Transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you can discover the city from the water on a round trip on the Oslofjord (Duration of the excursion: approx. 2 hours). Overnight stay in Oslo.
Travel details - North Svalbard Adventure
This expedition takes you into the pack ice and along the remote coasts of rugged North Spitsbergen. Imposing glaciers and glittering fjords alternate with huge expanses of sea ice. You will have numerous opportunities to observe polar bears, whales and seabirds at close range. The specially equipped expedition ships offer the highest level of comfort and exciting lectures by experienced tour guides about life in the Arctic.
From USD 7,495 p.p. (quadruple occupancy)/ USD 13,299 p.p. (double occupancy)
Vessels: Plancius, Ortelius, Hondius
COOL SAVINGS DISCOUNT: Save USD 500 p.p. until Feb 28, 2025*
- Transfers to/from airport Oslo, according to travel itinerary
- 2 nights incl. breakfast in Oslo, according to travel itinerary
- 2 hr Oslofjord Cruise from/to Oslo
- Domestic flight Oslo – Longyearbyen – Oslo
- Pretour Longyearbyen according to travel itinerary incl. 3 nights incl. breakfast in Longyearbyen*
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
- AECO fees and governmental taxes
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
Season | Departure | Tour code |
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- | May 30th - Jun 11th, 2025 | Plancius |
- | Jun 5th - Jun 17th, 2025 | Hondius |
- | Jun 6th - Jun 18th, 2025 | Plancius |
- | Jun 8th - Jun 20th, 2025 | Ortelius |
- | Jun 12th - Jun 24th, 2025 | Hondius |
- | Jun 15th - Jun 27th, 2025 | Ortelius |
- | Jun 19th - Jul 1st, 2025 | Hondius |
- | Jun 20th - Jul 2nd, 2025 | Plancius |
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*Pre-program Longyearbyen: The order of the included activities may vary depending on availability.
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Day 1 Arrival in Oslo
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Day 2 Oslo and flight to Longyearbyen
Transfer to the airport and flight to Longyearbyen. You land in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, located on the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy a stroll through the former mining town. You’ll leave Longyearbyen behind for a dinner and informal lecture in a cozy, authentic cabin. The topic of the evening is polar bears. How much do you know about the King of the Arctic? (Duration of the excursion: approx. 3 hours). Overnight stay in Longyearbyen.
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Day 3 Longyearbyen
Today you will get to know the surroundings of Longyearbyen on a guided hike. At the head of the valley where Longyearbyen lies, there are two glaciers: Larsbreen and Longyearbreen. Over thousands and thousands of years, Longyearbreen has eroded the mountain beds and pushed out rocks and gravel to create a large moraine. Here one can find 40-60 million year old fossils. (Duration of the excursion: approx. 3 hours). Overnight stay in Longyearbyen.
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Day 4 Longyearbyen
Many associate dog sledding with winter and freezing temperatures – but the dogs need exercise during the summer months as well! Our custom-built dog sleds on wheels offer a perfect solution for both two and four-legged to get out and enjoy the beautiful Svalbard scenery. (Duration of the excursion: approx. 4 hours). Overnight stay in Longyearbyen.
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Day 5 Longyearbyen
Enjoy the comfort and efficiency of a guided tour with electric bikes. On this tour, you get to see many of Longyearbyen's attractions while getting close to nature. This is a great tour also for bird enthusiasts, as we will get up close to the summer’s vivid birdlife. Embarkation in the afternoon. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.
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Day 6-11 North Spitsbergen’s natural beauty, wildlife, and pack-ice
This voyage will take you into the pack ice and along the remote shorelines of rugged north Spitsbergen. Places we might visit include the following:
Raudfjord: On the north coast of Spitsbergen, you can enjoy this expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears. We will try to land at Alicehamna or Buchananhalvøya.
Monaco Glacier: Depending on the weather and sea ice, we could sail into Liefdefjorden, land at Texas Bar and cruise within sight of the 5-kilometer-long (3.1 miles) face of Monaco Glacier. The waters in front of this precipitous glacier are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of kittiwakes, and the base of the ice is a popular polar bear hunting ground. If ice conditions prevent us from sailing here early in the season, we may sail along the west coast of Spitsbergen.
Highlights of Hinlopen: We aim to sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, and polar bears. At the entrance, there is even the possibility to spot blue whales. After cruising among the ice floes of Lomfjord in the Zodiacs, you can view the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, with their thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots. On the east side of Hinlopen Strait, we may attempt a landing on Nordaustlandet. Here we may see reindeer, pink-footed geese, and walruses. We can take an alternate route if ice prevents entry into Hinlopen.
The Seven Islands: The northernmost point of the voyage may be north of Nordaustlandet at Chermsideøya or Phippsøya, in the Seven Islands. Here we may reach 80° north, just 870 km (540 miles) from the geographic North Pole. Polar bears inhabit this region, so the ship may park for several hours among the pack ice before wheeling around west again.
Sailing the continental shelf: While retracing our route west, keep watch for polar bears and elusive Greenland (bowhead) whales. About 40 nautical miles west of Spitsbergen, we sail the edge of the continental shelf. Here fin whales forage during the summer in the upwelling zones (where cold, nutrient-rich water wells up from below the sea’s surface) that run along the Spitsbergen banks. At the mouth of Kongsfjorden, you have a good chance of sighting minke whales.
Forlandsundet, St. Johns Fjord, or Alkhornet: Walruses sometimes haul out in Forlandsundet at Sarstangen or Poolepynten. Alternatively, we might sail into St. Johns Fjord or south to the mouth of Isfjorden, landing at Alkhornet. Seabirds nest on these cliffs, Arctic foxes search below for fallen eggs and chicks, and reindeer graze the sparse vegetation.
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Day 12 Longyearbyen and flight to Oslo
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. Disembarkation in Longyearbyen and flight to Oslo. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Oslo.
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Day 13 Oslo
Transfer to the airport.
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All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.