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Migrating South

13 Days / 11 locations in Norway, Germany, Holland (Netherlands), Belgium, Channel Islands, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, and Spain

See the autumn colours and many of the historical and fascinating sights of Western Europe on this voyage. We start in Bergen and travel to Las Palmas. We will sail up the Seine to visit Rouen and continue to Nantes, before we set course across the Bay of Biscay towards Spain and La Coruña. In Portugal we will visit both Lisbon and Portimão before we head for Africa and a day exploring Casablanca. Agadir is next before we head over to the Canary Islands.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Bergen
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Dinner

We depart Bergen in the afternoon. We recommend you acquaint yourself with this international city with its small-town charm, surrounded by seven mountains. Stroll through the picturesque streets of Bergen and enjoy the well-known and famous sites like Håkon’s Hall and Rosenkrantz Tower, St. Mary’s Church, Bergen Harbour and the famous fish market. Bergen was founded in 1070, and we recommend a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage famous houses of “Bryggen” (the wharf).

 
Day 2     At Sea
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The North Sea

Enjoy the comfort of MS Fram while we cross the North Sea and head towards Norway. Our expedition team will give interesting lectures about the history and biology of the area we are in.

 
Day 3     Hamburg
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Hamburg is a major port city situated on the Elbe River in northern Germany. 1,740,000 inhabitants make it Germany's second-largest city. Hamburg takes great pride in its mercantile background, which built the city's wealth in the past centuries. From 1241 on, it was member of the Hanseatic League, a medieval trade monopoly over Northern Europe. The mercantile background reflects in the city's architecture. The only palace in Hamburg is the town hall, which houses the citizen's parliament and the senate. Apart from that, the city still has large quarters with expensive houses and villas.

 
Day 4     Helgoland
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Helgoland is a small archipelago in the North Sea, off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein. It consists of two islands, the main island and the dune. The Main Island is inhabited by some 1,200 people, and is today a holiday resort that enjoys a tax-exempt status. The islands are a natural point for migrating birds to stop, and has had a bird observatory since 1991. There are very few cars and bicycles at Helgoland, as German traffic regulations prohibit the use of other than electrically powered vehicles, fire trucks and ambulance being excepted from these rules. During our stop in Helgoland, the expedition team will take you on a walking tour of the island. We will shuttle by small boats to and from the island.

 
Day 5     Amsterdam
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The capital of the Netherlands is one of Europe’s most charming destinations, renowned for its medieval city centre and numerous canals (called grachten). The 17th century is considered Amsterdam's "Golden Age" when it became one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Ships sailed from here to the Baltic Sea, North America, Africa and Asia and formed the basis of a worldwide trading network. Today the city is noted for many outstanding museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt House and the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world.

 
Day 6     Antwerp
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

The port of Antwerp is the second largest of Europe and amongst the ten largest in the world. The city has a rich past, full of history and culture with famous artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck and Brueghel all leaving their mark. It is also famous for its fashion and design and its involvement in the diamond trade, more than 50% of the world diamond production passes through Antwerp. Besides historical buildings from the 13th to 19th Century, the city boasts several museums and large pedestrian-only shopping streets where you can stock up on the famous Belgian chocolates.

 
Day 7     Guernsey Island
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Lying close to the north coast of France and bathed by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the Channel Islands are the perfect holiday destination. Although Guernsey is geographically much closer to France than the UK, it is loyal to the British crown. This loyalty can be traced back to Norman times when the Channel Islands first became part of the English realm. St Peter Port, the island’s capital, is a bustling harbour town, and a tapestry of architectural styles that tell the story of the region’s changing fortunes. In Guernsey we use our PolarCirkel boats to shuttle you into the harbour.

 
Day 8     Brest
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today we will arrive at the western tip of Brittany; since medieval times Brest has always been an important port and naval base. The advantages of the location for a seaport town were first recognized by Richelieu, who in 1631 constructed a harbour with wooden wharves, which soon became a station of the French navy. Today we will have the chance to explore Brest and its surroundings, featuring impressive landscapes and historical heritage.

 
Day 9     Bay of Biscay
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We spend the day in the Bay of Biscay, sailing from Brest towards our next port of call, Leixoes. These waters were known to be some of the fiercest of the Atlantic Ocean, especially in winter times. Today, improved ships and weather forecasts have made it easy to enjoy the crossing of the bay. Spend the day on day spotting for whales, dolphins and seabirds, or follow our on board lecture programme given by our expedition team.

 
Day 10     Porto
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We call at Leixoes, situated at the mouth of the river Douro, close to the city of Porto. Situated across the river Douro, Porto is Portugal’s second largest city. Its name has its origin in the big lodges of port wine. Although its ancient roots have been preserved with pride, a modern and lively commerce makes it a thriving city. Porto’s traditional importance as an industrial centre does not diminish the charm and character of its old quarters or even of the newer and busy avenues, shopping centres and quiet residential blocks.

 
Days 11 - 12     At Sea
On Board the M/S Fram
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We head out to sea, and sail en route to the Canary Islands. Enjoy the days at sea following lectures given by our expedition team, and relax onboard taking advantage of the comfortable lounges, the outdoor Jacuzzis or maybe a sauna with a view on our top deck.

 
Day 13     Las Palmas
Meals: Breakfast

Today our voyage ends in Gran Canaria, third largest of the Canary Islands. It has often been called a “Miniature Continent” due to the different climates and a variety of landscapes found. Gran Canaria is under protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Most of the tourists visit the southern part of the island, which is sunnier and has less rain than the north. We arrive in the morning and we recommend taking time to acquaint you with the capital city of Las Palmas and its surroundings before returning home.

 
Price Includes
Expedition Voyage in Cabin Grade of Your Choice on a Full Board Basis
Price Does Not Include
 Travel Insurance
 Optional Excursions
 Transatlantic Flights
HUR-1269
1.28.15.WP26