Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days
Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days
Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days
8 Days Starting in Oslo and ending in Longyearbyen
Visiting: Oslo, Longyearbyen, Krossfjorden, Ytre Norskøya, Alkefjellet, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Svalbard, Liefdefjorden, Ny-London, Ny-Ålesund
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2458/WWOA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 198
Age range:
12 years and above.
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Enjoy the immense beauty of Svalbard on this 8-day expedition cruise to the remote Norwegian archipelago. Take in the wild wonders of the Arctic as we cruise among whales, walruses, polar bears and millions of sea birds. Marvel at jaw-dropping glaciers and colossal icebergs, see ruined mining communities and cruise along shimmering fjords.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Oslo
Location: Oslo, Longyearbyen
Meals Included: Dinner
Oslo - Longyearbyen. Included charter flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago which lies midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative to take you by coach to the port. Our expedition cruise ship, the Ocean Albatros, is docked close to the town centre. Embark and settle in with a welcome drink on board.
The Expedition leader will provide a safety briefing as well as information about the daily routine onboard. Sit back and relax as we depart Advent Fjord and our Arctic Adventure commences.
Day 2 : Regnardeset & Lilliehook Glacier
Location: Krossfjorden, Longyearbyen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Longyearbyen - Krossfjord. During the Arctic summer, the sun never sets. During the bright night we pass Prins Karls Forland and arrive in the magnificent Krossford. The Arctic summer months of June and July offer the best chances of spotting exotic birds.
This morning we make a landing at Mollerhamna or another suitable location. The majestic landscape around Regnardneset in the innermost area of Krossfjorden give us our first taste of what has enticed the early explorers of these lands in the far north.
In the afternoon, we continue further north into the fjord system, and take a Zodiac cruise along the Lilliehook Glacier front, or enjoy a lecture.
A fitting end to a day full of scenic views and arctic wildlife, we navigate past the magnificent scenery in the bay of Fjortende Juli, where the glacier Fjortende Juli-breen calves into the fjord.
Day 3 : Exploring Northwest Svalbard
Location: Krossfjorden, Ytre Norskøya
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Krossfjord - Ytre Norskoya. We have now entered North West Svalbard, which was declared a National Park in 1973. Today we plan to cruise in Danskergattet, looking for seals in Virgohamna, before crossing from Danskoya to Amsterdamoya to make a landing at Smeerenburg, the legendary whaling town of 17th century. 200 men once lived, and often died, in this dangerous environment. Whaling was banned due to the near extinction of many of these incredible gentle giants, and the town was abandoned.
There are several interesting places to visit in this northwestern corner of Spitsbergen. If conditions allow we’ll make a landing on Ytre Norskoya, where whalers would have their lookout posts.
Day 4 : Alkefjellet & Torrelnesset
Location: Alkefjellet
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we cruise slowly by the famous Alkefjellet. The whole area is home to a dense congregation of Brunichs Guillemots. During the summer the breeding paris offfer a wild view of frantic activity, both along the cliffs and in the sea.
Later we plan to land at the polar desert landscapes of Torrelnesset where more wildlife awaits. The beach here is home to a host of walruses that feed on clams and other molluscs that they can find in the shallows of Svalbard's waters.
Day 5 : Into The Pack Ice
Location: Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Torrelnesset - Svalbard pack ice. During the night we steer north towards the edge of the polar pack ice. How far north we go depends on the extent of the ice, but we aim to get to the edge of the pack ice. This is prime polar bear territory. As the pack ice retreats in the summer, polar bears ride the floes north in the hope of finding their prey - seals! During the day, lectures on polar animals and the environment can be enjoyed onboard in the Viking Theatre.
We plan to reach the island Nordaustlandet and its smaller islands Sjuoyane in the far north of Svalbard. The almost vegetation-free, rocky islands are located around 1000 km more northernly than mainland Norway’s famous Nordkapp.
