Arctic Explorer Expedition - Into The Northern Ice

An expedition to the northernmost region of our planet. Board the expedition ship in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world! This unique voyage of discovery takes you through Norway's northernmost archipelago, the fascinating Svalbard. You will spend two exciting days in the gleaming white landscape of the pack ice, where there is a plethora of unique animals and plants to discover. The unique Vessel with its multi-reinforced hull provides the ideal platform for exploring this icy landscape. It offers the best views of the ever-changing ice that stretches from Spitsbergen to Siberia and Alaska, far beyond the North Pole.

Arctic Explorer Expedition - Into the Northern Ice: Expedition Itinerary

Day 1: Departure from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
You fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen, the northernmost city on earth. You are welcomed by the very special Arctic climate and immerse yourself in a unique world far north of the Arctic Circle. On the first day, you will gain incredible impressions of this surreal and remote place. Settle into your comfortable cabin on the Ocean Albatros and make yourself at home for the next 6 days. The travel price refers to accommodation in a double cabin with an occupancy of two persons. After the safety briefing and lifeboat drill, the adventure can begin. With a glass of champagne, you will have a breathtaking view from the outside deck and watch Longyearbyen leave you behind.

Day 2: The wilderness of the high Arctic
Northwest-Svalbard has been protected as a national park since 1973, making it one of the largest wilderness reserves in Europe. But it was not always like this. After the first documented landings in the region (William Barents around 1596), it took less than ten years for British and Dutch whalers to plunder the wildlife. Remains from this period, such as blubber ovens and building foundations, can still be found today; otherwise, only the bones of the great sea giants remain. Over the years, the fascinating Arctic nature has reclaimed its dominance. Today you will find a paradise for all nature lovers! Tiny Arctic poppies and purple saxifrage pave the earth's surface despite the most adverse environmental conditions. Geese, eider ducks and other seabirds return to the islands during the short summer to raise their young. Walruses frolic on the beaches and, with a bit of luck, a wandering polar bear can also be spotted.

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Day 3-4: Into the pack ice
The smell of snow and sea fills your nose. The sunlight reflects on the floating ice and illuminates the clouds above you. Enter a unique environment, the vast, ever-changing realm of floating ice that crowns our planet. The immense pack ice north of Svalbard stretches from this isolated archipelago to the North Pole and further across the Arctic Ocean to the northern coasts of Chukotka and Alaska.
The Arctic pack ice is one of the largest habitats on earth, although unlike most others it varies greatly from year to year, expanding in winter and retreating in summer. The location of the sea ice around Spitsbergen can also vary greatly. However, as we have planned two full days to explore this icy wilderness, we maximize our chances of finding and exploring this unimaginably remote environment.
In addition to the fish and seagulls that cavort around the ship and use the ice-free aisles, you can observe seals on the ice floes. With a bit of luck, the massive outline of a bowhead whale can be seen in the water. And don't forget: This is the realm of the polar bear, the vast icy expanses on the cusp of the world - a remarkable place that is the destination of this expedition.

Day 5: Return to land
After the icy waters in the north, we now return to the coast of northwest Spitsbergen. This outpost was the starting point for a number of expeditions in days gone by. On Danskøya, for example, you can still find the rusty remains of Salomon Andrée and Walter Wellman's airship attempts to the North Pole. The area is also home to the small village of Ny-Ålesund, the northernmost human settlement on our planet. While coal was once mined here, today there are permanent research facilities from twelve countries. Explore the fascinating little science village and see how the scientists are doing everything they can to research and preserve the biodiversity of our planet.

Day 6: The northernmost city in the world
In the evening, the Ocean Albatros returns to the port of Longyearbyen. The small town will seem like a metropolis to you after spending the last few days in the deep wilderness. Before you head back to the airport, you will have some time to get to know this fascinating place and its hospitable inhabitants. Visit the museum, look for souvenirs in the small stores and local manufactories or simply relax on the terrace of a café. Look forward to the Norwegian mainland, with memories in your luggage that you will never forget.

Getting there:
Arrival and departure occur by charter flights to and from Oslo (already included in the advertised price). The tour service starts and ends with these flights. Due to the weather conditions and the expedition character of this trip, the exact departure times are not known far in advance. We generally recommend arriving at least one day before the start of the tour for such extraordinary trips. We will be happy to plan the journey for you according to your individual wishes and personal requirements.

Expedition Vessel: Ocean Albatros
The Ocean Albatros is a stylish and revolutionary passenger ship that combines the advantages of a small expedition vessel with those of a luxury cruise ship. With a maximum occupancy of 175 passengers in 94 state-of-the-art cabins and suites, a warm hearted, caring crew and a guest-to-guide ratio of 8:1, an intimate and friendly atmosphere is created on board. Each of the cozy and private cabins offers an undisturbed view of the vastness of the sea, most even with their own balcony. The ship has two restaurants and a wellness area with a heated pool, jacuzzis, sauna and spa. There are also various bars, lounges and a modern lecture hall on board. The Ocean Albatros is a "comfort class" certified ship, sailing with the lowest noise and vibration levels in the industry. She is also "clean-ship-certified", runs on Tier 3-compliant engines (4 diesel engines, 2 electric engines) and therefore has one of the cleanest propulsion systems in the world.
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