Spitsbergen: Realm of Ice & Wildlife | Douglas Mawson Expedition Ship

Spitsbergen: Realm of Ice & Wildlife

Travel from Oslo into the high Arctic on Spitsbergen: Realm of Ice & Wildlife, an 8-day expedition centered on the wildlife and ice-filled landscapes of Svalbard. After flying by charter to Longyearbyen and embarking Douglas Mawson, the voyage leaves fixed schedules behind as the Expedition Team responds to sea ice conditions and wildlife opportunities throughout Spitsbergen. Polar bears are a major focus, alongside walruses, Arctic foxes, and Svalbard reindeer, while Zodiac cruises, tundra landings, walking, photography, and scenic cruising provide different ways to experience deep fjords, calving glaciers, remote beaches, and dense pack ice. The expedition also offers the distinctive experience of the Midnight Sun and its 24-hour daylight.

Day by day

Day 1: Oslo: Gateway to the High Arctic

Begin the journey in Oslo, Norway, where you check into the designated pre-voyage airport hotel. Today is dedicated to arrival and preparation before traveling farther north to Svalbard. The following day, a charter flight connects Oslo with Longyearbyen, where the shipboard portion of the expedition begins aboard Douglas Mawson. From there, the voyage explores Spitsbergen with an itinerary shaped by sea ice and wildlife rather than predetermined daily ports or landing sites. No specific sightseeing program, meals, activities, or additional arrangements are identified for this first day beyond arrival in Oslo and check-in at the designated pre-voyage airport hotel.

Day 2: From Oslo to Longyearbyen and Isfjorden

Fly north from Oslo to Longyearbyen aboard the charter flight to Svalbard. After reaching this Arctic settlement, take part in a brief tour introducing Longyearbyen’s history as a mining town. Later in the afternoon, board Douglas Mawson and begin the expedition through Spitsbergen. The vessel sails out of Isfjorden, leaving Longyearbyen behind as the wildlife-focused portion of the journey gets underway. From this point, the route becomes deliberately flexible. Instead of following a fixed schedule of daily destinations, the Expedition Team adjusts the voyage according to sea ice and wildlife opportunities, allowing the coming days to concentrate on the conditions and encounters available throughout Spitsbergen.

Day 3-7: In Search of Spitsbergen’s Arctic Wildlife

Day 8: Journey Concludes in Oslo

Hornsund | Spitsbergen | Arctic landscape

+12

Magdalenafjorden | Spitsbergen | Antarctica

Cruise Includes

Accommodation in assigned stateroom

Complimentary gym access

Meals onboard

Morning and afternoon teas

Tea, coffee and snacks available 24/7

House wines, beers and soft drinks with dinner

Captain's Farewell drinks

Lectures and presentations by naturalists and specialists

Access to Citizen Science Center

Access to library and observation areas

Heated outdoor pool

Jacuzzis

Sauna

Lectures covering wildlife, the environment, history, and destinations

Marine mammal watching

Bird watching

Photography

Polar Plunge

Scenic cruising

Trips ashore

Walking

Zodiac cruising

Cruise does not include

Airfares and transfers unless specified

travel insurance

visa and passport expenses

optional activities

personal expenses

additional beverages

laundry and spa services

gratuities

any services not specified as included in the voyage itinerary.

Sea Kayaking is an optional add-on activity listed at $1,250 USD.

Other exclusions are not explicitly provided in the source material.

Highlights

Search the dense pack ice for polar bears, including opportunities to look for animals hunting in the Arctic environment.

Encounter walruses and watch for large colonies hauled out on remote beaches.

Travel by Zodiac along impressive glacier fronts and experience Spitsbergen’s calving glaciers at closer range.

Follow an adaptable expedition route designed to respond to wildlife opportunities and changing sea ice.

Watch for Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer as part of the broader search for Spitsbergen wildlife.

Experience continuous 24-hour daylight under the Midnight Sun.

Activities

Sea Kayaking

Under full instruction from your sea kayaking guide, experience true tranquillity as you paddle through clinking ice floes and realise the enormity of the surrounding scenery. Look out for breaching whales, lounging seals and penguins zipping alongside your kayak. Some experience is required.

Ice Camping

Camp out on the ice and experience the silence which blankets the continent by night. This is your chance to completely connect with this ethereal ice world – wrap up warm and embrace the Antarctic elements.

Snowshoeing

Get a spring in your step when you slip on a pair of snowshoes in Antarctica. Enabling you to easily scale gentle slopes, this unique activity allows you to access hard to reach places and seek out the most impressive views.

Photography

Learn to capture wildlife and landscape shots in a small group photography program, including critiquing sessions and editing classes. Plus, Explorer Boat excursions with a dedicated photography expert on landings.

Explorer Boats

Achieve the best views and photographs from a forward facing Explorer Boats. They allow you to sit comfortably and securely while crackling through the ice-strewn waters. Look out for wildlife such as penguins, seals and whales as you cruise.

Yoga

It doesn’t get more serene than complimentary yoga classes to the tune of glacial scenery. Join the most unique exercise setting in the world after a day of exploration. Classes are regular but are dependent on weather conditions and swell.