You arrive in Oslo and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Spend the day at your own pace, exploring the sights, sounds, and tastes of this vibrant city. This afternoon, check in with the hospitality desk to finalize any last arrangements before your charter flight the following day.

Depart Oslo on a private charter flight and enjoy breathtaking vistas en route to Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in Svalbard. On arrival, visit the Svalbard Museum to learn about the history of Svalbard and the Arctic, from 17th-century whaling to modern scientific research. Explore the Svalbard Art Gallery, home to a permanent collection of historic items as well as contemporary exhibitions of local artists. Later, embark the National Geographic Endurance, your floating base camp for the next six days. 

You operate in true expedition style, letting nature dictate your day-to-day movements within the immense Arctic wonderland. Your fully stabilized, ice-class expedition ship ventures deep into the ice, where polar bears forage, walruses sun themselves, and Svalbard reindeer roam. Join the spotters on the bridge as you scan the floes and islands for these iconic creatures, along with bearded and ringed seals, Arctic foxes, and whales like beluga, fin, and minke that call these waters home. There’s no greater thrill than a sighting that sends everyone rushing to the bow or bridge for a close-up view.

You sail deep into protected bays and fjords, where even a novice kayaker can paddle comfortably, surrounded by sparkling bergs and dramatic mountains. During recaps with the multi-talented Field Staff, you’ll peer into the mysterious world 1,000 feet below through video footage from the remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

Sitting at the confluence of the Norwegian and Barents Seas, Bear Island is ironically known as a birdwatcher's paradise. The island also houses one remote meteorological station.  With conditions permitting, enjoy a Zodiac cruise around the southernmost member of the Svalbard archipelago and revel at the bird cliffs, home to countless thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes, and guillemots.

Off Norway's coast, two of its largest islands offer stunning landscapes, challenging and rewarding hikes, and protected fjords to explore. The mountainous island of Sørøya, known for its scenic bays, pristine nature reserves, and large populations of skrei, or cod, welcomes us to its shores as we make our way south from Bear Island. After exploring this gateway to Finnmark, Norway's northernmost county, we head south to Senja Island. Capture panoramic landscapes along your certified photo instructor, glide amongst islands in a kayak, or explore village streets and shops as we get to know Norway's second-largest island. 

Disembark in Tromsø, known as the “gateway to the Arctic” for the numerous Arctic expeditions that originated here. Explore this charming coastal city, then board our charter flight to Oslo and check in to the SAS Radisson Blu Airport Hotel before flying home the next morning.