Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief

Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief

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7 Days From

$7790

Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief

7 Days Starting and ending in Helsinki, Finland

Visiting: Oslo, Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

POD

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 199

Physical rating:

Easy

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Activities:

Walking

From: $7790

NB: Prices correct on 21-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Embark on the "Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief" for an unforgettable Arctic adventure in Norway. This compact expedition offers the thrill of Arctic exploration in less than a week, aboard small, ice-rated Polar Adventure Ships. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Spitsbergen as you cruise through fjords and get up close to glaciers and icebergs on Zodiac excursions. Witness the majestic Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, walrus, and reindeer, and hike the vibrant tundra. The journey begins and ends in Helsinki, with a charter flight to Longyearbyen, Svalbard's largest settlement. Accompanied by expert Expedition Staff, you'll explore historic sites, such as abandoned mining settlements and whaling outposts, and enjoy the stunning vistas of snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers. With all meals, accommodation, and activities included, this expedition promises an intimate and enriching experience in the Arctic wilderness.

Highlights

  • View Arctic wildlife, such as Polar bears, walrus, and reindeer.

  • Cruise in a Zodiac to get up close to glaciers, fjords, and icebergs.

  • Hike the colorful tundra of Spitsbergen.

  • Explore the abandoned mining settlement of Ny London.

  • Visit the walrus sanctuary on Moffen Island.

  • Discover the remains of a Dutch whaling settlement at Smeerenburg.

  • Experience the panoramic vistas of Magdalenafjord.

  • Visit the Russian mining town of Barentsburg, home to the world's northernmost brewery.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Helsinki, Finland

Location: Oslo

Accommodation Name: airport hotel

Your Arctic voyage begins in Oslo, Norway’s vibrant capital city. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep you busy before retiring at your included airport hotel.

Day 2 : Embarkation Day In Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Location: Longyearbyen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement, where you’ll have some time to explore before embarkation. As the ship sets sail, enjoy great vistas of the mountainous landscape that serves as a backdrop for this historic town.

Day 3 - 6 : Exploring Spitsbergen

Location: Spitsbergen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You’ll sail around the shores of this magical island, constantly searching for Polar bears and other natural wonders. Covering western Spitsbergen, your expedition will afford ample opportunities to view immense glaciers, deep fjords, soaring mountains and unique flora and fauna.

Sailing north into Krossfjord, have your camera handy, ready to capture some of the best glacier calving in Spitsbergen. Deep in the fjord, the highly active Lilliehook Glacier awaits. Listen in awe to the growling as big chunks break off into the icy waters below. A Zodiac excursion to nearby Ny London, an abandoned mining settlement, provides an ideal place for a guided walk. Encounters with wildlife, such as the indigenous Svalbard reindeer, are possible here.

Day 7 : Disembark In Longyearbyen And Fly To Helsinki

Location: Longyearbyen

Meals Included: Breakfast

The time to say goodbye has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your return group charter flight to Oslo.

What's Included

  • Meals
    3 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 2 dinners.

  • All meals while on the ship

    All meals are provided while you are on the ship.

  • Beer and house wine during dinner

    Beer and house wine are included during dinner.

  • All accommodation

    All accommodation is included in the tour package.

  • All transport and listed activities

    All transport and activities listed in the itinerary are included.

  • Full complement of qualified Expedition Staff

    The tour is accompanied by a full complement of qualified Expedition Staff.

  • Mandatory transfer package including return flights from Longyearbyen to Helsinki

    The mandatory transfer package includes return flights from Longyearbyen to Helsinki.

  • Flights from the UK

    Flights from the UK can be included upon request.

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.

  • Single accommodation

    Single accommodation is not included but is available on request.

  • Visas or vaccinations

    Visas or vaccinations are not included and must be arranged separately.

Food

All meals while on the ship included. Typical Meals The ships galley offers good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide variety of drinks from around the world on sale. Breakfast: Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal. Lunch: Three course set meal or buffet, or the occasional BBQ. Dinner: Three or four courses with a starter of soup and/or salad, a choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a dessert, with tea and coffee. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local team can be well prepared.

Accommodation

The Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief voyage is offered on the Ocean Adventurer and the Ultramarine, which are small ice-rated Polar Adventure Ships. These vessels provide intimate adventures with flexible itineraries, superb food, and excellent staff, ensuring a memorable experience in Polar waters.

Mode of Transport

Travel on a small expedition vessel, with mandatory transfer packages including return flights from Longyearbyen to Helsinki. The tour includes frequent Zodiac excursions, allowing close encounters with glaciers, fjords, and icebergs, enhancing the Arctic expedition experience.

Check out our Q&As

  • What kind of wildlife can I expect to see on the Spitsbergen Highlights expedition?

    During the expedition, you can expect to see a variety of Arctic wildlife, including Polar bears, walrus, and reindeer. The tour also offers opportunities to observe marine mammals and a range of bird species.

  • What activities are included in the Spitsbergen Highlights expedition?

    The expedition includes activities such as Zodiac excursions to get up close to glaciers, fjords, and icebergs, as well as guided walks in places like the abandoned mining settlement of Ny London. There are also opportunities for wildlife watching and exploring historical sites like Smeerenburg.

  • What is the accommodation like on the Spitsbergen Highlights expedition?

    Accommodation is provided on the Ocean Adventurer and the Ultramarine, which are small, ice-rated Polar Adventure Ships. These ships offer intimate adventures with flexible itineraries, superb food, and excellent staff, ensuring a comfortable and engaging experience in Polar waters.

  • Are meals included during the Spitsbergen Highlights expedition?

    Yes, all meals are included while on the ship. The ship's galley offers a variety of international menus, including vegetarian options, with meals served buffet style for breakfast and as set meals or buffets for lunch and dinner.

  • What is the starting and ending point of the Spitsbergen Highlights expedition?

    The expedition begins and ends in Helsinki, Finland. Participants will fly from Helsinki to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, where the ship embarkation takes place, and return to Helsinki at the end of the journey.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

Trustpilot
Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

paul green (Google Reviewer)  

Went on a tour of...

14-Jan-2022

Went on a tour of morocco in October and loved it ,mohamed the tour guide was excellent, probably go with exodus to India next year

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
Ann B (Google Reviewer)  

We had a week walking...

08-Oct-2024

We had a week walking and wine in the Duro valley with two local guides Louis and Theresa. They were both exceptional, knowledgeable, professional and funny. Our group of 11 had a great time. This was a premium tour. Our 4 star hotels were both well located clean and with great views. We had several local meals arranged by our guides with local people cooking for us. We did not meet any other walkers during our hikes only two shepherds. I would certainly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the local produce and wine. We both felt as we had learnt a lot about Portugal during this tour. We will use Exodus again. One of our group had done 30 tours with Exodus over the years. Quite an endorsement.

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

David (Google Reviewer)  

Exodus are generally a good...

21-Aug-2024

Exodus are generally a good travel company. Things tend to run smoothly and trips well organised. Their customers tend to be at retirement age. Trips are a bit overpriced. I would also avoid trips in Europe, as these often focus on more coffee stops and meals, rather than walking. I would also recommend making sure your guide records any accidents you have, hopefully not applicable. I had one on Sierra de Aitana which the guide saw and knew about, but he and Exodus said it never happened when I followed up after the trip. I wasn’t putting in a claim, just suggested a safety improvement. They have since apologised and acknowledged this as an error. They are a good reliable option for outside of Europe trips.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

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May 19, 2025 - May 25, 2025
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Prices last published on 20-Nov-2024

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  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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