Svalbard Express Expedition Cruise

Upon arrival into Oslo Airport take the private transfer to the city centre and continue to the hotel to check in for a 1-night stay. The remainder of the day is free at leisure to explore Norway's exciting capital.

Thon Opera hotel or similar

• Hotel Description

After breakfast, take a shared transfer to Oslo Gardermoen airport for the flight to Longyearbyen, Svalbard to join your ship. On arrival at Longyearbyen, take a shared transfer to Longyearbyen port for embarkation on the Ocean Albatros Expedition Cruise ship. Where you will spend the next 6 nights. Toast the tour departure from civilisation as you sail into the Arctic wilderness .(B, D)

• Hotel Description

Today, sail through the spectacular wilderness of Northwest Svalbard National Park, protected since 1973 and rich in Arctic history. Discover the legacy of early explorers, including William Barents, who reached the islands in 1596. Landings may include Smeerenburg, where remnants of the Dutch and English whaling era still remain. Today, the region is a pristine haven of glaciers, Arctic flowers, seabird colonies, walrus and polar bears, offering unforgettable wildlife encounters in one of the world’s most remote destinations. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Enter the remote wilderness of northeastern Svalbard, a stark polar desert shaped by icy seas and the absence of warming ocean currents. Towering glaciers spill into frozen fjords, creating dramatic Arctic scenery alive with wildlife. Watch for Arctic foxes roaming the shoreline, while immense seabird colonies fill the cliffs overhead. Nutrient-rich waters attract walrus, frequently seen resting along the coast. As conditions in the High Arctic can change rapidly, daily exploration routes depend on the sea ice, winds and weather, making each expedition through this extraordinary polar environment a unique adventure.(B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Cruise towards some of the northernmost islands on Earth, where stark Arctic landscapes are surrounded by drifting sea ice. Weather permitting, explore remote islands such as Nordaustlandet and the isolated Sjuøyane, lying almost 1,000 km north of mainland Norway’s famous Nordkapp. These barren polar islands support only mosses, lichens and hardy tundra plants, yet their birdlife is abundant, with geese, terns and skuas commonly seen. Later, continue sailing north towards the vast Arctic ice pack stretching endlessly towards the North Pole.(B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Venture into the vast Arctic ice pack north of Svalbard, an ever-changing frozen wilderness stretching towards the North Pole, Alaska and Siberia. Though seemingly silent and empty, these icy waters support remarkable wildlife, from tiny Arctic fish to seals, seabirds and whales including belugas and bowheads. Keep watch for the elusive polar bear, the undisputed ruler of the High Arctic. Aboard the expedition vessel Ocean Albatross navigate narrow channels through drifting sea ice, offering a rare opportunity to experience one of the planet’s most remote and fascinating natural environments shaped entirely by ice and weather. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Sail into the breathtaking Kongsfjord, a vast Arctic fjord framed by towering glaciers and the dramatic Three Crowns mountains. Visit Kongsfjorden before continuing to Ny-Ålesund, Earth’s northernmost settlement. This remote scientific outpost is home to international research stations and has a rich history as a base for legendary polar explorers such as Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen. Today it remains a hub of Arctic science, where cutting-edge research continues amid one of the world’s most spectacular and isolated polar landscapes. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

On the final morning of thr expedition, arrive back in Longyearbyen. After days of Arctic isolation, even this small settlement feels like a bustling metropolis. Take time to explore the town and bid farewell to the expedition crew and fellow travellers. Afterwards, transfer to Svalbard Airport, Longyearbyen for your flight back to mainland Norway. Overnight in Oslo. (B)

Thon Opera Hotel or similar.

• Hotel Description

Enjoy some leisure time in Oslo until it is time to bid farewell to Norway and fly back to the UK. (B)