Cost per person is $13,999 / £11,259
Single supplement is $9,501 / £7,750
This is an Ecotour that will make a difference to you, and to the areas we visit.
We will donate to the important work of Polar bear conservation.
We will employ local people.
We will use locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters.
We will use local goods and services.
Upcoming Dates
Friday, May 31, 2024 to Friday, June 7, 2024
Availability — Trip now FULL and closed to enrollment
Monday, May 26, 2025 to Monday, June 2, 2025
Availability — OPEN to enrollment
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Longyearbyen
Plan to arrive in Longyearbyen, by 4pm to embark our expedition ship in the late afternoon and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden. Enjoy our welcome dinner aboard.
Aboard M.S. Sjoveien
Days 2 - 7: Svalbard exploration
We are now in a part of the world where we are totally dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary depends on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. Our ambition is to make landings or cruises every day with our Zodiacs. Here are some examples of places we may visit:
Northwest Spitsbergen - The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is situated in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. Two other courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and American journalist Wellman started with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site.
Magnificent fjords - Svalbard offers the visitor countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore a few of them such as: Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, is lined with snow-covered mountain peaks and here we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and Pink-footed geese nest in the area. In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large number of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favorite spot for seals and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity.
Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet - If the ice allows we enter Hinlopen Strait. Here is Alkefjellet, an impressive, basaltic cliff, which is the home to an estimated 200 000 Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also continue into the beautiful bay Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet.
Eastern Svalbard - The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by an by hundreds of waterfalls. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent landscapes and vast tundra. Chances to encounter walruses, Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer are good here.
Southwest Spitsbergen - The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a breathtaking landscape of towering mountain peaks, often reaching above the clouds. On a clear day we can see the summit of the highest mountain Hornsundtind, measuring 1431 meters. Hornsund is a favourite haunt for some of Svalbard’s polar bears and bearded seals are often seen resting on the fjord ice.
Aboard M.S. Sjoveien
Day 8: Return to Longyearbyen and flights home
Early morning we disembark our expedition ship and begin our journey back home.
Travel Information
Thanks for choosing Svalbard: Arctic Norway with Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc. It is our pleasure to help you plan for your upcoming ecotour. To ensure that your travel arrangements are made to your satisfaction, please take a few minutes to read through this information.
What you need to have with you on your trip:
Passport: If you are a U.S., U.K., Australian or Canadian citizen, you will need a passport, valid for six months from the date of completion of your trip.
It is always a good idea to make a photocopy of your airline tickets and of the pages of your passport that have the number, your photograph and other pertinent information. Keep the copies separate from the originals.
Visas: If you are not a U.K or U.S. passport holder please consult the Norwegian consulate or embassy nearest you for visa requirements to enter Norway. If a visa is required, you are responsible for obtaining it.
Documents for children under the age of 18, not traveling with both parents: The U.S. government is increasingly requiring that minors under 18 years of age traveling alone, with grandparents, or with one parent/legal guardian only, carry a notarized document signed by both parents or by the parent/legal guardian not traveling with the child. We suggest you obtain such a document (noting the age of the child, relationship to traveling adult(s), dates of travel, and destination) to avoid potential problems. For example, in the case of divorce, the parent with legal custody must sign the permit, and the accompanying adult must carry proof of this fact. In addition, if the child’s surname differs from that of either parent, you may want to carry the child’s birth certificate.
Emergency Contact number while on your ecotour:
Call COLLECT (813) 476-2810
Security: There are currently no security problems in Norway. Please feel free to check with the US State Department for any updates or change in conditions.
Practical Information
Currency: Rates effective April 2023. The currency of Norway is the Norwegian Krone (NK) and 1 USD = 10.46 NK. Importantly there are no ATM machines in Svalbard.
Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Norway, we suggest you change some currency into small denomination Norwegian Krone for smaller purchases such as refreshments or other miscellaneous expenses.
Health: All information we obtain regarding health precautions is received from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta at 404.332.4559 or www.cdc.gov.
Please note that Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc., as a travel company, is in no way authorized to prescribe any inoculations or medications. We recommend that you consult your personal physician or a travel clinic specialist for medical advice, showing him or her the brochure that indicates the places you will be visiting. Your physician is most familiar with your personal medical history and is best qualified to determine your particular needs. It is always advisable to have physical and dental check-ups before you leave.
There are no specific health advisories in effect for Norway.
Swimming: There are not really any opportunities to swim during the ecotour.
Time Difference: Norway is five or six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, according to daylight savings.
Weather: Svalbard has an Arctic / Polar climate and is very cold. Because Svalbard lies in the Northern Hemisphere, the warmest months are June, July and August (summer), but you shoud still be prepared for frezing temperaturs. Importantly, rain and wind is possible at any time, even though we travel in Svalbard's summer season the mornings and evenings are frigid.