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GregMortimer - Guests

Across The Arctic Circle

Aberdeen, United Kingdom - Longyearbyen, Norway

On this expedition, Aurora combines three unique worlds on one unforgettable journey. From Stone Age villages to Iron Age forts, the Orkney and Shetland Islands reveal a proud Scottish heritage, while Vikings, fjords and fishing folk feature along the sublime Norwegian coastline, which includes a visit to famous Lofoten Islands. Crossing the Arctic Circle to Svalbard, discover a landscape of towering cliffs alive with breeding birds; a frozen wonderland of gleaming glaciers and where the mighty polar bear reigns supreme.


 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit picturesque villages and castles that were once strongholds of Scottish clans
  • Encounter Neolithic sites dating back more than 5,000 years
  • Sail north across the imaginary line that defines the boundary of the Arctic Circle  
  • Experience some of the north's most spectacular fjords and glaciers in Svalbard
  • Search for the mighty polar bear and encounter enormous walrus haulouts
  • Sail beneath towering cliffs alive with breeding birds 

DATES / RATES

Rates are listed per person
Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD
Rates are listed per person
Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD


ITINERARY

Day 1 Aberdeen
Having made your way to Aberdeen, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival, kindly remind hotel check-in staff to provide you with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags for your luggage. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number.

Day 2 Embark Aberdeen
This morning, your luggage will be collected from the hotel and transferred directly to the port for sanitisation, clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please ensure that your luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day.  

Days 3-4 Orkney Islands
Among Orkney's archipelago of 70 windswept islands, nine kilometres (six miles) north of the Scottish mainland, a rich tapestry of archaeology, history and wildlife awaits. We follow the passage of time - from 5,000-year-old World Heritage Neolithic sites, past relics from wandering Vikings and reminders of World War II occupation - to present-day crofting communities. Imposing sea cliffs teem with seabirds, and clifftop paths and bleak moors beckon the keen hikers among us, while our kayakers use paddle-power to explore sections of Orkney's fascinating coastline.

Midway between Orkney and Shetland is Fair Isle, home to quaint croft houses and famous for its knitwear and historical shipwrecks. The 70 or so islanders mostly live in traditional crofts on the more fertile low-lying southern part of the island.

Day 5 Shetland Islands
Britain’s most northerly islands lie almost 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of the Scottish mainland, at a similar latitude to the southern tip of Greenland, or Bergen in Norway. Kept relatively warm by the Gulf Stream, Shetland's 100 islands experience almost 24 hours of daylight in summer. They abound with nature reserves and archaeological sites, and offer a taste of traditional island life. We plan to visit some of Shetland’s best preserved and most complex archaeological sites, brochs - fortified Iron Age towers.

Day 6 At sea

Days 7-10 Norwegian Coast
We spend three days exploring the superb Norwegian coastline, cruising the intricate maze of seldom-visited inlets and outer islands. The cod-fishing island of Sor Gjaeslingan welcomes us with its delightful wooden houses and cheerful inhabitants. Here, we search for nesting kittiwakes and reclusive sea otters. Delight in the hunt for fabled trolls, passing through Torghatten - meaning 'mountain with a hole' - said to have been caused by a troll's arrow.

Crossing the Arctic Circle, we make our way to the stunning Lofoten - meaning puma's foot – Islands. This is a land scoured by ice and legend, the towering crags with their sharp edges, standing in silent protection of the villages below.

Days 11-14 Bear Island & Svalbard
We approach Spitsbergen at its most southerly point, South Cape or Sorkapp, and explore the coastline, entering a different world - that of the polar desert. Enormous peaks and deeply gouged fjords make our visit to Hornsund a powerful experience. As Hornsund is the southernmost fjord in Svalbard, we keep a lookout for polar bears, and Zodiac-cruise along glacial fronts that are home to bearded and ring seals, kittiwakes and guillemots. Here in Svalbard we continue our exploration into human history dating back 400 years, encompassing trapping and hunting, whaling and mining. If the skies are clear we may catch a glimpse of the dramatic Hornsundtind, peaking at 1,430 metres (4,695 feet).

Dramatic folds characterise the geological landscape of Bellsund and here we will enjoy magnificent vistas, steep bird cliffs and lush vegetation, always an open invitation to arctic fox and polar bears. Little auks, guillemots, northern fulmar and pink-footed geese make this their breeding home. Reindeer graze the slopes peacefully and as the fjord branches, there are numerous places to explore.

Day 15 Disembark Longyearbyen
During the early morning, we cruise into the port of the remote village, Longyearbyen, the 'capital' of Spitsbergen. After bidding farewell to newfound friends, we are transferred into town, where there is time to explore and shop before transferring to the airport in the afternoon.

(Click image to view Ship details)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Transfer from airport to our group hotel on day 1
  • Welcome reception/pre-embarkation briefing on day 1
  • One night’s hotel accommodation in Aberdeen on day 1 including breakfast
  • Mandatory pre-embarkation health screening and COVID test on day 2
  • Half-day city tour of Aberdeen prior to embarkation on day 2
  • Transfer from pier to airport or hotel on day 15
  • Onboard accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
  • All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage
  • Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages
  • Transfer from pier to airport upon disembarkation
  • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
  • Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team
  • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
  • A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
  • Complimentary use of muck boots during the voyage
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information
  • Port surcharges, permits, and landing fees
  • Gratuities for ship crew

Not Included

  • International or domestic flights, unless specified
  • Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Airport arrival or departure taxes
  • Passport, visa, reciprocity fees and vaccination charges
  • Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
  • Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
  • Optional excursions not included in the itinerary
  • Optional activity surcharges
  • All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges.

ADVENTURE OPTIONS
  • Sea Kayaking: USD 900
  • Scuba Diving: USD 940

 
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DISCLAIMER: Rates are per person, subject to availability and can change at any time