11 Nights Arctic

The exotic capital of Finland is a consummate city of the sea, built along a series of peninsulas and islands jutting along the Gulf of Finland. Neoclassical schemes of the early 1800's and modernist Finnish styles of the mid 20th century combine to make it a sprawling masterpiece, outfitted with sea-bordered parks, picturesque boulevards and waterside walkways.

Longyearbyen is a great jumping-off point for experiencing the humbling power of the Arctic islands. Glaciers, mountains and primitive wildlife are the main attractions here. Be warned, though: Those polar bears look cuddly enough, but they are extremely dangerous and don't take kindly to gawking tourists.

Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in northern Norway

The bay of Fjortende Julibukta boasts magnificent scenery, a glacier that calves into the sea and a cliff on the north side of the bay teeming with breeding birds.

The settlement of Smeerenburg on Amsterdam Island in northwest Svalbard was founded by Danish and Dutch whalers in 1619 as one of Europe's northernmost outposts

Monacobreen is a glacier in Haakon VII Land on Spitsbergen, Svalbard. The glacier debouches into Liefdefjorden. Former names of the glacier include Glacier de Monaco and Liefde Bay-bræ.

Alkhornet is a mountain on the western coast of Spitsbergen, the largest island of Norway's arctic Svalbard archipelago. It is 428 m in height and stands in southern Oscar II Land on the northern side of the entrance to the inlet of Isfjorden near the bay of Trygghamna.

Hinlopen Strait is the strait between Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet in Svalbard, Norway. It is 150 kilometers long and 10 to 60 kilometers wide. The strait is difficult to pass because of pack ice. It is believed to have been named after Thijmen Jacobsz Hinlopen

Longyearbyen is a great jumping-off point for experiencing the humbling power of the Arctic islands. Glaciers, mountains and primitive wildlife are the main attractions here. Be warned, though: Those polar bears look cuddly enough, but they are extremely dangerous and don't take kindly to gawking tourists.

The exotic capital of Finland is a consummate city of the sea, built along a series of peninsulas and islands jutting along the Gulf of Finland. Neoclassical schemes of the early 1800's and modernist Finnish styles of the mid 20th century combine to make it a sprawling masterpiece, outfitted with sea-bordered parks, picturesque boulevards and waterside walkways.