HIGHLIGHTS
- The
wildlife of the arctic – chance to encounter musk ox, arctic
hare and whales
- Visit
the world's largest national park in north east Greenland, and the
world's largest fjord system, Scoresbysund
- Visit
Ittoqqortoomit, one of the world's most remote settlements
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jul 17, 2025 | Jul 29, 2025 | 16,445 |
17,095 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jul 17, 2025 | Jul 29, 2025 | 16,445 |
17,095 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Longyearbyen
Having
made your way to Longyearbyen, you will be met by a representative of
Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. On arrival, you
will be provided with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags for your luggage.
Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number.
Enjoy
free time, and in the evening, dine at your leisure (dinner not
included).
Accommodation:
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
NOTE:
Sometimes our ship is unable to dock in Longyearbyen port due to space
and capacity. In these instances, we reach the ship by Zodiac. Please
ensure that you keep your wet-weather gear in your hand luggage to use
in the Zodiacs, if the situation arises. Please ensure your cabin
luggage tag is completed clearly showing your cabin number and name.
Our crew will deliver your luggage directly to your cabin.
Day
2 Longyearbyen, embarkation
After
a leisurely breakfast, check-out of your room before enjoying some of
the main attractions of Longyearbyen town on sightseeing tour. On the
drive to Camp Barentz located in Advent Valley, your guide will give
you an introduction to Longyearbyen’s fascinating history. At
Camp Barentz enjoy a presentation in the large
‘lavvo’ - a traditional building common in northern
Norway. You will also have the opportunity to meet the friendly huskies
and perhaps pick up some souvenirs. A visit to the Svalbard Museum is
included back in town before embarking the vessel in the late afternoon.
After
embarkation, settle into your cabin before attending mandatory safety
briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the
lines’ and set sail. Sail out of the beautiful Isfjorden,
escorted by gliding fulmars and perhaps the occasional puffin. Find a
spot in one of the observation areas to watch seabirds, including
graceful ivory gulls, kittiwakes and guillemots.
This
evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners, expedition team and
crew at the Captain’s Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start
of a thrilling adventure.
Days
3-4 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. Most
memorable are encounters with the majestic polar bear on pack ice. Your
Expedition Team is just as keen as you are to
find them and they will be on constant watch to spot
these inspiring creatures.
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
5-6 Greenland 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
7-13 East Greenland
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.
Be
prepared to experience ice – and lots of
it! East Greenland contains some of the Arctic’s most
impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp
ice-clad peaks soaring up to
2,000 metres (6,562 feet),
and glaciers birthing gigantic icebergs that
drift throughout the fjord system, combine
to create breathtaking scenes.
The
tundra landscape is home to musk oxen, arctic hare and
reindeer. Throughout the area there are ancient Thule
archaeological sites, historical trappers’ huts,
and the cabins of present-day Inuit hunters.
A highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the
most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the region, with
approximately 450 inhabitants. The community has an excellent museum,
gift shop, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs
and provides the opportunity
to meet the friendly locals.
Explore Scoresbysund,
the world’s largest fjord and a favourite
hunting ground of the local Inuit. Massive
glaciers flow into this fjord, the birthplace of
hundreds of majestic Greenland icebergs.
It is a spectacular place that simply needs to be
seen to be believed. North
of Scoresbysund lie Kong Oskar and Kaiser
Franz Josef fjords, two of the most significant 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.
We
will attempt to enter Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, a remote and rarely
visited fjord system with countless opportunities for exploration,
located within the Northeast Greenland National Park. Cruising
through Kong Oskar Fjord, we marvel at the geological beauty
of the mountains. We will then head south along the coast of Liverpool
Land, with our passage dependent on ice conditions.
We
stretch our legs on hikes across tundra in search of ancient graveyards
and summer villages occupied 3,000 years ago by Inuit. We may
see musk ox, arctic hare and reindeer
grazing. The maze of calm, interconnecting
waterways in this area provides excellent opportunities for
sea kayaking. We will see ring seals, perhaps catch a
glimpse of the elusive narwhal, and maybe even a
polar bear hunting on pack ice.
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 in 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 your downtown hotel or to
Keflavik airport.
Sylvia Earle (Luxury Expedition, 126-guests)
Due to sail in October 2021 our new ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 - this vessel pays tribute to Sylvia's long standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife. Sylvia Earle will be actively involved in the development of her namesake.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Transfer
from airport to hotel on arrival Day 1.
- One
night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in
Longyearbyen on Day 1.
- Sightseeing
tour of Longyearbyen, prior to embarkation, on Day 2.
- Transfer
from pier to hotel or airport in Reykjavik on Day 15.
- 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
Welcome and Farewell receptions 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.
- Gratuities
for ship’s crew.
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), laundry services, personal clothing, medical
expenses, wi-fi, email or phone charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Sea
Kayaking: USD 980 per person
- Rock
Climbing - USD 940 per person
- Photography:
FREE
- Bird
watching:
FREE
- Lectures
on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations:
FREE
- Polar
plunge:
FREE
- Trips
ashore:
FREE
- Walking:
FREE
- Whale
and mammal spotting:
FREE
- Zodiac
cruises:
FREE
