Jewels of the Arctic
Two contrasting Arctic regions, linked by an expedition voyage through ice, fjords and open sea.
Personal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Why we picked it
A good fit for travellers who want both Svalbard’s wildlife opportunities and East Greenland’s grand fjord landscapes in one journey.
This voyage gives Greenland a substantial share of the expedition time. We help compare the direction, dates and ship, because the balance of sea days, regional exploration and travel connections matters as much as the headline destination.
Svalbard and East Greenland in one expedition.
The featured route includes an Oslo hotel night and the charter flight to Longyearbyen.
Sylvia Earle departures and additional Douglas Mawson sailings in 2028.
Considering this voyage? Ask our team how its cabins, activities and overall trip compare with other Arctic options.
Enquire about this voyagePersonal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
The Expedition Advisory difference
Why book this voyage with us?
Choose your voyage and cabin with confidence. We’ll help with the rest of your journey.
Operator Pricing
You pay the expedition operator’s fare. We check applicable offers and promotions for your voyage. Our advice and booking support cost you nothing extra.
Independent Advice
Compare this voyage with other Arctic options. We match the ship, season and cabin to your priorities. We search all available itineraries from our partner operators, including voyages not listed on our website.
Field Experience
Our polar guiding experience helps you understand sea conditions, time ashore and daily expedition life before you choose.
Beyond the Cruise
Get practical flight, packing and preparation guidance, plus a pre-departure call with a regional guide. We can book your hotels and transfers with no extra booking fee.
Personal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Voyage overview
The featured southbound programme starts in Oslo, flies to Longyearbyen, explores Svalbard, then crosses to East Greenland before ending in Reykjavík.
*Departure direction and daily order can vary. The plan below follows the operator’s 18 July 2027 programme; we confirm your chosen sailing’s route before booking.
Day-by-day plan
Arrive in Oslo
Arrive in Oslo and make your way to the included airport hotel, a short walk from the terminal. Visit Aurora’s hospitality desk and prepare for tomorrow’s charter flight. The rest of the day is free, with meals at your own expense. If you want time in central Oslo, allow extra time and arrange the visit independently.
Fly to Longyearbyen and embark
Take the included charter flight to Longyearbyen. A guided town visit may be possible if flight timing allows, before boarding your ship in the afternoon and attending safety briefings.
Explore Svalbard
Three expedition days introduce Svalbard’s fjords, tundra and wildlife. The team chooses walks and Zodiac routes around the conditions, with opportunities to watch seabirds, walrus and other Arctic wildlife. Optional kayaking must be arranged separately.
Cross the Greenland Sea
Watch for whales, birds and drifting ice as you travel towards East Greenland. Presentations put the geology, wildlife and exploration history into context. Sea conditions can vary, so these days are part of the expedition as well as the journey between regions.
Six days exploring East Greenland
Aurora keeps these six days flexible, choosing sites according to ice, weather and wildlife. The team generally aims for up to two landings or Zodiac excursions a day when conditions permit. The experiences below describe possible parts of the programme, rather than a fixed daily sequence.
Fjords, glaciers
& icebergs
Scoresby Sund is a major objective, with immense glaciers and drifting icebergs. Farther north, Kong Oskar Fjord and Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord offer steep mountains, narrow waterways and dramatic geology. Access to these systems, including the national park, depends on ice and operating conditions.
Tundra walks
& Arctic wildlife
Walks ashore reveal a different Greenland: open tundra, wildflowers and traces of earlier settlement. Watch for musk oxen and Arctic hares while guides interpret the landscape. Wildlife encounters remain opportunities, never guaranteed stops.
Ittoqqortoormiit & human history
A visit to Ittoqqortoormiit is planned when local arrangements and conditions permit. The operator highlights its museum, community life and Greenlandic sled dogs. Elsewhere, possible outings explore Thule heritage, old hunting sites and trappers’ huts under the expedition team’s guidance.
Cross the Denmark Strait
Sail towards Iceland, keeping watch for whales and seabirds. Use the final sea day to compare photographs, revisit what you have learned and enjoy the ship’s shared spaces.
Disembark in Reykjavík
Leave the ship in Reykjavík and take the included transfer to Keflavík airport. For the featured itinerary, Aurora recommends onward flights after midday; reconfirm timing before booking.
Indicative operator programme. Weather, ice, permissions, community arrangements and wildlife determine the final route. Images illustrate the region and experience; sightings and individual landings cannot be guaranteed.
Dates & departures
Selected published departures are shown below. Ask us to confirm the current schedule, ship and cabin availability for your preferred dates.
