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Jewels of the Arctic | Greg Mortimer

15 Days
Save Up To 15%

WAS From AUD 21,895   Now From AUD 18,611

Trip Code: ACAEJFL

DIFFICULTY RATING: 2 (light adventure)

Start: Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Finish: Reykjavík, Iceland

SHIP: Greg Mortimer

DestinationDestination

Spitsbergen, Greenland, Iceland

DestinationDeparture Date

18/06/2023, 02/08/2023, 07/07/2024, 21/08/2024

TransportAccommodation

Cabin on board ship



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OVERVIEW

Discover Svalbard’s northwest coast and the east coast of Greenland, a land of grand superlatives, before concluding your voyage in Iceland. On this 15 day cruise, enjoy exhilarating zodiac excursions among spectacular icebergs, spotting seabirds and keeping watch for walrus and polar bears on the ice. Onboard experts will provide discussions on this incredible landscape, touching on everything from Arctic history to the animals of the region. 

Visit Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the most remote settlements on earth, and perhaps take the option of kayaking or rock climbing (additional cost). This expedition ticks many boxes: hikes through the arctic tundra, a chance to spot wildlife including musk ox, seals, whales and elusive arctic fox, and the opportunity to visit fascinating Paleolithic sites. 

 

Save up to 15% on the 23 &24 Arctic season valid for new bookings from until 30 June 2023.  Discount is valid only on selected cabin categories on selected departures.
*Not combinable with any other promotion. Offers apply to new bookings only. Cabins are subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Further conditions apply, please contact us for more information.

PLEASE NOTE: Pricing is subject to change and availability at the time of booking. Contact us for more information.

ITINERARY

Arrival and Overnight in Longyearbyen

Welcome to Svalbard! Having found your own way to Longyearbyen, you will be met by a representative at the airport 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. Make sure to clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number for the next day.

This evening, you will meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and pre-embarkation briefing while enjoying a light refreshment.

NOTE: Sometimes our ship is unable to dock in Longyearbyen port due to space and capacity. In these instances, we reach the ship by Zodiac. Please ensure that you keep your wet-weather gear in your hand luggage to use in the Zodiacs, if the situation arises. Please ensure your cabin luggage tag is completed clearly showing your cabin number and name. Our crew will deliver your luggage directly to your cabin.

Embarkation in Longyearbyen

This morning, your luggage will be collected from your 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 cabin 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. Enjoy breakfast in the hotel before joining your fellow expeditioners on a guided city tour of Longyearbyen.

After your tour, we conduct our final, mandatory pre-embarkation health screening and COVID (rapid antigen) testing before transferring to the pier to embark in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail.

This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and our friendly Expedition Team and crew at the Captain’s Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure.

Svalbard - Day 3 to 5

Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. Our experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design our day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and wildlife encounters.

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 our legs on walks across tundra coming out in brightly-coloured wildflowers. We visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies. Most memorable are encounters with the majestic polar bear on pack ice. Your expedition team is just as keen as you to find them— they will be on constant watch to spot these inspiring creatures.

If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you’ll have the option to enjoy the activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you’ll hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating plunge, a memory you’ll savour for years to come.

Greenland Sea - Day 6 to 7

As we sail across the Greenland Sea – the main outlet of the Arctic Ocean – we may encounter whales feeding in the rich waters of the north. Sightings of fin whales are common and blue whales have been seen in more recent years. As we approach east Greenland we may encounter more pack ice, and perhaps see seals and a variety of seabirds including northern fulmar and Brunnichs guillemots. This stretch of coast is ripe for exploration, with its many secrets locked in place by drift ice for up to eight months each year.

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 vanishes with the onset of the midday sun. Our experts will inform and entertain us with fascinating discussions on plants, animals, ice, and heroic tales of exploration.

Conditions permitting, there may be a chance for kayakers to launch their sea kayaks while others explore push through the sea ice in Zodiacs. If time and weather permits, we may even make our first landing on the Greenland coast.

East Greenland - Day 8 to 13

In the coming days, a host of choices are open to us, and depending on ice and weather conditions, the east coast of Greenland is ours to explore. Our experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design our voyage from day to day. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and encounters with wildlife. We generally attempt up to two landings or Zodiac excursions per day; cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales feeding near the surface.

Be prepared to experience ice, lots of it! East Greenland contains some of the Arctic's most impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp ice-clad peaks up to 2,000 m / 6,562 ft high. Glaciers create gigantic icebergs that drift throughout the fjord system creating breathtaking scenes. The tundra landscape is home to musk oxen, arctic hare and reindeer. Throughout the area are ancient Thule archaeological sites, historical trappers' huts, and modern Inuit hunters' cabins. A highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the region, with approximately 450 inhabitants. The community has an excellent museum, gift shop, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and the opportunity to meet the friendly locals.

