POLAR BEARS IN THE CHANGING ARCTIC  

SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY

Sylvia Earle

Day 1 Oslo, Norway

Having made your way to Oslo, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to the 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 the 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.

Day 2 Oslo to Longyearbyen

After your morning flight to Longyearbyen, explore the world’s northernmost town, a colourful frontier settlement where people are outnumbered by snowmobiles. Longyearbyen is perfect for exploring on foot. Stroll down the main street and you might see Svalbard reindeer saunter by. Although wild, they’re curious and tame.

Board your ship in the afternoon. This expedition has been thoughtfully designed and includes a mix of activities, such as expert-led talks, engaging workshops and exhilarating Zodiac cruise safaris. You will be accompanied by engaging guest speakers from the world of science chosen by New Scientist Discovery Tours, along with the highly knowledgeable and supportive expedition team. Learn about topics including glaciology, climate, marine biology, and the history of polar exploration, deepening your connection to this remote and rugged archipelago.

Days 3 – 7 Spitsbergen

The island of Spitsbergen is the largest in the Svalbard Archipelago and offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Your experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor the day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options, based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and the possibility of encounters with wildlife.

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, stretch your legs on walks across tundra carpeted in brightly coloured wildflowers. 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.

Day 8 Longyearbyen to Oslo

During the early morning, cruise back into Longyearbyen. Farewell your Expedition Team upon disembarkation and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport for your return charter flight to Oslo to continue your journey.