Svalbard Odyssey - Antarctic Cruise

Svalbard Odyssey | Greg Mortimer | Antarctica Tours Svalbard Odyssey | Greg Mortimer | Antarctica Tours

Experience the highlights of Svalbard, a realm of almost continuous daylight where the sight of polar bears heightens your excitement, the calls of guillemots resonate from lofty cliffs, and beluga whales emerge from the sea. Explore tundra adorned with wildflowers, stay vigilant for arctic foxes, and uncover the historical camps of explorers and hunters. Navigate through pack ice to encounter walrus and bearded seals, and revel in the stunningly beautiful fjords.

Day by day

Day 1: Longyearbyen

After reaching Longyearbyen, a representative will greet and transfer you to the group hotel. Upon arriving at your provided hotel, please visit the hospitality desk to obtain luggage cabin tags and converse with the ground operations team for pre-embarkation details, dining options, cash withdrawal, or last-minute purchases from local establishments. The rest of the day is free, and you are responsible for all meals at Funken Lodge (or a similar accommodation).

Day 2: Embarkation Day

This morning, make sure your cabin luggage has tags with your name and cabin number. The luggage will be collected, sanitized, and sent to the port for clearance, reaching your cabin before you board. Keep valuables with you throughout the day.

After breakfast, join a city tour in Longyearbyen, followed by a drive to Camp Barentz for a presentation and meeting huskies. Visit the Svalbard Museum before boarding in the late afternoon. Transfer to the pier, settle into your cabin, attend safety briefings, and experience the thrill of departure.

In the evening, join fellow expeditioners, the Expedition Team, and crew for a Welcome Dinner. Note: If the ship can't dock in Longyearbyen, we use Zodiacs; keep wet-weather gear in your hand luggage. Ensure your cabin luggage tag is clear, and the crew will deliver your luggage to your cabin.

Day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11: Svalbard

Svalbard showcases its Arctic wilderness at its finest. The seasoned Expedition Team, with extensive experience in the region, adapts the daily itinerary based on weather, sea-ice conditions, and wildlife possibilities. Explore stunning fjords, majestic mountain ranges, and a polar desert rich in fossils, immersing yourself in the history of early exploration. Witness walrus on sea ice or beaches, stroll through vibrant tundra, visit cliffs bustling with nesting guillemots and puffins, and discover scree slopes housing Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies. The highlight is encountering polar bears on pack ice, with the Expedition Team actively spotting these awe-inspiring creatures. Optional activities like kayaking or a polar plunge are available when conditions permit, promising unforgettable experiences.

Day 12: Longyearbyen

In the early morning, we sail back to Longyearbyen. Bid farewell to the Expedition Team upon disembarkation and have some leisure time before heading to the airport for your onward journey.

Note: It's advised not to book flights departing before 12:00 pm on the disembarkation day, considering potential delays at the voyage's conclusion.

Itinerary Map

Svalbard Odyssey

Highlights

  • Take tundra hikes amidst breathtakingly beautiful landscapes.
  • Explore the area near 80° north in search of polar bears on ice floes.
  • Sail past azure glacier fronts and navigate through breathtaking fjords.
  • Experience the excitement of spotting walrus, seals, whales, reindeer, arctic foxes, guillemots, and puffins.

Meals Included

  • Breakfast Served Daily
  • 11 Dinners
  • 12 Lunches
 | Paradise Bay |  Antarctica
 | Jan Mayen |  Antarctica
+8
Longyearbyen | Svalbard |  Antarctica

Activities

Sea Kayaking
Under full instruction from your sea kayaking guide, experience true tranquillity as you paddle through clinking ice floes and realise the enormity of the surrounding scenery. Look out for breaching whales, lounging seals and penguins zipping alongside your kayak. Some experience is required.
Ice Camping
Camp out on the ice and experience the silence which blankets the continent by night. This is your chance to completely connect with this ethereal ice world – wrap up warm and embrace the Antarctic elements.
Snowshoeing
Get a spring in your step when you slip on a pair of snowshoes in Antarctica. Enabling you to easily scale gentle slopes, this unique activity allows you to access hard to reach places and seek out the most impressive views.
Photography
Learn to capture wildlife and landscape shots in a small group photography program, including critiquing sessions and editing classes. Plus, Explorer Boat excursions with a dedicated photography expert on landings.
Explorer Boats
Achieve the best views and photographs from a forward facing Explorer Boats. They allow you to sit comfortably and securely while crackling through the ice-strewn waters. Look out for wildlife such as penguins, seals and whales as you cruise.
Yoga
It doesn’t get more serene than complimentary yoga classes to the tune of glacial scenery. Join the most unique exercise setting in the world after a day of exploration. Classes are regular but are dependent on weather conditions and swell.
Svalbard Odyssey
12 Days