Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard & East Greenland

• 14 nightsDuration
• Sylvia Earle, Douglas MawsonShips
• Reykjavík to OsloRoute
• Jul 18, 2027Next sailing

Upcoming departures

Day by day

As planned for the Jul 15, 2028 departure; other departures may differ.

1. Day 1Pre-Cruise Night

2. Day 2Reykjavík

   Having made your way to Reykjavik, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Aurora Expeditions desk where you can collect your luggage cabin tags speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash or purchase last minute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket. 

   The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense. 

   Accommodation: Reykjavik Hotel (to be advised)

3. Day 3Reykjavík

   After a leisurely breakfast, check-out and bring your luggage to our Embarkation Suite. Please place any items required today in your hand luggage as your main bag will be transferred to the ship. Access to our Embarkation Suite includes luggage storage, Aurora Expeditions staff for voyage and city information and cabin check-in, WIFI, tea, coffee and light refreshments. Alternatively, explore Reykjavik at your leisure before returning to our Embarkation Suite at the designated times for the group transfer to Sylvia Earle. 

   After boarding, there’s time to settle into your cabin before our important safety briefings before we ‘throw the lines’ to begin our Greenland adventure. This evening, meet your expedition team and crew at the Welcome Dinner. 

4. Day 4Cruising Denmark Strait

   In the Denmark Strait, we cruise towards Greenland. We will be on the lookout for whale blows and the many seabirds that trail our ship, riding in the constant winds. In our lecture theatre, enjoy informative and entertaining presentations from our experts on topics such as seabirds, wildlife and ice, or catch up on some rest after long days of travel. 

5. Day 5Greenland's East Coast Fjords

   Early-season exploration in East Greenland is governed by sea ice. Rather than following a fixed list of sites, our Expedition Team will study satellite imagery, local information and the conditions encountered to build the best route day by day. Landings, Zodiac cruises and ship-based exploration remain subject to weather, ice, permits, quotas and local access arrangements. 

   At this time of year, the ship may spend more time among the southern fjords around Tasiilaq, where steep mountains, glaciers and ice-choked waterways create a powerful setting for exploration. If the coast opens, opportunities may extend north through Scoresbysund and towards Kong Oscar Fjord. 

   Wherever the ice leads us, the scale is extraordinary. Vast bergs drift from glacier-fed fjords, brash ice gathers beneath rock walls and the changing light reveals bands of ancient geology. Zodiacs allow us to move quietly through sheltered water, while suitable shores may offer walks across tundra and viewpoints over the fjords. 

   Wildlife encounters are never predictable, but we will remain alert for whale blows, seals, seabirds, arctic hare and musk oxen where their range and conditions coincide. The pack itself can be a habitat, so time spent navigating its edge may bring some of the voyage’s most memorable observations. 

   East Greenland is also a homeland shaped by generations of Inuit knowledge and resilience. Archaeological traces, hunting traditions and contemporary life place the landscape in a human context. Any community visit depends on invitation, local agreements and the operational circumstances of the voyage. 

   This is expedition travel at its most authentic: the precise route may span possibilities from Tasiilaq in the south to Kong Oscar Fjord in the north, but the ice decides what is possible. Flexibility gives us the freedom to turn changing conditions into discovery.

6. Day 6Greenland's East Coast Fjords

7. Day 7Greenland's East Coast Fjords

8. Day 8Cruising Greenland Sea

   As we sail away from the coast of East Greenland, we may encounter whales feeding in the rich waters of the north. Be prepared to encounter more pack ice and perhaps spot seals and a variety of seabirds, including the northern fulmar and Brünnich’s guillemot.  

   The strong, icy currents have isolated East Greenland from the Polar Basin, attracting large numbers of fish, seals and whales. Climatic conditions and the concentration of ice in the vicinity often create thick morning fog that only vanishes in presence of the midday sun. Our experts will inform and entertain us with fascinating discussions on plants, animals, ice and heroic tales of exploration.

9. Day 9Cruising Greenland Sea

10. Day 10Svalbard Archipelago

    Early-season Svalbard is defined by light, snow and ice. Our experienced Expedition Team will shape each day around weather, sea ice, wildlife and the latest local information. Rather than follow a fixed sequence of landings, we remain free to spend time where conditions are strongest—whether that means exploring a glacier-filled fjord, approaching the pack-ice edge or changing course for an unexpected wildlife encounter. 

    On shore, snow-fringed beaches and newly exposed tundra reveal reindeer tracks, fox trails, fossils and the first hardy plants of the season. Migratory birds return in vast numbers, filling cliffs and scree slopes with guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and little auks. At sea, we watch for walrus and seals around ice and coastal haul-outs, and for whales feeding in productive waters. Polar bears may be encountered anywhere in Svalbard and are observed only from a safe distance without changing their behaviour. 

    The human story is equally compelling. Weathered huts, whaling remains and scientific outposts speak to centuries of survival, ambition and research in the High Arctic. Our guides will bring these places into context while ensuring fragile cultural remains are left exactly as found. 

    If you have selected an optional activity such as kayaking, we will aim to offer it whenever conditions allow. Zodiac cruising, guided walks and the possibility of a polar plunge add different perspectives to a voyage driven by discovery rather than a timetable. 

11. Day 11Svalbard Archipelago

12. Day 12Svalbard Archipelago

13. Day 13Svalbard Archipelago

14. Day 14Longyearbyen

    During the early morning, we cruise back into Longyearbyen. Farewell your Expedition Team upon disembarkation and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport for our charter flight back to Oslo.  

    Note: the arrival time in Oslo is contingent on the approved allocated slot for our charter flight to and from Longyearbyen, which we expect to receive in March 2028. We recommend allowing flexibility when arranging onward travel. 

15. Day 14Oslo

Gallery