Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days

Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days

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8 Days
From

$6595

$6414

Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days

8 Days Starting in Oslo and ending in Longyearbyen

Visiting: Oslo, Longyearbyen, Krossfjorden, Ytre Norskøya, Alkefjellet, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Svalbard, Liefdefjorden, Ny-Ålesund, Ny-London

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

2458/WWOA

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 198

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

12 years and above. 

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:
English
Trip Styles:

Expedition Cruising

From:
$6595
$6414 (USD) The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$181

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Enjoy the immense beauty of Svalbard on this 8-day expedition cruise to the remote Norwegian archipelago. Take in the wild wonders of the Arctic as we cruise among whales, walruses, polar bears and millions of sea birds. Marvel at jaw-dropping glaciers and colossal icebergs, see ruined mining communities and cruise along shimmering fjords.

Highlights

  • Longyearbyen - start your voyage in the northernmost town in the world.

  • Lilliehook Glacier - venure into the fjords and take a Zodiac cruise along the Lilliehook Glacier front (weather dependent)

  • Smeerenburg - take in this former whaling town of the 17th century where there was once more than 200 people living in the heyday of blubber production.

  • Torrelnesset - Explore the plentiful wildlife at the polar desert landscapes.

  • Svalbard Pack Ice - keep an eye out for polar bears on the floating pack ice as this is where their prey - the seals - resides.

  • Ny Alesund - explore this settlement of scientific stations, which is in fact further north than Longyearbyen.

Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1 : Oslo
Location: Oslo, Longyearbyen
Meals Included: Dinner

Oslo - Longyearbyen. Included charter flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago which lies midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative to take you by coach to the port. Our expedition cruise ship, the Ocean Albatros, is docked close to the town centre. Embark and settle in with a welcome drink on board.

The Expedition leader will provide a safety briefing as well as information about the daily routine onboard. Sit back and relax as we depart Advent Fjord and our Arctic Adventure commences.

Day 2 : Regnardeset & Lilliehook Glacier
Location: Longyearbyen, Krossfjorden
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Longyearbyen - Krossfjord. During the Arctic summer, the sun never sets. During the bright night we pass Prins Karls Forland and arrive in the magnificent Krossford. The Arctic summer months of June and July offer the best chances of spotting exotic birds.

This morning we make a landing at Mollerhamna or another suitable location. The majestic landscape around Regnardneset in the innermost area of Krossfjorden give us our first taste of what has enticed the early explorers of these lands in the far north.

In the afternoon, we continue further north into the fjord system, and take a Zodiac cruise along the Lilliehook Glacier front, or enjoy a lecture.

A fitting end to a day full of scenic views and arctic wildlife, we navigate past the magnificent scenery in the bay of Fjortende Juli, where the glacier Fjortende Juli-breen calves into the fjord.

Day 3 : Exploring Northwest Svalbard
Location: Krossfjorden, Ytre Norskøya
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Krossfjord - Ytre Norskoya. We have now entered North West Svalbard, which was declared a National Park in 1973. Today we plan to cruise in Danskergattet, looking for seals in Virgohamna, before crossing from Danskoya to Amsterdamoya to make a landing at Smeerenburg, the legendary whaling town of 17th century. 200 men once lived, and often died, in this dangerous environment. Whaling was banned due to the near extinction of many of these incredible gentle giants, and the town was abandoned.

There are several interesting places to visit in this northwestern corner of Spitsbergen. If conditions allow we’ll make a landing on Ytre Norskoya, where whalers would have their lookout posts.

Day 4 : Alkefjellet & Torrelnesset
Location: Alkefjellet
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we cruise slowly by the famous Alkefjellet. The whole area is home to a dense congregation of Brunichs Guillemots. During the summer the breeding paris offfer a wild view of frantic activity, both along the cliffs and in the sea.

Later we plan to land at the polar desert landscapes of Torrelnesset where more wildlife awaits. The beach here is home to a host of walruses that feed on clams and other molluscs that they can find in the shallows of Svalbard's waters.

Day 5 : Into The Pack Ice
Location: Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Torrelnesset - Svalbard pack ice. During the night we steer north towards the edge of the polar pack ice. How far north we go depends on the extent of the ice, but we aim to get to the edge of the pack ice. This is prime polar bear territory. As the pack ice retreats in the summer, polar bears ride the floes north in the hope of finding their prey - seals! During the day, lectures on polar animals and the environment can be enjoyed onboard in the Viking Theatre.

We plan to reach the island Nordaustlandet and its smaller islands Sjuoyane in the far north of Svalbard. The almost vegetation-free, rocky islands are located around 1000 km more northernly than mainland Norway’s famous Nordkapp.

Weather permitting, we will land and walk these most northern landmasses. The high Arctic islands are quite barren, only with moss and lichens covering the stones. The birdlife is rich in this area and some of the rarer gulls frequent these islands. So bring your binoculars.

Day 6 : Liefde Fjord & Monaco Glacier
Location: Svalbard, Liefdefjorden
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Svalbard pack ice - Monaco Glacier. After cruising throughout the night to Liefde Fjord, we cruise along the broad glacier front of Monacobreen. This gives a unique insight of the glacial forces and the unlimited forms of icebergs. The ice front is named after Albert I of Monaco, who was a major sponsor of Svalbard research.

