Travel Advice
Duration
14 Nights
Journey Type
Sailing from the UK
Ports
7 Ports
6-7 June
Setting sail from Aberdeen
The ‘granite city’ of Aberdeen is flush with money from the North Sea oil boom, and boasts cultural attractions including the fascinating Maritime Museum and the Aberdeen Art Gallery. Head out into the countryside and you’ll find magnificent castles, wild mountain scenery and whisky distilleries aplenty.
8-13 June
United Kingdom: Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands
Norway: Norwegian Fjords
16-17 June
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Bjørnøya
Bjørnøya, or Bear Island, is the most southerly island in the Svalbard archipelago, marooned in the Barents Sea halfway between Spitsbergen and the Norwegian mainland. Despite the name there are no polar bears permanently resident, and the island’s most impressive sight is the huge bird colonies nesting on the cliffs.
18-19 June
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Svalbard
The Svalbard archipelago is a true wilderness, a land of snowy peaks, frozen tundra and glassy seas. You’ll likely have no fixed itinerary here, due to the unpredictable nature of an Arctic expedition; be prepared to drop everything and rush up to the top deck for the chance of a polar bear sighting!
20 June
Arriving in Longyearbyen
This is the world's northernmost city and the base for tourism in Svalbard. A bit quirky, as you would expect from somewhere that spends four months of the year in near darkness, Longyearbyen doesn't take long to explore. Its brightly coloured wooden houses are built on stilts, as the ground in Svalbard is permafrost. When you enter a building, you are normally asked to remove your shoes, and leave your gun at the door. Gun carrying is more or less essential for the locals, as with 3,000 local hungry polar bears, it is said that you never know when you might need protection. That said, we visited safely without a gun!
Don't miss
At the so called heart of the city, Huset has long been the centre for culture and community. Go there for great food and to sample one of the largest wine cellars in Europe!
Your home from home
The Greg Mortimer is an exciting new purpose-built expedition ship with a revolutionary design, which joined the Aurora Expeditions fleet in 2019.
What we love
Just take a look at the pictures - quite different from anything we have seen before, with a revolutionary new patented X-BOW design which has a number of benefits. Not only does it increase passenger comfort by eliminating slamming in heavy seas, but also the journey is speeded up so uncomfortable rides in heavy seas are minimised. This also results in environmental benefits, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
On board, AE Expeditions passengers will enjoy the company's established style - a comfortable, friendly and laid-back vibe in the company of like-minded travellers, for whom the time ashore is everything. The focus is on small group exploration, with a commitment to getting off the ship as much as possible for up close and personal encounters with wilderness and wildlife.
| Capacity | 132 Guests |
|---|---|
| Crew | 95 Staff |
| Style | Relaxed, authentic, cosy - a totally unpretentious and educational experience for true adventurers. |
| Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
Ways to make it better
Where to stay in Longyearbyen
There’s really not much choice! Go for the Radisson Blu.
Explore Spitsbergen
Travel out of Longyearbyen by snow scooter or dog sled to take a look at the amazing scenery and hunt for wildlife.
