Welcome to Svalbard, where rugged brown and green mountains ripple up from the Arctic tundra and snowmelt rivers glisten under the summer sun. Your journey begins in Longyearbyen, the Svalbard archipelago's largest settlement. Once a coal mining colony, it's now a lively hub for adventurers, scientists, and engineers working on world-renowned research projects such as the Global Seed Vault. You'll be transferred from the airport to your hotel Funken Lodge for check-in. If you have the time, explore the surrounding area or simply relax before your first activity. In the early evening, a bus collects you for a short 10-15 minute drive through the vast Adventdalen (Advent Valley) to Camp Barentz - a cluster of cabins, including a replica of the one where Willem Barentz, Svalbard's discoverer, overwintered in 1596. You'll be greeted by your knowledgeable host, who'll be armed with polar bear protection, and welcomed into the warmth of the firelit cabin. Over drinks, homemade reindeer bidos, coffee, and dessert you'll learn fascinating facts and stories about the 'King of the Arctic'. Afterwards, step outside to photograph the wild landscape, perhaps spotting reindeer, grouse or foxes before returning to your hotel in Longyearbyen. ...
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