some well known places of interest: Askja, a huge volcanic caldera in the Dyngjufjöll mountains; and Kverkfjöll, a geothermal area in the northern edge of Vatnajökull glacier.

The capital of Greenland.

Situated at the head of a 60-mile fjord, Oslo, Norway, one of the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, is beautifully framed by a vast expanse of woods, moors and lakeland. A blend of 19th- and 20th-century architectural styles, Norway’s capital is known for the wood carvings and colorful frescoes that decorate its buildings and public spaces.

Reykjavik, is the capital of Iceland. It is the country’s chief port and center of its cod fishing industry.

Founded in 874 A.D., it is the home of the Althing, or Icelandic parliament, the oldest in Europe. The city’s heating system uses nearby hot springs. Reykjavik was the site of 1986 disarmament talks between the U.S. and USSR.

The world’s northernmost university – only one institute of higher learning may boast of that distinction, and at the moment anyway, that institution is the University of Norway at Tromso. Situated about 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromso has continuous sunshine from late May to mid-July. Nearby is the city of Narvik, known for mysterious lightning that occurs every August.