Polar Bears in the Changing Arctic: New Scientist Discovery Tours

Upon arrival in Oslo, meet your Aurora Expeditions representative and transfer to the designated group hotel. Once checked in, please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your cabin luggage tags and speak with the ground operations team. They will be available to provide updates on pre-embarkation procedures and share practical information such as nearby dining options, ATMs, pharmacies, and local stores for any last-minute essentials.

The rest of the day is at your leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

Accommodation: Oslo Hotel (to be advised) 

Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, showcases the Arctic wilderness at its most dramatic. Towering fjords, striking mountain ranges, and a polar desert rich in fossils form a backdrop steeped in the legacy of early polar exploration.

Observe walrus hauled out on sea ice or shorelines, hike across tundra blanketed in vibrant wildflowers, and visit sea cliffs alive with the calls of nesting guillemots and puffins. This expedition offers a carefully curated program that includes expert-led lectures, interactive workshops, and adventurous Zodiac excursions. Join the distinguished science-focused guest speakers selected by New Scientist Discovery Tours, alongside Aurora’s experienced expedition team.

Gain insight into subjects such as glaciology, climate science, marine biology, and polar history. Optional activities like kayaking are available when conditions permit. For those seeking a thrill, a polar plunge may also be offered—an unforgettable highlight of your Arctic journey.

The island of Spitsbergen is the largest in the Svalbard Archipelago and offers Arctic wilderness at its best. The members of the experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor your day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options, based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and the possibility of encounters with wildlife. 

Phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains ranges, and a polar desert rich in fossils, set the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. See walrus hauled-out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, stretch your legs on walks across tundra carpeted in brightly colored wildflowers. Visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies.  

If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you can have an opportunity to enjoy that activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you can hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip – a memory you can savor for years to come. 

During the early morning, cruise back into Longyearbyen. Farewell your Expedition Team upon disembarkation and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport for your return charter flight to Oslo to continue your journey. 

Note: The arrival time in Oslo is contingent on the approved allocated slot for your charter flight to and from Longyearbyen.