Expedition Details
A high Arctic archipelago situated between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is a place of deep fjords, snow-capped mountains, massive sheets of ice, and magnificent polar bears. Travel under the midnight sun aboard the National Geographic Explorer and experience nature in its purest form.Trip Highlights
- Search for the very symbol of the Arctic — the polar bear — and observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
- Take naturalist-led shore walks, and cruise among beautiful passing icebergs in a Zodiac or a kayak.
- Experience the legendary midnight sun: the ethereal light of the northern summer, when the sun never sets.
- Watch for huge walruses, bearded and ringed seals, arctic foxes, and reindeer.
Itinerary - 11 Days
Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Oslo, Norway
Depart on an overnight flight to Oslo. Upon arrival, check into our hotel. On an afternoon tour of this charming city, stroll among the famed Vigeland sculptures—hundreds of life-size human figures set in parklands. Visit the polar ship Fram museum, dedicated to one of the first wooden vessels to navigate the Arctic Sea. This evening is free to explore Oslo on your own.
Hotel Continental (B)
Day 3 — Oslo/Longyearbyen
Depart Oslo on a private charter flight, and enjoy breathtaking vistas en route to Longyearbyen. Embark the National Geographic Explorer, your base for the next six days.
(B,L,D)
Days 4 through 9 — Exploring Svalbard
This voyage is undertaken in the spirit of discovery, and our travel in the archipelago is exploratory by design. In a region ruled not by humans but by polar bears, we let nature guide our course. Svalbard lies north of the Arctic Circle, where the summer midnight sun never sets. With our fully stabilized ice-class expedition ship, we are able to probe the ice in search of wildlife; and our exact day-to-day itinerary will remain flexible, depending on local ice and weather conditions. Zodiacs and kayaks take us closer to experience the geology, wildlife, and wildflowers that teem during the summer months.
With our National Geographic expert and a seasoned naturalist staff, venture to the foot of stunning tidewater glaciers, kayak among sparkling icebergs, and explore fjords that split the rugged coastlines. Hike through miniature gardens blooming on the tundra; and search the edge of the pack ice for polar bears, walruses, seals, reindeer, and arctic foxes. Nowhere can the polar bear be seen more reliably in its natural environment than here.
(B,L,D daily)
Day 10 — Longyearbyen/Oslo
In Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in Svalbard, disembark and enjoy time to explore. Founded by an American coal executive in 1906, this is one of the northernmost human settlements on Earth. Fly back to Oslo this afternoon.
Radisson SAS Airport Hotel (B,L)
Day 11 — Oslo/U.S.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the return flight home.
(B)
Related Trip
View LargerExpedition Team
A diverse team of experts, including naturalists, historians, and a National Geographic photographer, will accompany each expedition aboard the National Geographic Explorer. See one of the members of our extraordinary team below.
Kent Kobersteen
Photographer Kent Kobersteen’s assignments have taken him throughout the United States and Canada and to more than 25 foreign countries. Kent served as director of photography and senior editor of National Geographic magazine from 1998 until 2005. He joined the National Geographic Society in 1983 as a picture editor. Ken has won numerous awards for his photography, and during his tenure, National Geographic magazine won the National Magazine Award for photography five times. Kent has taught photography workshops worldwide and has traveled extensively in Norway and the Canadian Arctic.
Kent will join the following departures:
Jul 07 - 17, 2011 • Jul 14 - 24, 2011
This trip is offered in association with Lindblad Expeditions.
Expedition Dates 
Expedition Costs
Airfare is not included in the expedition cost. Round-trip economy airfare between Newark and Oslo is $1,195 and between Oslo and Longyearbyen is $725 (subject to change).
Special Offer
Book by October 29, 2010 and receive the following per person savings on our June 9 and July 7 & 14, 2011 departures:
$1,000 off Cat. 1, 2, 3 & 4 cabins
$1,500 off Category 5 cabins
$2,000 off Category 6 & 7 cabins
