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Two Zodiacs cruising along a towering glacier front in Svalbard on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson · 11 days

Svalbard Odyssey

Oslo to Oslo, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and a hotel night in Oslo included. Three sailings in 2027, three in 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$29,205 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Group of passengers hiking towards a glacier beneath jagged peaks in Svalbard on a Quark Expeditions cruise

11 days, Oslo to Oslo

Nine days in Svalbard, the Australian way

Aurora Expeditions is the Australian operator in the Arctic, and this is its Svalbard classic. The journey starts with a night in Oslo and the charter flight north to Longyearbyen, where Sylvia Earle or Douglas Mawson waits at the pier. Nine days then belong to the archipelago: pack ice to the north, the bird cliffs of Hinlopen, walrus haul-outs, glacier fronts and long tundra walks, with the expedition team setting each day around the ice, the weather and the wildlife. Kayaking and the polar plunge are on offer when conditions allow. Midsummer is the season when the chances of a polar bear on the ice are highest, and the light lasts all night. Ten solo cabins on every sailing carry no single supplement.

Aurora is the operator we recommend to guests who want to be off the ship as much as on it, and this is their classic Svalbard voyage. We shape the rest around you, the cabin, flights from Australia with the Oslo charter, a night in Oslo or Longyearbyen either side, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • 2 ports
  • 9 days in Svalbard
  • 11 days

Signature sites

Six places the expedition team aims for

Aurora publishes no fixed route in Svalbard; the team chooses each day from the places below and others like them, according to the ice and the weather.

Panoramic view of snowy mountain peaks in Svalbard

Longyearbyen

A guided tour of the northernmost town of its size on arrival, time permitting, before boarding.

Day by day

Eleven days, in outline

Aurora runs Svalbard as a true expedition: the ship’s route is decided day by day. The outline below is the shape of the journey; the full inclusions and the ship’s activity programme come with your proposal.

Arrive in Oslo and settle into the group hotel by the airport, included in the fare.

Aboard Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson

Aurora Expeditions is Australian owned and sails the Arctic with Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson: purpose-built expedition ships of around 130 guests, with the X-Bow hull for a steadier crossing, a fleet of Zodiacs and an expedition team that leads every landing. Dining is one open seating, with wine and beer at dinner, and ten solo cabins on every sailing carry no single supplement.

Sylvia Earle
Group of sea kayakers paddling past sea ice in Svalbard on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

Zodiacs at the bird cliffs

wan Hellenic guests Zodiac cruising alongside icebergs and rugged coastlines

Kayaking, for those who book it

Aerial view of broken sea ice floes on dark water off East Greenland, cruised by SH Vega on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

The bow deck in the ice

Walrus resting on the shore at Kapp Lee on Edgeøya Island in Svalbard during a Swan Hellenic expedition cruise

Tundra walks with the team

Expedition guide giving an expert-led presentation to passengers in the lounge aboard a Swan Hellenic cruise

Lectures between landings

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

One hotel night in Oslo with breakfast, return charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen, nine nights on board, all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices, beer and house wine with dinner, the Captain’s farewell dinner, all Zodiac outings and shore excursions, lectures and guiding by the expedition team, a 3-in-1 polar jacket to keep and the use of boots on board, port fees, permits and landing fees, Wi-Fi where available

Flights from Australia to Oslo and home, meals in Oslo beyond breakfast, kayaking and other optional activities, drinks outside dinner, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, the onboard crew gratuity added to your account

Aurora includes the Oslo hotel night and the charter flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen in both directions. We arrange your flights from Australia to Oslo and any extra nights, so the journey north is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Svalbard can also be sailed aboard Swan Hellenic, roundtrip from Longyearbyen or northbound from Tromsø. Each voyage shows its from price in Australian dollars; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

All expeditions
10 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,725

Ultimate Svalbard

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen, Copenhagen charter flights included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,725 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$17,131

Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: A Rite of Passage

Helsinki to Helsinki, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and hotel nights included. Sailings in June 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$17,131 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$10,371

Svalbard in Spring: Sea Ice, Pristine Snow and Wildlife

Helsinki to Helsinki, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and hotel nights included. Eleven sailings between April 2027 and June 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$10,371 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$22,525

Sailing North to Svalbard

Tromsø or Reykjavík to Longyearbyen. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$22,525 per person, charter flight home from Longyearbyen included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$28,414

Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard and East Greenland

Oslo to Reykjavík, or the reverse, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$28,414 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

12 Nights
Ponant
From A$53,610

The Geographic North Pole

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen, through the pack ice to 90° North. Four sailings in 2027, six in 2028, with 2029 to follow. Return charter flights Paris to Longyearbyen included. From A$53,610 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

A polar bear traversing snow and sea ice in the Svalbard archipelago during an Arctic expedition.

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Eleven days, Oslo to Oslo. Fares are Aurora Expeditions’ published Australian fares per person, twin share, with the current early-booking offers applied and the Oslo night and charter flights included. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

The first sailing of the season, with sea ice usually still close to the northern fjords and 24-hour light. Oslo night and charter flights included.

Mid-July, with more open water for landings and the bird cliffs at full strength. Oslo night and charter flights included.

August aboard Aurora’s newest ship: open water in the east, walrus haul-outs busy, the first dusk returning to the evenings. Oslo night and charter flights included.

The early-season sailing a year on, at the 2028 fare.

Mid-July 2028 aboard Douglas Mawson.

Late July 2028 aboard Douglas Mawson.

Aurora has yet to publish its 2029 Arctic season. Tell us the month and the cabin you have in mind and we hold your place on our list, then come back to you with dates and Australian fares the day they open.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right cabin and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.