• Expert Expedition staff

• 13 nights onboard the Expedition

• Single timed airport transfers on arrival and departure days

• All meals whilst on the Expedition

• All Zodiac cruises on Svalbard with expert leaders

• Waterproof boots supplied (different sizes available)

• Lecture and guidance programs during the expedition

• Travel insurance
• Tips for staff
• Longyearbyen airport transfers (except for single timed transfer)
• Meals in Longyearbyen or Reykjavik
• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

You will meet at the group hotel in Longyearbyen from where you are transferred to the ship at 4pm on day 1 of the land only itinerary.

Complimentary airport transfers to the group hotel are provided if you are arriving on Day 1 or have booked pre-night accommodation as part of your package through KE Adventure Travel. We recommend that you book an extra night in Longyearbyen prior to departure in case of flight delays. The very latest that you should arrive in Longyearbyen Airport is at 2pm on day 1 of the land only itinerary.

Otherwise the airport shuttle bus, which meets all flights, will drop off at all hotels. The fare is approximately 50 NOK and tickets can be purchased on board.

You need to bring your luggage to the 'group hotel' luggage store between 9am and 12 midday on the day you set sail. This is available for all passengers already in Longyearbyen. A representative of the MS Expedition will be available to check in your bag which will be transferred to the ship.

It is important that you keep your passport with you and you should dress for changeable weather. You will be reunited with your luggage when you reach your cabin. The passenger transfer from the group hotel to the ship will depart at 4pm.

At the end of the trip there will be two separate timed transfers to the airport in Reykjavik. The first shortly after disembarkation, which is scheduled for 8.00am. For this reason you should not book any flight that leaves Reykjavik before midday. Passengers leaving later in the day can store their luggage at the pier and spend some time in downtown Reykjavik before taking the early afternoon transfer to the airport.

Clients MUST provide the KE office with full details of their flights. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

All meals whilst on board the M/S Expedition are included.

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide for special diets.  Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your meals with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.  Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

Onboard the ship a diverse range of international dishes is available. Meals are prepared and catered by professional chefs and all meals are included in the trip price. Dining is casual, tables are unassigned and the dining room is capable of seating the entire passenger compliment at one time. There is always a selection of different meals available with plenty of options for vegetarians. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice (please advise us at time of booking). Coffee, tea and water are all provided free of charge. All other beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic are not included and can be purchased in the dining room, pub or the lounge.

During this trip the group will spend 7 nights on board the fantastic Expedition Polar Cruise Ship.

The Expedition has multiple large public areas to enjoy during sea crossings and in between land excursions. Amenities include:

All cabins with private en suite and outside view,
Library,
Medical clinic with licensed doctor,
Lounge area,
Dining Room - serving international cuisine and large enough to accommodate all passengers in one sitting,
BBQ area,
Forward deck viewing platforms,
Gym,
Gift shop,
Laundry service (for a small additional charge),
Wi-Fi - not guaranteed (for an additional charge),

Accommodation on board is based on a triple cabin with porthole. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with other single clients of the same sex. Cabin upgrades to twins and cabins with larger windows are possible (depending on availablity) on the Expedition. Single cabins are also available for an additional cost. Additional hotel nights are available for a supplementary cost.

A carefully chosen team will lead your voyage. The MS Expedition ships boast an international team of professional naturalists and lecturers. Their goal is to provide an informed and balanced interpretation of the destination, accomplished through stimulating lectures, day-to-day briefings, and informal discussions. Your lecturers and Expedition Leader will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment, as well as practical things like photography. The expedition staff work conscientiously with you on deck and in the field, improving your observational skills to allow you to experience all that the destination has to offer. Their strong sense of ethics and ecological knowledge make for stimulating and mindful conversation whether onshore or at the dinner table. The Expedition Staff will pilot the Zodiac landing craft used for shore landings and Zodiac cruises; they are experienced drivers who operate the Zodiacs in a responsible manner.

It is not practical to set a recommended amount for personal spending money on a holiday like this. All meals while on board and the daily Zodiac excursions, are included in the trip price. The main extra spend on board will be on drinks and this will vary greatly from person to person. On board ship, bar bills can be put on a tab and paid at the end of the cruise by credit or debit card or in cash US dollars. You will also need some money for any meals taken in Longyearbyen and for tips. As a guide, we recommend you allow $10 - 15 per day for tips to your crew and expedition staff. It is possible to withdraw cash in Norwegian Kroner from ATM’s in Longyearbyen, but we recommend that you bring a minimum of US$200 in cash for emergency situations where you are unable to withdraw money from ATMs. On board all prices are in $ USD.

Tipping is the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to the staff who have assisted you on your expedition. Tips do not form any part of the wages of the staff but they are very much appreciated. It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service. Normally tips are collected by the Hotel Manager at the end of the voyage and distributed amongst the crew and Expedition Staff. The Officers in charge of the ship choose not to participate in the tipping pool. As a guide, we recommend that each group member contributes around $70-110 to these tips.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline (the baggage limit on the domestic flight between Oslo and Longyearbyen is 23kg).  Please note that you should be able to carry your own luggage.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

As this holiday is run with G Adventures, the minimum age is 10 yrs (anyone under 18 must be travelling with a parent or guardian).

The holiday will be conducted in English. Generally on these trips there will be a mix of nationalities but it is not possible to guarantee this.