11 Night Svalbard Odyssey Cruise and Land Tour from Longyearbyen

Having made your way to Longyearbyen, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to your 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). Accommodation: Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)

This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labeled with your name and cabin number. Your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival onboard. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day. After a leisurely breakfast, check out of your room before enjoying some of the main attractions of Longyearbyen town on sightseeing tour. On the drive to Camp Barentz located in Advent Valley, your guide will give you an introduction to Longyearbyen's fascinating history. At Camp Barentz, enjoy a presentation in the large 'lavvo' - a traditional building common in northern Norway. You will also have the opportunity to meet the friendly huskies and perhaps pick up some souvenirs. A visit to the Svalbard Museum is included back in town before embarking the vessel in the late afternoon. After embarkation, settle into your cabin before attending mandatory safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we 'throw the lines' and set sail. 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. This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and your friendly expedition team and crew at the Captain's Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure. Note: Sometimes, our ship is unable to dock in Longyearbyen port due to space and capacity. In these instances, we use Zodiacs as a shuttle service between ship and port. Please ensure that you keep your wet-weather gear in your hand luggage in case this situation arises. Please ensure your cabin luggage tag is completed, clearly showing your name and cabin number. The crew will deliver your luggage directly to your cabin.

Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. The members of our experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options, based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions, and the possibility of encounters with wildlife. 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, we stretch our legs on walks across tundra carpeted in brightly colored wildflowers. We visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard's largest little auk colonies. Most memorable will be encounters with the majestic polar bear on pack ice. Your expedition team is just as keen as you are 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 will have an opportunity to enjoy that activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you will hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip - a memory you will savor for years to come.

During the early morning we cruise back into Longyearbyen for disembarkation. Farewell your crew and expedition team and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport to continue your journey. Note: Booking flights that depart prior to 12 pm on the day of disembarkation is not recommended, as we may experience delays at the conclusion of the voyage.