Hurtigruten Foundation’s ‘Camping in...

The line’s guests supported charity efforts by participating in an immersive experience

Hurtigruten Foundation, the non-profit arm of Hurtigruten Group, has announced the recipients of its 2023 grants and hailed its guests for joining fundraising efforts through the ‘Camping in Antarctica’ experience.

The foundation said the grants would support 14 projects that align with its mission to fight climate change, strengthen local communities and combat unsustainable mass tourism.

This year's announcement marks a milestone as the foundation will distribute more than EUR 87,000, the largest sum ever distributed in a single round.

Hurtigruten Foundation managing director Henrik Lund said: “By paying to camp in Antarctica, our guests played a pivotal role in the foundation’s record-breaking achievement.

“In recognition of their contributions, we’re creating more opportunities for guests to participate in scientific research and community engagement.”

At the start of the 2022-23 Antarctica season, Hurtigruten Expeditions pledged to donate 100% of the proceeds from its Camping in Antarctica, An Amundsen Night experience to the foundation. With an exclusive capacity of 30 spaces per voyage, the chance to camp like an early explorer is the most coveted excursion across Hurtigruten Expeditions' collection of global itineraries.

The immersive campaign raised EUR 371,482, enabling a record number of guests to give back to the fragile places at the heart of their adventure.

Grants from the foundation will focus on projects that protect and preserve local communities, including summer camps in remote Greenland, the Cordova Chambre of Commerce’s regenerative tourism initiative and a watch group that teaches children in the Falkland Islands about conservation.

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Other grant recipients protect the natural environments in which Hurtigruten Norway and Hurtigruten Svalbard operate. The Wild Lab Project, which researches endangered black-legged kittiwakes, volunteer divers’ efforts to conserve marine biodiversity, Tarevoktere (Guardians of Kelp), and a University Centre in Svalbard project studying mercury levels in reindeer are all conserving Nordic coastlines.

Lund added: “We must minimise our footprint everywhere we go, but also want to ensure we can bring future generations of guests to the place where Hurtigruten’s story began.”

To learn more, visit www.hurtigruten.com/group/foundation