Svalbard in Depth

Upon arriving in Oslo, check in at our group hotel near the airport. Stop by the hospitality desk to pick up your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team. 

They will provide important information about pre-embarkation procedures and the charter flight to Longyearbyen scheduled for tomorrow. Ensure you label your luggage tags clearly with your name and ship cabin number.

The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense. 

Accommodation: The Clarion Hotel Oslo (or similar)

Make sure your luggage is properly tagged with your name and cabin number. Keep all valuables and personal items with you throughout the day. Your luggage will be delivered to your cabin prior to your arrival on board.

During the journey to Camp Barentz in Advent Valley, your guide will share the captivating history of Longyearbyen. At Camp Barentz, gather in the traditional 'lavvo' for a presentation. Meet the friendly huskies and browse for souvenirs. Later, visit the Svalbard Museum in town before boarding the vessel in the late afternoon.

After boarding, take some time to get comfortable in your cabin before attending the mandatory safety briefings. This evening, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your expedition team and crew members.

Explore Svalbard’s extraordinary fjords, majestic mountain ranges, and fossil-rich polar deserts, all of which set the stage for the heroic tales of early explorers. You might see walruses lounging on sea ice or basking on beaches, and witness the cacophony of guillemots nesting on towering cliffs and the lively chatter of little auk colonies among the scree slopes.

With extra time compared to our classic Svalbard voyages, we aim to venture further. Our goal is to explore the archipelago's two largest islands, Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet. We may also delight in the sights around Barentsøya and Edgeøya, located in the Hinlopen Strait, a known polar bear migration route. We plan to visit remnants of old whaling settlements, ancient Pomor sites, and enjoy early morning Zodiac cruises. Marvel at the glittering glaciers, keep an eye out for beluga whales, and spot ivory gulls.

Weather and ice conditions permitting, we may sail to the northernmost points of the Svalbard archipelago, home to large colonies of walruses. The mighty polar bear, in its natural habitat on the pack ice, will be a prime focus of our watchful expedition team, as we are as eager as you to spot these magnificent creatures.

For those participating in optional activities such as kayaking, opportunities will arise whenever conditions permit. If you're keen on taking a polar plunge, listen for the announcement when conditions are just right for an exhilarating dip – a memory you'll cherish for years to come.

In the morning, we sail back to Longyearbyen. Bid farewell to your Expedition Team upon disembarkation and enjoy some leisure time before transferring to the airport for our charter flight back to Oslo.

Please note that our arrival time in Oslo depends on the approved flight slot for our charter flight to Longyearbyen, which is expected to be confirmed by February 2025.