HIGHLIGHTS
- Witnessa
solar eclipse - a truly unforgettable experience.
- Watch
arctic fox hunt beneath towering cliffs that are home to enormous
colonies of guillemots and fulmars
- In
Svalbard, push through pack ice, searching for polar bears and ringed
seals
- Quietly
approach musk oxen and reindeer on tundra walks
- Zodiac-cruise
along vast glacial fronts and into Øfjord as sunset paints
the surrounding 2,000-metre (6,562-feet) walls a vibrant pink
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Aug 02, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | 24,057 |
24,995 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Aug 02, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | 24,057 |
24,995 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrive in Oslo
Having
made your way to Oslo, you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your
included hotel, please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to
collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations
team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation
or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash
or purchase last minute items from a local pharmacy or
supermarket.
The
remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own
expense.
Accommodation:
The Clarion Hotel Oslo (or similar)
Day
2 Fly to Longyearbyen, embarkation
This
morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags
clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Enjoy breakfast at
the hotel before transferring to the airport for our charter flight to
Longyearbyen for embarkation. Any valuables or personal items should be
kept on you throughout the day. In Longyearbyen, explore the town on a
guided tour.
After
the tour, you will be transferred directly to the pier to embark in the
late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important
safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we
‘throw the lines’ and set sail.
Note:
the excursion is contingent on the arrival time of our charter flight
to Longyearbyen.
Days
3–5 Svalbard
Svalbard
offers arctic wilderness at its best. The members of our experienced
Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will
use their expertise to tailor our itinerary, choosing the best options
based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and opportunities
for wildlife encounters.
Phenomenal
fjords, magnificent mountains ranges, and a polar desert rich in
fossils set the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. See walrus
hauled-out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, we stretch our legs on
walks across tundra carpeted in brightly coloured wildflowers. We visit
towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree
slopes that hold Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies.
If
you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you will have an
opportunity to enjoy that activity when conditions allow. For those who
are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as
conditions are suitable, you will hear the announcement to prepare for
an exhilarating dip – a memory you will savour for years to
come.
Days
6 At Sea
As
we sail towards the coast of East Greenland, we may encounter whales
feeding in the rich waters of the north. As we approach East Greenland,
be prepared to encounter more pack ice and perhaps spot seals and a
variety of seabirds, including the northern fulmar and
Brünnich’s guillemot.
The
strong, icy currents have isolated East Greenland from the Polar Basin,
attracting large numbers of fish, seals and whales. Climatic conditions
and the concentration of ice in the vicinity often create thick morning
fog that only vanishes in presence of the midday sun. Our experts will
inform and entertain us with fascinating discussions on plants,
animals, ice and heroic tales of exploration.
Days
7 Jan Mayen
The
approach to Jan Mayen is spectacular. The huge 2,277metre (7,470 foot)
Beerenberg volcano is the northernmost active volcano in the world, and
it last erupted in 1985. The northern part of the island is a great
place to look for whales and dolphins and contains impressive glaciers,
some of which reach the sea. If the weather is favourable, we will try
to land at Kvalrossbukta, a relatively sheltered bay on the
island’s west coast. This is one of the landings used to
supply the weather station Olonkinbyen, situated on the eastern side of
the island.
Day
8-10 Ittoqqortoormiit & Scoresby Sund
In
the coming days, a host of choices are available to us, and depending
on ice and weather conditions, the east coast of Greenland is ours to
explore. Our experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless
journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our itinerary
on a day-to-day basis. This allows us to make best use of the
prevailing weather, ice conditions and encounters with wildlife. We
generally attempt up to two landings or Zodiac excursions per day,
including cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales
feeding near the surface.
East
Greenland contains some of the Arctic's most impressive scenery. Deep
fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp ice-clad peaks up to 2,000
m (6,562 ft) high. Gigantic icebergs calved from glaciers drift
throughout the fjord system creating breathtaking scenery. The
landscape is filled with multi-coloured tundra home to musk oxen and
arctic hare. Throughout the area are ancient Thule archaeological
sites, historical trappers' huts, and modern Inuit hunters' cabins.
A
highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most
isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the region, with
approximately 500 inhabitants. Here you can explore the village, the
fascinating museum or sit in the beautiful Lutheran Church. The locals
are friendly, and from underneath their Arctic fox-fur jackets, the shy
young children are keen to say hello and practice their English. The
community boasts an excellent museum, gift shop, an abundance of
Greenlandic sled dogs, and the opportunity to meet Inuit
people.