2027 sailings
| Starts | Ends | Ship |
|---|---|---|
| 18 July | 1 August | Sylvia Earle |
| 9 August | 23 August | Sylvia Earle |
2028 sailings
| Starts | Ends | Ship |
|---|---|---|
| 2 July | 16 July | Sylvia Earle |
| 26 July | 9 August | Sylvia Earle |
| 5 August | 19 August | Douglas Mawson |
| 18 August | 1 September | Douglas Mawson |
| 31 August | 14 September | Douglas Mawson |
Plan your voyage
Ask about this voyage, check availability or request a quote. We’ll confirm the complete trip cost, inclusions and any applicable operator offers for your chosen departure.
Enquire about this voyagePersonal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Your expedition ships
Both ships carry a maximum of 130 guests on polar expeditions, with an X-BOW design, lecture facilities, observation areas and dedicated spaces for preparing for outings. Match your chosen departure to the correct ship and cabin gallery below.
Svalbard with Aurora
Official Aurora Expeditions regional film.
Introducing Sylvia Earle
Official ship introduction.
Introducing Douglas Mawson
Official ship introduction for the 2028 option.
Choose your cabin
Compare the categories below, then ask us about the best location and layout for you. Images are representative; individual cabins can vary. Availability and sole-use options depend on the departure.
Sylvia Earle cabins
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share
Three guests · private bathroom · 20m²
A practical shared option close to the expedition preparation areas.
More photos and layout
Aurora Stateroom Superior
Window or French balcony category · 17.2m² – 18.1m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Category C
Entry balcony category · 16.8m² – 21.6m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Category B
Private balcony · selected connecting cabins · 18.8m² – 21.8m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Category A
Preferred positions · private balcony · 21m² – 28m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Superior
Larger balcony cabin · 26.4m² – 31.2m²
Extra living space for travellers who value room to spread out.
More photos and layout
Junior Suite
Deck 7 · private balcony · 38.8m² – 39.09m²
A comfortable separate sitting area and balcony for time between landings.
More photos and layout
Captain’s Suite
Private balcony · separate lounge · 40.6m²
A separate lounge and generous living space for travellers who want the ship’s largest category.
More photos and layout
Douglas Mawson cabins
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share
Three guests · private bathroom · 22.57m²
A practical shared option close to the expedition preparation areas.
More photos and layout
Aurora Stateroom Twin Share
Two guests · window · 15.37m² – 22.57m²
A comfortable base for two travellers, close to the mudroom.
More photos and layout
Aurora Stateroom Single
One guest · porthole · 9.85m²
A compact private option for a solo traveller.
More photos and layout
Aurora Stateroom Superior Single
One guest · private bathroom · 10.97m² – 15.18m²
A dedicated single cabin for privacy between excursions.
More photos and layout
Aurora Stateroom Superior
Window or French balcony category · 13.97m² – 16.17m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Category C
Entry balcony category · 21.07m² – 24.87m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Category B
Private balcony · selected connecting cabins · 22.07m² – 24.97m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Category A
Preferred positions · private balcony · 23.07m² – 26.77m²
A private bathroom and comfortable sleeping space. We help compare location, layout and the fare difference before you choose.
More photos and layout
Balcony Stateroom Superior
Larger balcony cabin · 27.77m² – 36.27m²
Extra living space for travellers who value room to spread out.
More photos and layout
Junior Suite
Deck 7 · private balcony · 41.47m² – 41.87m²
A comfortable separate sitting area and balcony for time between landings.
More photos and layout
Captain’s Suite
Private balcony · separate lounge · 45.22m²
A separate lounge and generous living space for travellers who want the ship’s largest category.
More photos and layout
What the voyage includes
Included
- Featured-route travelOne Oslo hotel night with breakfast, charter flight to Longyearbyen and specified transfers.
- Life aboardAccommodation, meals, snacks and the voyage’s listed beverage inclusions.
- Expedition programmeGuided shore outings, Zodiac cruises and educational presentations.
- Equipment and accessParka to keep, loan boots, Wi-Fi, port and landing fees.
Budget separately
- Other travelInternational flights, extra hotels and transfers not specified in the itinerary.
- Optional activitiesKayaking and other add-on activities where offered; places are limited.
- Insurance and personal costsTravel insurance, personal expenses and onboard gratuities unless included in your suite benefits.
Let’s find your expedition
Tell us your wishes, dates and questions. We’ll help you choose with confidence.
Personal advice · No obligation · No advisory fees
Voyage information
Details checked 3 September 2026 against the official operator itinerary. Photographs and films are credited to their respective operators and photographers. Ask Expedition Advisory for the current programme and booking terms.