After touching down at Oslo airport, you will be met and take a short transfer to a nearby hotel. The New Scientist Discovery Tours team and AE Expeditions will be on hand to welcome you and discuss pre-embarkation procedures. We will make sure the next day's flight to Svalbard and embarcation go as smoothly as possible.

If you have time, we recommend taking the short journey into the thriving capital city of Oslo. With innovative architecture, captivating landmarks and an inspired food scene. This very green city is covered with parks and forests, but it’s the fjord piercing into the city centre that sets this capital apart. Explore the Botanical Gardens, go island hopping or visit the new Munch Museum, dedicated to the life and works of artist Edvard Munch.

After breakfast, you will take a flight to Longyearbyen on Svalbard’s largest island, Spitsbergen. The  airport is overlooked by the Global Seed Bank and has views over the Isfjorden inlet, where whales are regularly spotted. 

Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost settlement (with a population of over 1,000) and only 1,316 kilometres from the North Pole. Due to the large amount of scientific research undertaken, the town has residents from 53 different countries. 

Before embarking on your voyage, you will visit Camp Barentz, a traditional ‘lavvo’ structure where you will hear about Longyearbyen’s fascinating history, meet the huskies and enjoy lunch. Whilst journeying out to Camp Barentz, you will get a sense of the steep mountains and glaciers that have inspired many including Philip Pullman’s depiction of Svalbard’s armoured bears in the His Dark Materials trilogy.

A visit to the Svalbard Museum is included back in town before embarking on the vessel in the late afternoon. The museum presents four hundred years of Svalbard’s history and reveals the close relationship between the land, sea and nation here. 

Whilst exploring the island, your luggage will be transferred to the ship and your cabin ahead of your arrival on board.

Late afternoon, you will transfer to the Greg Mortimer, to settle into your cabin, attend the safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as the crew ‘throw the lines’ and set sail through 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.  

In the evening, you will get to know your fellow guests, the friendly New Scientist team and Expedition Team at an informal Captain’s Welcome Dinner. 

You will spend your next nine days exploring the Arctic wilderness at its best. 

Every day will include a mixture of activities including zodiac boat safaris (robust inflatable boats), walks and informal photography tuition. You will visit deep fjords, mountain ranges and a polar desert rich in fossils. You can even participate in a polar plunge. Not mandatory but such cold-water body immersion is proven to release a cocktail of invigorating chemicals. 

Once nature and the expedition leader have decided the days itinerary, the onboard talks from Richard Dawkins, New Scientist and the expedition crew will be slotted in.

The onboard expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and wildlife encounters. 

You may see walruses hauled out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, stretch your legs on walks across tundra coming out in brightly coloured wildflowers. You will 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. 

This expedition operates in remote and challenging environments, and in the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and adventurous attitude when joining this voyage. Plans will change daily but the expedition team are there to ensure you have the most immersive experience possible.

On the final evening aboard, the captain will host a Farewell Reception with a four-course dinner and cocktails.

After disembarking back at Longyearbyen, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Oslo, from where you can return home or continue your adventure.
If you wish to see more of Oslo, our Travel Specialists can arrange additional nights.

Secure your space today by calling one of our Travel Specialists on 0203 196 1000 or enquire here