Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief

Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief

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7 Days From

$3492

$3396

Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief

7 Days Starting and ending in Oslo

Visiting: Oslo, Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Tour operator:

Exodus

Tour code:

POD

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 199

Physical rating:

Leisurely

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:
English
Trip Styles:

Adventure Tours

From:
$3492
$3396 (USD) The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$96
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Tour Overview

In just a week, cruise through the pack ice up to 80°N along the west coast of Spitsbergen like an explorer of long ago, on a constant search for wildlife. Though this rocky island is covered in mountains and glaciers, the towering cliffs and fjords play host to a surprisingly thriving and varied ecosystem. Exploring as much of the area as possible will provide optimal opportunities to spot the most iconic of arctic wildlife, the Polar bear.



Highlights

  • View Arctic wildlife, such as Polar bears, walrus and reindeer

  • Travel in a small expedition vessel

  • Enjoy all the adventure of an Arctic expedition in less than a week

  • Accompanied by extremely qualified Expedition Staff

  • Hike the colourful tundra

  • Cruise in a Zodiac to get up close to glaciers, fjords, icebergs and more

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Oslo, Norway

Location: Oslo

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: No Meals

Your Arctic voyage begins in Oslo, Norway’s vibrant capital city. If you

arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep

you busy before retiring at your included airport hotel.



Day 2 : Embarkation Day In Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Location: Longyearbyen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private

charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement, where

you’ll have some time to explore before embarkation. As the ship sets sail,

enjoy great vistas of the mountainous landscape that serves as a backdrop for

this historic town.



Day 3 - 6 : Exploring Spitsbergen.

Location: Svalbard

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You’ll sail around the shores of this magical island, constantly searching

for Polar bears and other natural wonders. Covering western Spitsbergen, your

expedition will afford ample opportunities to view immense glaciers, deep

fjords, soaring mountains and unique flora and fauna.



Sailing north into Krossfjord, have your camera handy, ready to capture some

of the best glacier calving in Spitsbergen. Deep in the fjord, the highly

active Lilliehöök Glacier awaits. Listen in awe to the growling as big

chunks break off into the icy waters below. A Zodiac excursion to nearby Ny

London, an abandoned mining settlement, provides an ideal place for a guided

walk. Encounters with wildlife, such as the indigenous Svalbard reindeer, are

possible here.



After cruising overnight, wake up to the stunning sight of the magnificent

Monaco Glacier, another prolific iceberg producer. To make this even more

thrilling, help the Expedition Team to scan the shorelines and ice edge for

marine mammals. Possible landing sites include Texas Bar, Worsleyneset and

the Andoyane Islands (where Polar bears have been known to roam). At 80°N,

you’ll reach a walrus sanctuary on the tiny, crescent-shaped Moffen Island.

Watching from the water as large groups of these lumbering giants jockey for

space is an unforgettable experience, so be ready with your binoculars.



At Smeerenburg you can see the remains of an abandoned settlement that was

established by Dutch whalers nearly 400 years ago. Here, at one of Europe’s

most northerly outposts, you’ll have time to explore ashore and learn about

Spitsbergen’s whaling history. Afterwards, cruising to Magdalenafjord

rewards you with panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains and massive

glaciers reflected in the crystal-clear waters.



During your last full day of your Arctic adventure, you may visit the Russian

mining town of Barentsburg, home of the world’s northernmost brewery. We

hope to round out the day in Alkehornet, taking in the towering cliffs

teeming with nesting seabirds, such as fulmars and Brünnich’s guillemots

(Thick-billed murres). Encounters with reindeer might be possible here too.

Later, in the evening, swap stories with your shipmates and crew one last

time, at the captain’s dinner



Day 7 : Disembark In Longyearbyen And Fly To Oslo

Location: Longyearbyen, Oslo

Meals Included: Breakfast

The time to say goodbye has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the

frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we’ll transfer you to

the airport for your return group charter flight to Oslo.



What's Included

  • Meals
    3 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 2 dinners.


* All meals while on the ship
* Beer and house wine during dinner
* All accommodation
* All transport and listed activities
* Full complement of qualified Expedition Staff
* We can include flights from the UK.  Please contact us for a quote.

What's Not Included

  • Mandatory transfer package (including charter flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen return) which is from £700 per person (or equivalent in booking currency) paid upon booking

  • Travel insurance

  • Single accommodation (available on request)

  • Visas or vaccinations

Food


All meals while on the ship included.

*Typical Meals*

The ships galley offers good quality service and cuisine throughout, with
excellent chefs preparing international menus including vegetarian dishes,
accompanied by a wide variety of drinks from around the world on sale.

*Breakfast:* Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit
juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of
bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal.

*Lunch:* Three course set meal or buffet, or the occasional BBQ.

*Dinner:* Three or four courses with a starter of soup and/or salad, a choice
of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a dessert, with tea and
coffee.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do
inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local
team can be well prepared.

Accommodation

The Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief voyage is offered on the Ocean Adventurer and the Ultramarine which are Polar Adventure Ships. Polar Adventure Ships These are small ice rated vessels well qualified for Polar waters. Intimate adventures are always more enjoyable with like-minded passengers and staff, so these voyages are for people who like flexible itineraries and plenty to keep them busy. Activities include frequent Zodiac excursions, trekking and many hours on deck in areas that other ships only dream about accessing. Food and staff are superb and every guest benefits from the technical advances of this superb fleet. Rest assured our Polar Adventure Ships enable any traveller to maximize their experience sensitively in the Poles.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    18+ Age people can go on this tour.

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    We can include flights from the UK. Please contact us for a quote.

  • What is the maximum group size?

    199

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    No

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this Operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

Trustpilot
Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
John Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I went cycling in Albania...

19-Aug-2023

I went cycling in Albania with exodus as my first holiday with them. Such a well organised and wonderful experience where I met multiple fellow travellers who have been advocates of them for many years. You can't argue with happy repeat customers and I'm planning my next adventure with them soon

Rob Burridge (Google Reviewer)  

I'v just come back from...

17-Jul-2022

I'v just come back from an amazing Wildlife & Wilderness trip in Botswana and I highly recommend Exodus Travels. Our guide Brian, was extremely knowledgeable on both the wildlife and history of Botswana and neighbouring countries. The other three staff, Abbis, Chief & Mr T, who accompanied us through out our 2 week trip, put in the hard work and made sure our camp was always prepared and that we we're well fed and looked after. The tour took us to some beautiful places and we saw some amazing wildlife, and on several occasions this was due to Brian's knowledge of the area and wildlife behaviour. Exodus have been very quick to respond to any queries I had, and the whole experience ran smoothly. I was also pleased to hear that during lockdown they provided staff with food packages 👍. I'd normally go on self organised trips, however, with this trip, the tour and guide Brian took us to places not possible otherwise and showed us things that we would'v missed out on. All of which were the highlights of the tour.

Daphne Partridge (Google Reviewer)  

After 14 roup adventure holidays...

26-Nov-2023

After 14 roup adventure holidays with Exofus we would not hesitate to recommend them as an excitingholiday company. They take you off the beaten track but offer great support and expertise :)

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

Dates & Availability

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Wednesday - Tuesday

May 15, 2024 - May 21, 2024
$3492 $3396 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$96 (USD)

Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Monday

Jun 25, 2024 - Jul 01, 2024
$4741 $4611 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$130 (USD)

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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