Day 1: Arrive Oslo, Norway
Arrive in Oslo and transfer to our centrally located hotel. After lunch, our introduction to Norway and polar exploration begins with a visit to the Fram Museum, dedicated to the wooden ship sailed by Norwegian pole explorers such as Nansen and Amundsen. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Charter flight to Longyearbyen for Embarkation
Depart Oslo on a charter flight and enjoy breathtaking vistas over icy fjords and the Barents Sea, enroute to Longyearbyen. On arrival to this Arctic outpost, explore the world’s northernmost settlement that has morphed from a coal mining hub to a base for exploration and science in recent history. Witness daily life and delve into this history before embarking National Geographic Endurance or National Geographic Resolution, your base for the next six days. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 3-8: Exploring Svalbard
We operate in true expedition style, letting nature dictate our day-to-day movements within an immense Arctic wonderland. Our fully stabilized, ice-class expedition ship probes deep into the ice where the polar bears forage, walruses sun themselves, and the Svalbard reindeer roam. Join our spotters on the bridge as we scan the floes and islands for these iconic creatures, along with bearded and ringed seals; Arctic fox; and whales that call these waters home like beluga, fin, and minke. There’s no greater thrill than a sighting that brings everyone rushing to the bow or Bridge for a close-up view.

Sail deep into protected bays and fjords, where even a novice kayaker can comfortably paddle surrounded by sparkling bergs and dramatic mountains. Video from our remotely operated vehicle (ROV) allows you to peer into the mysterious world that exists 1,000 feet below us during recaps with our multi-talented Field Staff. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Bear Island (Bjørnøya)
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. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 10-11: Sørøya and Senja Islands
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. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Disembarkation in Tromsø
Disembark our ship in Tromsø and transfer to the airport for flights home. Meals Included: Breakfast