Many trappers historically hunted and trapped in these areas. Some of them stayed over the winter and built cabins. The cabin known as Texas Bar is said to be named after the US state of Texas and was built in 1927.

Day 7 : Ny Alesund & Ny London
Location: Ny-Ålesund, Ny-London
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Monaco Glacier - Ny Alesund. Today we enter the beautiful Kongs Fjord and make our first landing at Ny Alesund. This settlement is actually more northern than Longyearbyen but with just a handful of scientific stations, a post office and a single shop, it doesn't really count as a town. We enjoy a leisurely walk through the settlement.

On the opposite side of the fjord we find the abandoned marble mining settlement of Ny London. It's history is short but hectic, as the marble deposits allowed for an almost Klondike like rush to mine the resources. Wars and failing financial viability ended the adventure only 9 years after it started. We take a walk amongst the ruins of workshops, locomotives and cranes, testament to the great but failed investments.

Later we start heading southbound towards the entrance of Isfjord. On our way towards Longyearbyen, we hope to get our last glimpses of wildlife as well as the truly unique landscapes of Svalbard.

Day 8 : Longyearbyen
Location: Longyearbyen, Oslo
Meals Included: Breakfast

Ny Alesund - Longyearbyen - Oslo. Today our expedition cruise comes to an end as we return to Longyearbyen. Enjoy a final breakfast onboard before you disembark the Ocean Albatros. You'll be transferred to the airport for your charter flight back to Oslo where arrangements end.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Ocean Albatros Expedition Ship

  • Charter flight Oslo - Longyearbyen - Oslo

  • 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners

  • 7 nights aboard the Ocean Albatros expedition cruise ship in a shared outside double cabin with private facilities

  • Services of the ship captain and crew and an English-speaking expedition team

  • All guided sightseeing and excursions as per itinerary

  • Full board on the ship, afternoon snacks, free tea and coffee daily

  • Lectures from the expedition team onboard

  • Special photo workshop and a digital visual journey to remember your trip

  • Welcome and farewell cocktails

  • Taxes and port fees

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visas

  • Tipping - an entirely personal gesture

  • Any meals not onboard the ship & any drinks (excluding tea and coffee)

  • Pre and post tour accommodation

Accommodation

Ocean Albatros



Making her debut in November 2022 the Ocean Albatros is set to become one of the most popular expedition cruise vessels in the world. With the highest Polar code 6 and Ice class 1A, the Ocean Albatros is ideal for small-ship expedition cruising in the Arctic, with a sturdy construction offering high stability in rough weather. For shore landings the ship has 18 motorized rubber ‘Zodiac’ boats, taking you to exciting areas that the larger vessel can't reach. This state-of-the-art vessel is also part of a new generation of low-energy vessels, ensuring it's environmentally friendly with a 50% lower carbon footprint than traditional expedition ships.



There are 95 comfortable cabins and suites on board, including 12 single cabins. All of the cabins are spacious with an en suite bathroom, sofa and a TV, with either portholes or windows, offering an unobstructed sea view. The higher category of cabins also have their own balcony.



On board you can soak up the scenery and spot wildlife from the viewing deck and observation lounge or head to the Sunpool Deck to enjoy the swimming pool, jacuzzi and pool bar. The spa boasts a unique panorama sauna and there's a gym if you want to work up a sweat. Enjoy tasty international cuisine in the two on board restaurants and relax with a drink in the Nordic bar after an incredible day spotting giant glaciers and icebergs.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    Ocean Albatros Expedition Ship

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this Operator

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

Land of the Northern Lights 5 day tour of Iceland

10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

On The Go Tours Sri...

05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)  

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Rolly Hay hay (Google Reviewer)  

Gallipoli tour. The guide was...

28-Sep-2023

Gallipoli tour. The guide was awesome. Everything went like clockwork.. My complaint is that you expect 4 people to cramp together on the back seat of the van for 4 hours. That is poverty travel. Not really acceptable for the price paid. So uncomfortable. If was to do this trip again I'd just rent a car. Although the guide was amazing, but that's 3 hours of the trip.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

Giovanni Guidi (Google Reviewer)  

I booked three tours with...

19-Aug-2023

I booked three tours with this agency. While the first two experiences were very nice, with well-thought-out itineraries and knowledgeable guides, the third tour was an absolute nightmare for us. Due to the unavailability of an hotel from the trip notes, the agency opted to replace it with another they claimed was "similar." To our dismay, this alternative was nothing short of a decrepit, filthy establishment that threatened to ruin our entire safari experience in South Africa. But the fiasco didn't end there. This so-called hotel began proposing and organizing activities starkly different from what we were promised in the trip notes, together with an awful services of their guides and vehicles. And when this disaster struck and we desperately needed their support? The agency ghosted us. It took them an entire day to respond, and when they did, they simply shrugged off our concerns, asserting it was too late to fix anything, even though three nights of our trip were still ahead. The level of unprofessionalism was staggering. Forced to salvage our experience, we took matters into our own hands, leaving that awful place to book another hotel and activities for the remainder of our trip—all at my own expense. Based on my experience, I suggest travelers to think twice before considering this agency. Seek out reputable companies known for their commitment to customer service and integrity.

Dates & Availability

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Friday - Friday

Jun 06, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025
$6595 $6414 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$181 (USD)

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    On The Go Tours allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform on the go tours, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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