Fossil hunting at Deltaneset -Hurtigruten Svalbard

Do you know how life in the sea looked like 150 mill. years ago? Here on Svalbard you can see this with your own eyes becuse the animals living at that time are now fossils in our mountains.

Upon arrival in Longyearbyen, you will be greeted by the unique pointy mountains that once gave ‘Spitsbergen’ its name. The special formation of the peaks reveals horizontal layers through the mountains, whilst erosion creates vertical runs on the sides.

FOSSIL HUNT IN THE ARCTIC

Jurassic Park
The Jurassic period is most well-known for the dinosaurs which inhabited the lands, but the fossils found on Svalbard are marine reptiles, like plesiosaurs, which lived in the ocean. These would have sunk into the seabed when they died, where they have remained for millennia. The Jurassic was the time of the reptiles, and these marine reptiles could be up to 13 metres long, and weigh up to 3 tonnes.

The paleontologist, Jørn Hurum, and his team have spent the last several years digging out plesiosaurs, and now we’ll go fossil hinting in the same area! After a short boat trip, and about an hour hike, we will come to the best spot for fossil hunting. If you are lucky enough to find one - and it doesn’t weigh 3 tonnes - you can take it home with you.

Included
- Transfer to and from accommodation in Longyearbyen

- Use of floatation suit

- Hot drinks and biscuits

- Lunch

Language
Safety is our highest priority, and the guide needs to be able to give directions you understand. To participate on one of our excursions, it is required that you speak and understand English or one of the Scandinavian languages.