Arctic Explorer Expedition - Southeast Svalbard

An expedition into the icy land of the polar bears. On this real discovery tour, you will encounter all kinds of animals and plants, some up close, others you will prefer to keep a respectful distance from. After eventful excursions in the vast fjord landscapes of Norway's northernmost archipelago, you can relax on one of the most modern expedition vessels. On this trip, you will discover a lot, learn a even more and never forget what you have experienced.

Arctic Explorer Expedition, Southeast Svalbard: Expedition Itinerary

Day 1: Departure from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
The plane takes you from Oslo to the world's northernmost airport, where you are greeted by clear Arctic sea air. 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. The travel price refers to accommodation in a double cabin with an occupancy of two persons. On board, you will receive the necessary safety briefing and lifeboat drill. Afterwards, head to the outside decks and enjoy a glass of champagne as you leave human civilization behind and set off on an unforgettable adventure.

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: Return to 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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