Svalbard Odyssey

Day 1: Longyearbyen

Having made your way to Longyearbyen, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival, kindly remind hotel check-in staff to provide you with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags for your luggage. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number.


This evening, enjoy a light refreshment as you meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and pre-embarkation briefing. Afterwards, dine at your leisure (dinner not included).

Day 2: Embark Longyearbyen

This morning, your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for sanitisation, clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please ensure that your luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day.  Enjoy breakfast in the hotel.

After completing our final, mandatory pre-embarkation health screening and COVID (rapid antigen) testing, enjoy a sightseeing excursion of Longyearbyen before transferring to the pier for embarkation 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.

This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and our friendly Expedition Team and crew at the Captain’s Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure.

Sail out of the beautiful Isfjorden, escorted by gliding fulmars and perhaps the occasional puffin. Find a spot in one of the observation areas to watch seabirds, including graceful ivory gulls, kittiwakes and guillemots. They rise and fall skilfully, using the air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.

NOTE: Sometimes our ship is unable to dock in Longyearbyen port due to space and capacity. In these instances, we reach the ship by Zodiac. Please ensure that you keep your wet-weather gear in your hand luggage to use in the Zodiacs, if the situation arises. Please ensure your cabin luggage tag is completed clearly showing your cabin number and name. Our crew will deliver your luggage directly to your cabin.

Day 3-11: Svalbard Archipelago

Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Our experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design our day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and wildlife encounters.

Phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains ranges and a polar desert rich in fossils set the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. See walrus hauled-out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, stretch our legs on walks across tundra coming out in brightly-coloured wildflowers. We visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies. Most memorable are encounters with the majestic polar bear on pack ice. Your expedition team is just as keen as you to find them— they will be on constant watch to spot these inspiring creatures.

If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you’ll have the option to enjoy the activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you’ll hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating plunge, a memory you’ll savour for years to come.

Day 12: Disembark in Longyearbyen

During the early morning we cruise back into Longyearbyen. Farewell your expedition team before further enjoying explorations of fascinating Longyearbyen to learn the town’s history, its geology, flora, fauna and the modern community that call the place home. Visit Svalbard Museum and Galleri Svalbard, Office of the Governor, Svalbard Church, Nybyen (new town), some of the town’s mines including Santa Claus Mine, and make a quick photo stop at the famous beware of polar bear street sign. Afterwards, transfer to the airport to continue your journey.

At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.

• Transfer from airport to hotel on Day 1
• Welcome Reception/pre-embarkation briefing on Day 1
• One night’s hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen including breakfast on Day 1
• Mandatory pre-embarkation health screening and COVID test on Day 2
• Group sightseeing tour of Longyearbyen prior to embarkation on Day 2
• Group transfer from ship to airport in Longyearbyen on Day 12 
• On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service 
• All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage 
• Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner 
• All shore excursions  
• Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team 
• Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
• A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket 
• Complimentary use of muck boots during the voyage 
• Comprehensive pre-departure information 
• Port surcharges, permits and landing fees  

• International or domestic flights, unless specified in the itinerary  
• Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary 
• Airport arrival or departure taxes 
• Passport, visa, and vaccination charges 
• Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges 
• Hotels and meals not included in itinerary 
• Optional excursions not included in the itinerary*
• Optional activity surcharges 
• All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, gratuities**, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges

*Sea Kayaking US$980

*Scuba Diving US$1010

**A $15 USD per person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added to your onboard account. It is at your discretion if you would like to remove the tip (or adjust the amount) when you settle your bill. It is not necessary to tip the expedition team members. This gratuity amount is included for suites as part of their ‘Suite Benefits’.