Thanks
to the fertile volcanic soil mountains that protects areas from the
strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything
from muskox and arctic foxes to mountain hares and even reindeer near
the fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds
including common eider, glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern
fulmar, and arctic terns gracefully gliding or plunging into icy bays
for zooplankton.
Days
11 Solar Eclipse
The
day builds with excitement as we set sail towards our prime viewing
position within the totality path. Enjoy lunch onboard while our crew
expertly navigates the ship towards the perfect spot to witness the
eclipse. As anticipation mounts, gather on deck with fellow eclipse
chasers in preparation for the celestial event. The drama unfolds as
the moon starts to take a bite out of the sun, slowly plunging the
landscape into an ethereal twilight. Then, the grand finale arrives.
Totality transforms the day into night for a breathtaking 2 minutes and
18 seconds. As totality recedes, the sun peeks through, creating a
stunning diamond ring effect. Relax and relive this unforgettable
experience with your fellow travellers over a celebratory dinner.
Note:
subject to weather, cloud cover, sea state, ice and other conditions
beyond our control.
Day
12-13 East Greenland
Continue
to explore the fjord systems in Greenland, each one encompassing
several smaller fjords and sounds. Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil
and the surrounding mountains offering protection from strong winds,
the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything from musk ox and
arctic foxes to mountain hares, and even reindeer, near the fjord. Look
skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds, including the glaucous
gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, common raven and common
eider.
There
are great hiking options in the area, where flowering tundra plants,
scattered bones of whales and muskox from centuries of hunting by the
Inuit and fumaroles can be found. These are areas where heated
groundwater boil to the surface creating bubbling pools and mineral
formations as the water reacts with the atmosphere.
The
area also boasts some of the most striking sedimentary sandstone,
shale, and siltstone formations imaginable. The layers of sediment here
are estimated to have taken about 4,000 years to be laid down, and the
alternating colours and patterns in the layers of rocks are stunningly
beautiful.
Day
14 Denmark Strait
Crossing
the Denmark Strait to Iceland, search for whale blows and photograph
the many seabirds that trail our ship in the ever-present arctic winds.
Day
15 Disembark Reykjavik
During
the early morning, we cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at
approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your Expedition Team and fellow
passengers as we all continue our onward journeys. Transfer to Keflavik
airport.
Note:
At the conclusion of the voyage, we recommend booking flights departing
after 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are
delays.
Greg Mortimer (Luxury Expedition, 120-guests)
Capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, the Greg Mortimer is built to world-class polar standards. It is designed in close consultation with expedition specialists, taking advantage of Auroras more than 25 years of experience.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Airport
arrival and departure transfers to/from our group hotel or port on the
first day and the final day of your voyage package.
One
night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Oslo on
Day 1.
Charter
flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen on Day 2.
Sightseeing
tour of Longyearbyen, prior to embarkation, on Day 2 (time permitting).
Onboard
accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
All
meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.
Beer,
house wine and soft drinks with dinner.
Captain’s
Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house
beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
Educational
lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.
Complimentary
access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial
consultation).
One
3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
Complimentary
use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
Comprehensive
pre-departure information.
Port
surcharges, permits and landing fees.
Wi-Fi.
Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection
can be unreliable.
Exclusions
International
or domestic flights not mentioned in the itinerary, unless specified in
the itinerary.
Transfers
– unless specified in the itinerary.
Airport
arrival or departure taxes.
Passport,
visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
Travel
insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
Hotel
accommodation and meals unless specified in the itinerary.
Optional
excursions and optional activity surcharges.
All
items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic
beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), gratuities,
laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses or phone charges.
Note: A
$15 USD per person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added
to your onboard account. It is at your discretion if you would like to
remove the tip (or adjust the amount) when you settle your bill. It is
not necessary to tip the expedition team members. This gratuity amount
is included for suites as part of their ‘Suite
Benefits’.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
Included Activities
- Bird
watching
- Lectures
on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
- Near
shore cruises
- Photography
- Polar
plunge
- Trips
ashore
- Walking
- Whale
and mammal spotting
Included
Activities
- Sea
Kayaking - From USD $890.00/pp
