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.
Continental Hotel (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)
Optional Extensions
- Norway's Fjords - Pre-Trip Extension, 5 Days
- Iceland - Post-Trip Extension, 5 Days
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.
Michael Melford
National Geographic photographer Michael Melford has produced over 30 stories for National Geographic Traveler magazine, including eight covers. Some of Michael's recent assignments have focused on America's national parks, and the need to preserve them. Michael has produced photography for eight books for National Geographic, including three on Alaska, his favorite being Treasures of Alaska, for which he spent four months traveling to every corner of the state. When not shooting for National Geographic, Michael enjoys giving seminars and workshops on photography, and sharing both his love of nature and his extensive knowledge.
Michael will join the following departures:
Jul 16 - 26, 2010 • Jul 23 - Aug 02, 2010Jul 30 - Aug 09, 2010
This trip is offered in association with Lindblad Expeditions.
Expedition Dates 
Expedition Costs
Special Offer
Book by March 31, 2010
and receive the following
per person savings on our
July 23 and 30 and August 6, 2010 departures:
$1,000 off category
1, 2, 3, and 4 cabins
$1,500 off category 5 cabins
$2,000 off category 6 and 7 cabin
On our June 25 and July 26, 2010 departures kids travel for half-price with each paying adult.
