Having made your way to Oslo, meet the representative of Aurora Expeditions and transfer to your group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with the 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.

This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage has cabin tags clearly labeled with your name and cabin number. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for your charter flight to Longyearbyen for embarkation. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day. In Longyearbyen, explore the town on a guided excursion tour.

On the drive to Camp Barentz in Advent Valley, your guide will introduce you to Longyearbyen's fascinating history. Once at Camp Barentz, enjoy a presentation in the large 'lavvo,' a traditional building common in northern Norway. You can also have the opportunity to meet the friendly huskies and pick up some souvenirs. A visit to the Svalbard Museum is included back in town before embarking on the vessel in the late afternoon.

After the tour, transfer directly to the pier to embark in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings, and enjoy the thrill of departure as you 'throw the lines' and set sail.

Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Your experienced expedition team will use their expertise to tailor your day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions, and the possibility of encounters with wildlife. Above the Arctic Circle during the boreal summer, the sun does not drop below the horizon until late August, so enjoy 24 hours of daylight and more time to explore this breathtaking part of the planet.

Svalbard's phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountain ranges, and polar desert are rich in fossils, perfectly setting the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. You may encounter walrus hauled out on sea ice or wallowing on beaches. You may seek out towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and listen to the busy chanting of little auk colonies protected amongst the scree slopes.

With more time than on the classic Svalbard voyages, you plan to reach further afield and attempt to explore the two largest islands in the archipelago, Spitsbergen and Nordauslandet. You may enjoy the delights around Barentsoya and Edgeoya, located in the Hinlopen Strait, a known polar bear migration route. Visit the remains of old whaling settlements and pomor sites, and enjoy early morning Zodiac cruises. Encounter glittering glaciers; keep watch for beluga whales, and watch for ivory gulls.

Weather and ice permitting, you may sail along the most northerly point of the Svalbard archipelago, a favorite spot for a large colony of walruses. In the pack ice, you may encounter the mighty polar bear in its element. Your expedition team is as keen as you are to find these magnificent creatures.

If you are participating in an optional activity such as kayaking, you can have the opportunity to experience the Arctic whenever conditions allow. When conditions are perfect, those enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge can hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip—a memory to savor for years.

In the early morning, cruise back into Longyearbyen for disembarkation. Farewell to your crew and expedition team, and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport to continue your journey.