Despite a long history of over-huntingand other human pressures, themighty Musk Ox still roams thewindswept mountains and tundra of thehigh Arctic. Although the core of theirdistribution remains in Greenland andnorthern Canada, small remnantpopulations also occur in Alaska, Russiaand Norway, the descendants of animals re-introduced to their former range in the midto late 20th century. The Norwegianpopulation was re-introduced in 1932, androams the beautiful alpine and subalpineuplands of the Dovre Mountains,approximately 200 kilometres from thecoastal town of Trondheim. Theseimpressive and formidable animals -which look not unlike shaggy carpets onlegs - live alongside an impressive rangeof sought-after Arctic bird species such asDotterel, Gyr Falcon and Long-tailed Skua,together creating the perfect wildlifecombination and the focus of this new andexciting Naturetrek tour.Winter lingers for a long while in theNorwegian mountains, but by mid-June thesnow has usually melted from all but theupper slopes, the valleys are bursting intoflower and numerous birds are busilysinging, staking out territories and gearingup for the short, but frenetic, breedingseason ahead. Those birds that choose to breed on the upper slopes, such asDotterel, Golden Plover, Ring Ouzel andWheatear, are often found in impressivenumbers in the valleys at this time of yearwaiting for the snow to melt and theirbreeding grounds to finally open up. Anylingering snow will not affect our plans,however, for the areas of the DovreMountains that we need to explore are easilyaccessed from Trondheim and criss-crossedby a network of cleared, sealed roads.Our tour starts with a short, and direct, flightto Trondheim, a pleasant coastal townwhich sits on the edge of Norway's intricateand mountainous coastline. FromTrondheim we head inland and climb upthrough the Dovre Mountains to the villageof Kongsvold, an attractive community ofwooden houses with white picket fences,backed by spectacular mountain sceneryand within earshot of singing Bluethroats.You may even be fortunate enough to see adistant Musk Ox from your bedroomwindow! A comfortable mountain hotel willbe our base for the next four nights.We will spend the following day exploringthe alpine habitats, pools and marshes ofthe Dovre Mountains in search of some ofthe typical birds of the Scandinavianuplands. Waterbirds such as Red-throatedand Black-throated Divers, Scaup, Velvetand Common Scoters, Long-tailed Duckand Red-necked Phalarope are frequentlyseen. Waders include Temminck's Stint,Wood Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Dottereland Whimbrel, while Bluethroat, LaplandBunting and Shore Lark are all possible.Overhead soar Gyr Falcon, Golden Eagleand Rough-legged Buzzard and, for thefortunate, perhaps even a Short-eared Owlquartering the heather-clad slopes. In theevening we will visit a nearby wetland towatch lekking Great Snipe, which is surelyone of Europe's most bizarre, butenjoyable, ornithological sights.From the smaller inhabitants of themountains we next turn our attention to thelargest. We will spend most of the followingday heading up into the mountains on a'Musk Ox safari'. While nothing can beguaranteed in the world of wildlife-watching,we would be very unlucky not to see thisimpressive animal. The Musk Ox is actuallymore closely related to sheep and goatsthan to cows and has evolved to withstandbrutally cold temperatures of minus 50ºC orless. The Norwegian population currentlystands at about 215 animals and in thesummer they typically live in herds ofbetween 10 and 15 individuals. In additionto the Musk Oxen we'll keep our eyes openfor Reindeer, Mountain Hare and a variety ofbirds. Both Lynx and Wolverine also live inthese mountains but they are both veryelusive and only seen by the fortunate few.We will spend our final full day birdwatchingin the mountains, visiting such sites asFokstrumyra and the spectacularVinstradalen Plateau. These areas are hometo many of the species mentioned above,as well as to Ptarmigan, Willow Grouse,Hen Harrier, Long-tailed Skua and RingOuzel. Finally, we must leave the DovreMountains behind and return to Trondheimfor our flight home. We should, however,have time before we leave to enjoy a littlelowland wildlife-watching, perhaps endingthe tour with a Slavonian Grebe resplendentin its colourful breeding dress or perhaps ahuge Moose crossing the road.Norway - Musk Oxen & MountainsA 6-day holiday to Norway's Dovre Mountains in search of Musk Oxen and upland birds.Thursday 14th June - Tuesday 19th June Cost: £1,795Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationOSLOBERGENKONGSVOLDTRONDHEIMSWEDENNORWAYNORTHSEANORTHSEADOVRE MOUNTAINSOutline itineraryDay 1Fly Trondheim; transferKongsvold.Day 2Birdwatching, DovreMountains.Day 3 Musk Ox safari, DovreMountains.Day 4 Birdwatching, DovreMountains.Day 5Trondheim.Day 6Fly London.AccommodationComfortable mountain hotel withprivate facilities.FoodAll included in the price.GradingGrade A. Easy walks, althoughsometimes on rough terrain.FocusBirds, mammals and mountainscenery.LeaderTerje Kolass.Single room supplement£295.Web quick search: NOR0899Musk OxDotterelSlavonian Grebe

