Svalbard In Depth - Land, Sea and Ice

On this extraordinary, long expedition you will discover the diverse flora and fauna of south-east Svalbard. You will venture into the sheer endless expanses of the northern pack ice, the home of the polar bear! There is also plenty of time to learn all about the culture and history of the northernmost town and the northernmost human settlement in the world. This expedition combines the best of two polar bear expeditions and is perfect for those who want to make the most of such a long journey.

Day 1: Departure from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Not long after boarding the plane in Oslo, you will be greeted by the clear Arctic breeze at the world's northernmost civilian airport. While you marvel at the jagged peaks and glaciers of northern Spitsbergen in the distance, you board the Ocean Albatros, your home and retreat for the next week. You will receive the necessary safety briefing on board. Then head to the outside decks and watch with a glass of champagne in your hand as you leave the last speck of human civilization behind you.

Day 2-5: Stunning ice landscapes in south and east Svalbard
Overnight, you glide through the ice-cold water deeper and deeper into the wilderness. The islands of Spitsbergen and Edgeøya, as well as countless winding fjords, small islands and skerries invite you to explore. From a distance, this region may appear barren and lifeless, but on closer inspection you will discover the opposite! A wide variety of tundra plants such as Svalbard-poppy and saxifrage stretch out towards the Arctic sunlight with all their might. Spotted snow buntings flutter around between the rocks and with keen eyes you can also spot the well-camouflaged sandpipers on land. A subspecies of reindeer that is found nowhere else in the world also lives here. The animals, about the size of a sheep, are sometimes hard to spot against the gray-white rocks. When the birds start screeching, an arctic fox, the only native land mammal in the area, is probably announcing itself.
But the real spectacle takes place in the sea, where the biodiversity of Svalbard is at its greatest! On the beach, huge walruses huddle together in tight clusters to warm and protect each other. Belugas frolic in huge groups in the waters off the coast to harvest fish and crustaceans from the seabed, and further out the enormous gentle baleen whales feed on copepods and small fish.

The exact landing sites you visit in the south of Spitsbergen are determined by wind, sea and ice conditions, which can vary greatly from day to day and year to year. This far north, all human activity is subject to the whims of nature. Opportunities for exploration in South Spitsbergen include the fjord systems of Bellsund and Hornsund, where countless birds congregate on the steep cliffs, while reindeer graze on the slopes below and icebergs from the large surrounding glaciers drift by. Further east on Edgeøya, the sites include the walrus colonies of Andréetangen and Kapp Lee and the spectacular elevated coastlines and bird colonies of Sundneset.

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Day 6: Coal Mine and History of a fascinating town
Longyearbyen is located in a small valley at the head of Adventfjorden, a small bay on Isfjorden (the wide fjord that cuts through the island of Spitsbergen). The town was founded at the end of the 19th century as a mining settlement and is named after John Longyear, an American prospector whose company began digging up the black gold beneath the town in 1906. However, due to changing market conditions and safety concerns, mining in Longyearbyen has almost come to a standstill. The town's mining tradition remains strong, however, and several unique traditions have developed from this history. For example, it is customary to take off your shoes when entering many stores and cafés in the town. Longyearbyen has since established itself as a center for High Arctic tourism and research, with several hotels and a university center in Spitsbergen.
After breakfast on board, there are many remnants from the past to discover in the disused mine number 3. Many machines and equipment were left behind when coal mining ceased.
Back on board the expedition ship, you can discuss your experiences over a hearty lunch. Afterwards, continue exploring the lively and quirky little town. Find out, for example, why the inhabitants are not allowed to keep cats or why some people here are obliged to carry a gun.

Day 7: 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.

Day 8-9: 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 10: 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 11: 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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