SVALBARD IN DEPTH
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15 DAYS
On this extended exploration of the Svalbard archipelago, there is ample time to enjoy the best of this magical region, a world of near-endless daylight, where polar bear sightings quicken your pulse, guillemot cries echo from towering cliffs, and beluga whales rise from the sea. With extra time for exploration, we hope to show you some of our favourite places in Svalbard, and perhaps discover some new ones. Unpredictable conditions are expected in wild and remote places such as Svalbard, and with extra time, we can slow the pace of the voyage, linger longer in quiet bays to enjoy wildlife encounters and return to a place that was previously not possible. Explore tundra adorned with wildflowers, keep watch for arctic fox, and discover historical camps of explorers and hunters. Push through pack ice to find walrus and bearded seals, and delight in the breathtakingly beautiful fjords. We don’t want you to miss out on anything.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Oslo | Overnight hotel |
| Day 2 | Longyearbyen | Charter flight to Longyearbyen and embark ship after an excursion |
| Days 3 - 14 | Svalbard Archipelago | View Polar bears, walrus, seabirds and incredible landscapes |
| Day 15 | Longyearbyen, Oslo | Disembark and catch return charter flight to Oslo |
SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Sylvia Earle
The Sylvia Earle is a new purpose built, polar expedition vessel taking up to 130 guests. This vessel has been designed in close consultation with Antarctic expedition specialists and is the first expedition cruise ship designed with the ULSTEIN X-BOW hull. This cutting edge nautical technology allows for gentle travel and motion at sea, improved comfort and safety on-board, reduced vibrations, lower fuel consumption and emissions and ‘virtual anchoring’ which means the ship can float anchor-less while launching the Zodiacs without disturbing delicate sea floor areas. There are four sea-level launching platforms for fast and efficient access to and from Zodiacs.
Day 1 Oslo
Having made your way to Oslo, you will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy free time, and in the evening, dine at your leisure.
Day 2 Longyearbyen
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for our charter flight to Longyearbyen. In Longyearbyen, explore the town on a guided excursion tour.
Drive to Camp Barentz enjoy a presentation, you will also have the opportunity to meet the friendly huskies and perhaps pick up some souvenirs. Visit the Svalbard Museum before embarking the vessel in the late afternoon.
Embark in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail.
Days 3-14 Svalbard Archipelago
Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Your expedition team will tailor your day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options, based on the weather, sea-ice conditions and the possibility of encounters with wildlife. During the boreal summer, the sun does not drop below the horizon until late August, enjoy 24 hours of daylight and more time exploring.
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.
We plan to reach further afield, attempting to explore 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. 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.
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 Longyearbyen, Oslo
During the early morning, we cruise into Longyearbyen and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your Expedition Team and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport for your return charter flight to Oslo to continue your journey.