HIGHLIGHTS
Venture
close to 80° north, searching for polar bears on pack ice
Discover
the thrill of seeing walrus, seals, whales, reindeer, arctic fox,
guillemots and puffins
Cruise
along blue glacier fronts and through stunning fjords
Enjoy
tundra hikes amid stunningly beautiful scenery
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jul 04, 2025 | Jul 18, 2025 | 20,666 |
21,695 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jul 04, 2025 | Jul 18, 2025 | 20,666 |
21,695 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrive in Longyearbyen
Having
made your way to Longyearbyen, you will be met by a representative of
Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon 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)
Day
2 Embarkation Day
This
morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags
clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Your luggage will be
collected from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for
clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board.
Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the
day.
After
a leisurely breakfast, check-out before enjoying the main attractions
of Longyearbyen town on a locally guided tour. On the drive to Camp
Barentz, located in Advent Valley, your guide will give you an
introduction to Longyearbyen’s fascinating history. Once at
Camp Barentz we 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.
Note: Sometimes, our
ship is unable to dock in Longyearbyen port due to space and capacity.
In these instances, we use Zodiacs as a shuttle service between ship
and port. Please ensure that you keep your wet-weather gear in your
hand luggage in case this situation arises. Please ensure your cabin
luggage tag is completed, clearly showing your name and cabin number.
Our crew will deliver your luggage directly to your cabin.
Days
3–14 Svalbard Archipelago
Svalbard
offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Our experienced expedition team
will use their expertise to tailor our day-to-day itinerary, choosing
the best options, based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions
and the possibility of encounters with wildlife. Above the Arctic
Circle during the boreal summer, the sun does not drop below the
horizon until late August, so we enjoy 24 hours of daylight, and more
time to explore this breathtaking part of the planet.
Svalbard's
phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountain ranges and polar desert are
rich in fossils, perfectly setting the stage for heroic tales of early
exploration. We may encounter walrus hauled-out on sea ice or wallowing
on beaches. We may seek out towering cliffs noisy with nesting
guillemots and listen to the busy chanting of little auk colonies
protected amongst the scree slopes.
With
more time than on our classic Svalbard voyages we plan to reach further
afield, we will attempt to explore the two largest islands in the
archipelago; Spitsbergen and Nordauslandet. We may enjoy the delights
around Barentsoya and Edgeoya that are located in the Hinlopen Strait,
a known polar bear migration route. We plan to visit the remains of old
whaling settlements, old pomor sites, and enjoy early morning Zodiac
cruises. We will encounter glittering glaciers, keep watch for beluga
whales and watch for ivory gulls.
Weather
and ice permitting we may sail along the most northerly point of the
Svalbard archipelago, a favoured spot to a large colony of walruses. We
may encounter the mighty polar bear in its element, in the pack ice.
Your expedition team is just as keen as you are to find them
– we will be on constant watch to spot these magnificent
creatures.
If
you are participating in an optional activity such as kayaking, you
will have opportunity to experience the Arctic whenever conditions
allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge,
when conditions are perfect, you will hear the announcement to prepare
for an exhilarating dip – a memory to savour for years to
come.
Day
15 Disembark at Longyearbyen
Early
morning we cruise back into Longyearbyen for disembarkation. Farewell
your crew and expedition team and enjoy some free time before
transferring to the airport to continue your journey.
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 Day 1.
- One
night's hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Longyearbyen on Day
1.
- Sightseeing
tour of Longyearbyen on Day 2, prior to embarkation.
- Transfer
from pier to airport in Longyearbyen 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 provide 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 – 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: $1,190 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
