Juwelen der Arktis – Spitzbergen & Ostgrönland

Reiseverlauf

Reiseverlauf abhängig von Wetter- und Eislage. Beschriebene Naturerlebnisse/Tiersichtungen sind mögliche Ereignisse auf den Expeditionen und nicht garantiert.

• Day 1 Arrive in Oslo

  Having made your way to Oslo, walk the short distance to your group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash or purchase last minute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket. The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense. Accommodation: Oslo Hotel (to be advised).

• Day 2 Fly to Longyearbyen, embarkation

  This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before walking to the airport for our charter flight to Longyearbyen for embarkation. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day. In Longyearbyen, explore the town on a guided tour. After the tour, you will be transferred directly to the pier to embark in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail. *Note: the excursion is contingent on the arrival time of our charter flight to Longyearbyen.

• Days 3–5 Svalbard

  As summer gives way to autumn, Svalbard takes on a different character. The light softens, the tundra begins to change colour and the first hours of darkness return. Our experienced Expedition Team will shape each day around weather, sea ice, wildlife and the latest local information, choosing the most rewarding opportunities rather than following a fixed list of landing sites. Zodiac cruises may trace glacier fronts and sheltered bays, while guided walks cross tundra, raised beaches and fossil-rich polar desert. Historic camps and trappers’ huts reveal the human stories layered into this apparently untouched wilderness, and the lower autumn light can bring remarkable depth to the mountains and ice. We remain alert for walrus at coastal haul-outs, whales and seals in productive waters, reindeer grazing on the tundra and arctic foxes patrolling the shore. Seabirds are beginning their seasonal transition, while polar bears remain an unpredictable possibility throughout the archipelago. If you have selected an optional activity such as kayaking, we will aim to offer it whenever conditions allow. Guided walks, Zodiac excursions and the possibility of a polar plunge make the most of each expedition day.

• Days 6-7 Greenland Sea

  As we sail from Svalbard towards East Greenland, spend time on deck searching for whale blows, seals and seabirds such as northern fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also encounter drifting sea ice, its appearance and extent determined by winds and currents. These ocean days are part of the expedition experience. Our experts will share talks on wildlife, ice, Greenlandic culture and polar exploration, while the growing hours of darkness signal our passage into the Arctic autumn. If skies are clear, we may begin watching for the first flickers of the aurora after nightfall.

• Days 8-13 East Greenland

  By early autumn, East Greenland can offer a compelling mix of navigable fjords, drifting ice and deepening twilight. Our Expedition Team will use current ice, weather and wildlife information to shape the route each day, with all landings and Zodiac cruises subject to permits, quotas, local agreements and site availability. Depending on conditions, exploration may range from the fjords around Tasiilaq in the south to Scoresbysund and towards Kong Oscar Fjord farther north. Ittoqqortoormiit may be possible when ice, scheduling and community arrangements align, but no named destination is guaranteed. The freedom to alter course allows us to seek the strongest experience available. Glacier-fed waterways, striped mountains and drifting icebergs create exceptional opportunities for Zodiac cruising and photography. On suitable shores, we may hike across tundra turning red, amber and gold, climb to panoramic viewpoints or examine geological formations that reveal the deep history of this remarkable landscape. We remain watchful for humpback and fin whales, seals and seabirds along the coast. On land, musk oxen and arctic hare may appear in the northern fjord country. Wildlife encounters are never predictable, and every sighting is approached carefully and on the animals’ terms. Human stories are inseparable from East Greenland. Archaeological remains and historic sites speak to earlier settlement and exploration, while present-day communities carry forward a living Greenlandic Inuit culture. Any community encounter will take place only where it is welcomed and operationally possible. After the long daylight of summer, darkness is returning to East Greenland. When skies are clear and solar activity aligns, the ship’s remote position away from urban light offers the chance to see the aurora borealis ripple above mountains, fjords and icebergs. Sightings can never be guaranteed, but every clear evening brings a reason to step outside and look up.

• Day 14 Denmark Strait

  Crossing the Denmark Strait towards Iceland, we scan for whale blows and seabirds riding the ocean winds. The Expedition Team continues the story of the voyage with talks on wildlife, ice, geology and Arctic history, while the crossing offers time to share photographs and reflect on our discoveries. After nightfall, clear conditions may offer another opportunity to watch for the northern lights over the open sea.

• Day 15 Disembark Reykjavik

  During the early morning, we cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your Expedition Team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys. Transfer to Keflavik airport. Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we recommend booking flights departing after 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.