Weather permitting, we will land and walk these most northern landmasses. The high Arctic islands are quite barren, only with moss and lichens covering the stones. The birdlife is rich in this area and some of the rarer gulls frequent these islands. So bring your binoculars.
Day 6 : Liefde Fjord & Monaco Glacier
Location: Svalbard, Liefdefjorden
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Svalbard pack ice - Monaco Glacier. After cruising throughout the night to Liefde Fjord, we cruise along the broad glacier front of Monacobreen. This gives a unique insight of the glacial forces and the unlimited forms of icebergs. The ice front is named after Albert I of Monaco, who was a major sponsor of Svalbard research.
Many trappers historically hunted and trapped in these areas. Some of them stayed over the winter and built cabins. The cabin known as Texas Bar is said to be named after the US state of Texas and was built in 1927.
Day 7 : Ny Alesund & Ny London
Location: Ny-London, Ny-Ålesund
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Monaco Glacier - Ny Alesund. Today we enter the beautiful Kongs Fjord and make our first landing at Ny Alesund. This settlement is actually more northern than Longyearbyen but with just a handful of scientific stations, a post office and a single shop, it doesn't really count as a town. We enjoy a leisurely walk through the settlement.
On the opposite side of the fjord we find the abandoned marble mining settlement of Ny London. It's history is short but hectic, as the marble deposits allowed for an almost Klondike like rush to mine the resources. Wars and failing financial viability ended the adventure only 9 years after it started. We take a walk amongst the ruins of workshops, locomotives and cranes, testament to the great but failed investments.
Later we start heading southbound towards the entrance of Isfjord. On our way towards Longyearbyen, we hope to get our last glimpses of wildlife as well as the truly unique landscapes of Svalbard.
Day 8 : Longyearbyen
Location: Oslo, Longyearbyen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Ny Alesund - Longyearbyen - Oslo. Today our expedition cruise comes to an end as we return to Longyearbyen. Enjoy a final breakfast onboard before you disembark the Ocean Albatros. You'll be transferred to the airport for your charter flight back to Oslo where arrangements end.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Ocean Albatros Expedition Ship -
Charter flight Oslo - Longyearbyen - Oslo
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7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
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7 nights aboard the Ocean Albatros expedition cruise ship in a shared outside double cabin with private facilities
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Services of the ship captain and crew and an English-speaking expedition team
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All guided sightseeing and excursions as per itinerary
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Full board on the ship, afternoon snacks, free tea and coffee daily
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Lectures from the expedition team onboard
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Special photo workshop and a digital visual journey to remember your trip
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Welcome and farewell cocktails
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Taxes and port fees
What's Not Included
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International flights and visas
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Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
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Any meals not onboard the ship & any drinks (excluding tea and coffee)
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Pre and post tour accommodation
Accommodation
Ocean Albatros
Making her debut in November 2022 the Ocean Albatros is set to become one of the most popular expedition cruise vessels in the world. With the highest Polar code 6 and Ice class 1A, the Ocean Albatros is ideal for small-ship expedition cruising in the Arctic, with a sturdy construction offering high stability in rough weather. For shore landings the ship has 18 motorized rubber ‘Zodiac’ boats, taking you to exciting areas that the larger vessel can't reach. This state-of-the-art vessel is also part of a new generation of low-energy vessels, ensuring it's environmentally friendly with a 50% lower carbon footprint than traditional expedition ships.
There are 95 comfortable cabins and suites on board, including 12 single cabins. All of the cabins are spacious with an en suite bathroom, sofa and a TV, with either portholes or windows, offering an unobstructed sea view. The higher category of cabins also have their own balcony.
On board you can soak up the scenery and spot wildlife from the viewing deck and observation lounge or head to the Sunpool Deck to enjoy the swimming pool, jacuzzi and pool bar. The spa boasts a unique panorama sauna and there's a gym if you want to work up a sweat. Enjoy tasty international cuisine in the two on board restaurants and relax with a drink in the Nordic bar after an incredible day spotting giant glaciers and icebergs.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
Ocean Albatros Expedition Ship
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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