Katie Harber, our Senior Business Development Manager for the UK, has just returned from an unforgettable Jewels of the Arctic expedition, where she explored the breathtaking landscapes of Svalbard, Greenland, and Iceland.
While every expedition is a unique adventure, presenting its own set of opportunities and exciting challenges, Katie’s recount offers a glimpse into what one of our Arctic voyages can be like. From incredible wildlife sightings to walking on sea ice—imagine yourself in Katie’s shoes, wondering how each new day could top the last!
Last month I returned from a Jewels of the Arctic voyage onboard the Greg Mortimer. This 15-day voyage was to take us on an expedition around the coast of Svalbard, before making our way to Greenland and then onto Iceland.
In true expedition style, our planned itinerary was quickly changed due to the unprecedented amount of sea ice in Greenland this year, meaning we were to spend more time in Svalbard than planned.
I for one was more than happy to spend the extra time in Svalbard – it is one of my favourite destinations! The scenery here is breathtaking, the wildlife exciting and the history fascinating!
Before we boarded our 130-passenger ship, we enjoyed a tour of one of the most Northernly towns in the world, Longyearbyen. During our tour we visited the Svalbard Museum, learning about the history of this archipelago alongside its wildlife, before visiting Camp Berentz, a historical sight built in honour of the discoverer of Svalbard, William Berentz.
This doubled up as the perfect place to meet several husky dogs – so friendly and so fluffy! After our tour we drove to meet the Greg Mortimer. With its Ulstein X-Bow design, this ship wouldn’t look out of place in outer space! We then set sail for 6 days of exploring the incredible coastline of Svalbard.
‘Ding Dong’
On our very first morning onboard, we were woken with a very welcome ding dong by our expedition leader, telling us to get out on deck as we already had our first polar bear spotting. We were lucky enough to have our first interaction within 12 hours of boarding the ship, no one could quite believe it! Nothing will compare to seeing these incredible animals where they should be – their natural habitat.
After an exciting morning of polar bear watching, we took part in the necessary AECO safety briefings before heading out on our first outing of the voyage and what an outing it was.
Zodiac cruising along a glacier front, taking in the magnificent site before heading to land to enjoy a short hike up seabird cliffs. Some took the time to climb higher and enjoyed the sweet chirp of a snow bunting, the only songbird found in the Arctic!
Our 6 days in Svalbard gave us many opportunities to explore far North of the archipelago, going further than any other ship had done this season!
During our time in Svalbard we visited imposing glaciers, watching them carve in front of our eyes. We hiked to viewpoints overlooking vast valleys and learnt the history of the hunters from years gone by.
Whilst we were onboard, guests spent most of our time in the observation lounge on a ‘bear hunt’! Lo and behold on our second to last day in Svalbard we spotted our second polar bear from a distance! The majestic animal stayed in front of the ship as it walked from the sea ice to a spot where a haul of walrus were laid. It was an incredible sight.
But of course, bears aren’t all that Svalbard has to offer in wildlife. We were also treated to lots of walruses, seals and a cacophony of sea birds including the iconic puffin, auks and guillemots.
We then departed Svalbard for three sea days full of fog and ice. No risk of boredom though, as the expedition team filled our days with lectures and citizen science programs, including cloud observations and bird surveys.
And as we edged closer to Greenland, the sea ice was becoming more abundant, showcasing what the Arctic really has to offer. With the Captain putting the hydraulic viewing platforms out from the side of the ship, it felt as if we could almost touch the ice and showed off what the X-Bow can really do.
Before we reached the dramatic shoreline of East Greenland, we had the chance to walk on a floating piece of sea ice. With it’s small pools of crystal clear water and ice mounds that looked like sculptures, this was a photographers dream and a once in a lifetime opportunity.
We were lucky enough to be the first non-ice breaker ship to reach East Greenland, our port of call – Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the most remote and hardest to pronounce settlements in the world!
The blue skies reflected perfectly in the mirror-like water as we zodiac cruised towards the town, ready for a day of exploration and immersion in the local culture.
Whilst some guests stretched their legs, others took the time to complete a microplastic survey at the beach, another citizen science project. These citizen science projects give invaluable data to the scientific communities.
We spent another day exploring this rugged coastline of Greenland on hikes and zodiac cruises, before leaving for Iceland.
There was now one final thing to tick off the expedition bucket list, the polar plunge! Around 30 guests joined me as we plunged into the icy cold waters, the perfect goodbye to Greenland.
Mother nature had more treats in store for us though, firstly a mother polar bear and sleeping cub on a huge iceberg and to top that, whilst enjoying a pub quiz a fellow guest had put on, four orcas swam alongside the ship, an experience I certainly won’t forget!
Katie has firsthand experience of remote nature travel, having worked onboard cruise ships sailing around the Arctic to destinations like Greenland and Iceland. This sparked an appreciation for experiencing the natural world at its most pristine. Her passion for sustainability, and doing what we can to protect these natural destinations aligns with Aurora’s values of respectful exploration and discovery.
With diverse travel industry experience, including working with tour operators, a small ship startup and onboard cruise ships, Katie brings a keen drive to bring Aurora to more adventurous travellers across the UK.
Jewels of the Arctic is the perfect voyage if you want to experience the very best of what the Arctic has to offer. Start your adventure today by contacting our friendly team or requesting an online quote.
Welcome to Aurora’s Jewels of the Arctic expedition.Explore Svalbard, a world of near-endless daylight, where polar bear sightings quicken your pulse, walrus haul out on sea ice and guillemot cries...
13-15 Days
From GBP £12,660.75/pp
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