Norway is a country ofmany spectacularlandscapes. From thegentle rolling green hills surrounding Oslo,to the harsh snowy tundra of the Arctic andthe towering mountains, cut by deep darkfjords, it is a land of breathtaking contrastsand beauty. Even amongst such naturalsplendour, however, one region stands out.The Lofoten Islands lie deep within theArctic Circle and offer a wild beauty thatcan best be described as humbling; theirmajestic mountains rising vertically out ofan inky-blue sea, leaving room for only athreadlike shore. This is the 'Land of theMidnight Sun', a place of dramaticlandscapes, idyllic summers and abundantwildlife; a source of inspiration for manyand the soul of northern Norway. Jutting out from the mainland, the Lofotenarchipelago extends westwards far out intothe Atlantic Ocean and it is this uniquelocation that attracts such a wealth ofwildlife. The open sea, the influence of theGulf Stream and the proximity of thecontinental shelf offer a rare opportunity toexperience the atmosphere and theexcitement of an Arctic whale-watch with adifference. We hope to witness the naturalphenomenon of Sperm Whales gatheringon the edge on the continental shelf, wherethe warmer Atlantic currents and coldArctic waters merge to create rich feedinggrounds for some of the largest creatureson the planet. On land we will explore thespectacular birdlife in one of the world'smost beautiful and pristine archipelagos -travelling on the quiet roads that snakearound beautiful fjords and through somedramatic countryside, where breathtakingviews present themselves at every corner.Our 6-day holiday begins with a flight fromLondon, via Oslo, beyond the Arctic Circleto Evenes, from where we continue ourjourney by minibus. The scenery is awe-inspiring: craggy mountains whose jaggedteeth seemingly bite the skyline and trap astring of tiny fishing villages tight againstthe shore. The main highway weaves ascenic route as it hops from island to islandvia sweeping bridges and causeways andoccasionally through tunnels beneath thesea. Our time exploring this spectacularregion will be split between three nights onthe island of Andøya, on the northernVesterlån Islands, and two nights atMoskenes on the southern tip of theLofoten archipelago. On one day we will travel north to thepicturesque fishing village of Andenes for aday's whale-watching, the undoubtedhighlight of the tour. On our way out to thewhales' feeding grounds we will visitseabird and seal colonies and keep asharp eye open for the majestic White-tailed Eagles which are frequently seenhere. By spending a whole morning (3-5hours) out at sea we hope to optimise ourchances of seeing several different speciesof cetacean. Although Sperm Whale, thelargest of the toothed whales, is the mostfrequently observed species, we shouldalso look out for Minke, Humpback andLong-finned Pilot Whales, White-beakedDolphins, and perhaps the distinctive talldorsal fins of a patrolling pod of Orcas.While Andøya is strictly not part of theLofotens it is one of the most productiveregions for birds, having a diverse avifaunarepresentative of a wide range of habitatsthat includes mountains, moorlands, bogs,lakes and woodlands. Species we may expect to see include Willow Ptarmigan,Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, Whimbrel,Ruff, Red-necked Phalarope, Redpoll,Brambling and Snow Bunting. No visit to the Lofoten Islands would becomplete without the experience of seeingMoskenes. This spectacular region hasbeen sculpted over the millennia byglaciers and other elemental forces,creating one of the wildest and mostfascinating places in Norway. The area ischaracterised by sheer-faced mountainsand some of the oldest rocks in Europe,approximately 3 billion years old. Here,rising to an altitude of 1,029 metres, MountHermannsdalstind dominates the westernLofotens and is one of the highestmountains in the archipelago. We will alsoembrace the rich cultural heritage of theLofotens and during our time in the southof the islands we will observe theprocessing of the region's most importantexport, 'Stockfish' (air-dried cod). Naturally,we will also be making frequent stops forbirdwatching en route, including a visit tothe wetlands at Leknes.The magnificent scenery, wealth of birdand marine-life together with fresh Arcticair will surely combine into a unique andunforgettable experience, but the greatestexperience of all is, perhaps, just beingamongst the Lofoten Islands themselves.While nothing in nature is guaranteed, onething is certain on this tour: enduringmemories of awe-inspiring landscapesquite unlike any other in Europe!NORWAYLOFOTENISLANDSVESTERLÅNISLANDSSWEDENSORTLANDEVENESANDØYALEKNESMOSKENESANDENES100Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryOutline itineraryDay 1Fly Evenes; transferAndøya.Day 2/3Wildlife exploration fromAndøya.Day 4/5Wildlife exploration fromMoskenes. Day 6Fly London.AccommodationComfortable guesthouse on Andøyawith private facilities. On the island ofMoskenes our group will be splitamongst a series of attractive cabinswith wonderful mountain views. Eachcabin has two bedrooms sharing onebathroom. FoodAll included in the price.GradingA. Easy to moderate day walks. FocusWhales, seabirds and mountainscenery. LeaderMalcolm Stott.Single room supplement£295.Web quick search: NOR07Whales & Seabirds ofNorway's Lofoten IslandsA 6-day holiday to the land of the midnight sun, focusing on the whales, seabirds and landscapes of Norway's spectacular Lofoten Islands.Sunday 24th June - Friday 29th June Cost: £2,195The Lofoten IslandsPuffinSperm Whale