Welcome to Aurora’s Jewels of the Arctic expedition.
Explore Svalbard, a world of near-endless daylight, where polar bear sightings quicken your pulse, walrus haul out on sea ice and guillemot cries echo from towering cliffs. In East Greenland, sail deep into the world’s largest fjord, Scoresbysund, visit Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the world’s remotest Inuit settlements, cruise among iridescent icebergs sculpted into fantastic shapes, and walk across tundra blooming in brightly coloured flowers.
Having made your way to Reykjavik, you will be met by a representative of Vantage Explorations and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Vantage Explorations hospitality area where you can leave your luggage and enjoy refreshments if arriving prior to 4pm. Whilst here you can collect your luggage cabin tags speak with our 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.
Accommodation: Radisson RED Reykjavik
Today we follow the path of one of Reykjavik’s most popular seismic attractions – the Golden Circle. Stops along our route include Thingvellir National Park, accredited as the site of Iceland’s first parliament. A shaky start to the new nation, it is also the point where the Eurasia and North American tectonic plates meet as an open fissure. Our next stop is Gullfoss waterfall. This impressive water feature tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá River, offering a popular photographic opportunity. Next we explore the geothermal fields and geysir’s for which Iceland is famous. The variety of hot springs and bubbling pools are mesmerising as the sheer capacity of water and steam erupting from the ground makes you ponder just how much power is beneath your feet. Late afternoon we return to Reykjavik to board the Sylvia Earle.
After boarding, there’s time to settle into your cabin before our important safety briefings before we ‘throw the lines’ to begin our Greenland adventure. This evening, meet your expedition team and crew at the Welcome Dinner.
In the Denmark Strait, we cruise towards Greenland. We will be on the lookout for whale blows and the many seabirds that trail our ship, riding in the constant winds. In our lecture theatre, enjoy informative and entertaining presentations from our experts on topics such as seabirds, wildlife and ice, or catch up on some rest after busy days of travel.
In summer, easing sea ice can open a broader range of possibilities along East Greenland’s immense coast. Our Expedition Team will use current ice, weather and wildlife information to shape the route each day, with all landings and Zodiac cruises subject to permits, quotas, local agreements and site availability.
Depending on conditions, exploration may range from the fjords around Tasiilaq in the south to Scoresbysund and towards Kong Oscar Fjord farther north. Ittoqqortoormiit may be possible when ice and community arrangements align, but no named destination is guaranteed. The freedom to alter course is what allows us to seek the strongest experience available.
Glacier-fed waterways, striped mountains and drifting icebergs create exceptional opportunities for Zodiac cruising and photography. On suitable shores, we may hike across colourful tundra, climb to panoramic viewpoints or examine geological formations that reveal the deep history of this restless landscape.
We remain watchful for humpback and fin whales, seals and seabirds along the coast. On land, musk oxen and arctic hare may appear in the northern fjord country, while every wildlife encounter is approached carefully and on the animals’ terms.
Human stories are inseparable from East Greenland. Archaeological remains and historic sites speak to earlier settlement and exploration, while present-day communities carry forward a living Greenlandic Inuit culture. Any community encounter will take place only where it is welcomed and operationally possible.
Long summer light gives the expedition room to breathe. A promising wildlife sighting, a newly accessible fjord or an iceberg-filled bay can reshape the day, creating a voyage defined by responsiveness rather than a checklist.
As we sail away from the coast of East Greenland, we may encounter whales feeding in the rich waters of the north. Be prepared to encounter more pack ice and perhaps spot seals and a variety of seabirds, including the northern fulmar and Brünnich’s guillemot.
The strong, icy currents have isolated East Greenland from the Polar Basin, attracting large numbers of fish, seals and whales. Climatic conditions and the concentration of ice in the vicinity often create thick morning fog that only vanishes in presence of the midday sun. Our experts will inform and entertain us with fascinating discussions on plants, animals, ice and heroic tales of exploration.
Svalbard offers an exceptional introduction to Arctic expedition travel. Our experienced Expedition Team will shape each day around weather, sea ice, wildlife and the latest local information, selecting the best opportunities rather than following a fixed list of landing sites.
Summer often allows us to explore a wider choice of fjords along western and northern Spitsbergen. Zodiac cruises may trace blue glacier fronts and sheltered bays, while guided walks cross flower-dotted tundra, raised beaches and fossil-rich polar desert. Historic camps and trappers’ huts reveal the human stories layered into this apparently untouched wilderness.
The season is alive with wildlife. Bird cliffs resound with guillemots, kittiwakes and puffins, and little auks stream between sea and nesting slopes. Walrus rest at coastal haul-outs, whales feed in productive waters and reindeer graze on the tundra. Arctic foxes patrol the shore and bird colonies, while polar bears remain an unpredictable possibility throughout the archipelago.
If you have selected an optional activity such as kayaking, we will aim to offer it whenever conditions allow. Guided walks, Zodiac excursions and the possibility of a polar plunge make the most of the long summer days.
During the early morning we cruise back into Longyearbyen. Farewell your Expedition Team upon disembarkation before transferring to the airport for our charter flight to Oslo.
Note: the arrival time in Oslo is contingent on the approved allocated slot of our charter flight to and from Longyearbyen, which we expect to receive in March 2027.