Explore Scoresbysund, the world’s biggest fjord and a favourite hunting ground of the local Inuit. Massive glaciers dump into this fjord, the birthplace of hundreds of spectacular Greenland icebergs. It’s a spectacular place that simply needs to be seen to be believed. North of Scoresbysund are Kong Oscar and Kaizer Franz Josef fjords, two of the most significant fjord systems in all of Greenland, each one encompassing several smaller fjords and sounds. Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil mountains that protects areas from the strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything from musk ox and arctic foxes to mountain hares and even reindeer near the fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds including glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, common raven and common eider.

We will attempt to enter Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, a remote and rarely visited fjord system with countless opportunities for exploration within the Northeast Greenland National Park. Cruising through Kong Oskar Fjord, we will marvel at the geological beauty of the mountains. We will then head south along the coast of Liverpool Land, with our passage dependent on ice conditions.

We stretch our legs on hikes across tundra in search of ancient graveyards and summer villages occupied 3,000 years ago by Eskimos. We may see musk ox, Arctic hare and reindeers grazing. This area provides excellent opportunities for sea kayaking in its maze of calm, interconnecting waterways. We’ll see ring seals, perhaps catch a glimpse of elusive narwhal, and maybe even a polar bear hunting on pack ice.

Denmark Strait

Crossing the Denmark Strait to Iceland, search for whale blows and photograph the many seabirds that trail our ship in the ever-present Arctic winds. Reflect on your recent adventures, perhaps share and exchange photos, and breathe in the fresh sea air.

Disembarkation in Reykjavik

During the early morning we arrive in Reykjavik. Farewell your expedition team and fellow expeditioners before transferring to downtown Reykjavik or to Keflavik airport to continue your onward journey.

At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.

Important note: In the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage exploration and adventure offering flexibility in challenging environments. This itinerary is only a guide and is subject to change due to weather, sea, pack-ice and other conditions beyond our control.

DOWNLOAD ITINERARY PDF
Greg Mortimer

Greg Mortimer

Built to world-class polar standards, the Greg Mortimer is a state of the art, custom-built expedition ship. Due to be launched in 2019, this modern, robust and powerful 104-metre ship is at the cutting edge of nautical technology. With its patented Norwegian-designed X-BOW, the Greg Mortimer is capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, and the most adverse weather conditions. 

Named after Aurora’s co-founder, the Greg Mortimer carries up to 120 passengers in a range of well-appointed suites and staterooms. All feature private bathrooms, with the majority of suites and staterooms having panoramic windows and private balconies. There are twin and double bed configurations available, ample storage, international power outlets and a daily cabin service. The ship itself features unique viewing platforms that fold out hydraulically to give unobstructed views. The ship carries 15 Zodiacs that are launched from specially designed launching platforms to ensure fast and easy boarding for shore landings and Zodiac cruises. Itineraries aboard the Greg Mortimer also offer a range of optional activities including kayaking, diving, climbing and ski touring, and the ship’s design includes a spacious prep and loading platform.

 

Ice Class: Length: 104.4m
Breadth: 18.4 metresMax
Draft: Cruising
Speed: 15.5 Knots
Electricity: 220V, 50HZ AC Passenger
Capacity:
160 (120 in polar regions)

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Accommodation

We believe that appropriate accommodation should add to the authentic travel experience, as well as providing utmost enjoyment. For that reason our accommodation is scrutinised by our staff on the ground frequently, ensuring the properties adhere to our high standards. This key will help you understand the levels of accommodation available on this tour.

Standard

Comfortable properties with dependable facilities and service.

Superior

Comfortable properties with dependable facilities and service.

Deluxe

Luxurious properties with impeccable facilities and service.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Optional Activities vary for each itinerary. Limited spaces available. Contact your Destination Specialist for pricing & availability.

Kayaking

Experience the unforgettable thrill and serenity of kayaking in Antarctica as part of a small, expertly guided paddling group.

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Pricing per person & date

Jewels of the Arctic | Greg Mortimer from AUD 18,610
Departing Ending Duration
18 Jun 2023 02 Jul 2023 15
02 Aug 2023 16 Aug 2023 15
07 Jul 2024 21 Jul 2024 15
21 Aug 2024 04 Sep 2024 15

Important Information

  • Inclusions

    • Transfer from airport to hotel on arrival Day 1. 
    • Welcome reception/pre-embarkation briefing on Day 1. 
    • One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Longyearbyen on Day 1. 
    • Sightseeing tour of Longyearbyen, prior to embarkation, on Day 2. 
    • Transfer from pier to hotel or airport in Reykjavik 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 receptions including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages. 
    • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises. 
    • Educational lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team. 
    • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consultation). 
    • One 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’s crew. 
       

    Exclusions

    • International or domestic flights not mentioned in the itinerary, unless specified in the itinerary. 
    • Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary. 
    • Airport arrival or departure taxes. 
    • Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges. 
    • Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges. 
    • Hotel accommodation and meals unless specified in the itinerary. 
    • Optional excursions and 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.
  • 2 (light adventure)
  • Available upon request, contact us for more details. 

  • Prices are based on per person, twin share* (unless otherwise stated for triple/quad cabins) 

    Prices are correct at time of publishing but are subject to change at any time. 

    Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and ice conditions

  • Departure date,  fuel surcharges, cabin category, currency fluctuations, seasonality and availability.