Details
13 DAYS FROM 19500 PP
Best time to go
June
In partnership with Dr Sylvia Earle and Ocean Geographic, we you aboard BIG ACE—the Bears, Ice, Glaciers, Arctic Climate Expedition 2025. Departing from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, this extraordinary journey ventures beyond 80°N in pursuit of the Arctic’s remaining ice shelf, navigating toward Kritøya and Austfonna—one of the world's largest glaciers. Along the way, encounter polar bears, walruses, puffins, and Arctic foxes against a breathtaking backdrop of sea ice and calving glaciers.
Marking Dr Sylvia Earle’s 90th birthday year, this expedition champions her lifelong mission to protect our oceans. It unites 110 changemakers—artists, educators, storytellers, scientists, and visionaries—to amplify awareness, inspire action, and advocate for Arctic preservation.
BIG ACE is more than a voyage; it’s a movement, harnessing the power of creativity and collaboration to drive real change.
Days 1-2 Arrive in Oslo & BIG ACE Conference
Having made your way to Oslo, you will be met on arrival by the Ocean Geographic team and directed to your hotel. Take the international arrivals exit on the ground floor, follow the signs and walk 500m through the direct walkway from Oslo Airport to the Radisson Red Oslo Airport hotel. Journey time: 6 minutes.
Enjoy pre-expedition workshops and lectures led by Ocean Geographic, Dr. Sylvia Earle and AE Expeditions.
Accommodation: Radisson Red Airport Hotel, Oslo
Day 3 Fly to Longyearbyen
Following breakfast, walk to Oslo Airport for your included charter flight to Longyearbyen (flight details will be available in February 2025). You will be met by a representative of AE Expeditions at the hotel and taken to the check in counter for your charter flight.
Upon arrival in Longyearbyen, you will be transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the AE Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine or purchase last minute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket. The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Polar Hotel, Spitsbergen
Day 4 Embarkation
This morning, your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for sanitisation, clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please ensure that your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Any valuables or personal items should be kept on you throughout the day.
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel before joining your fellow expeditioners on a guided city tour of Longyearbyen. After the tour, you will be transferred directly to the pier to embark in the late afternoon. Settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail.
Days 5–12 Svalbard
Svalbard offers Arctic wilderness at its best. The members of our experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our day-to-day itinerary, choosing the best options, based on the prevailing weather, sea-ice conditions and the possibility of encounters with wildlife.
Phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains ranges, and a polar desert rich in fossils, set the stage for heroic tales of early exploration. See walrus hauled-out on sea ice or on beaches. On land, we stretch our legs on walks across tundra carpeted in brightly coloured wildflowers. We visit towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and puffins, and scree slopes that hold Svalbard’s largest little auk colonies. Most memorable will be encounters with the majestic polar bear on pack ice.
Distinct from conventional polar expeditions, expeditioners on the Arctic Climate Expedition 2025 will have the chance to engage in hands-on workshops and activities designed to foster environmental stewardship and promote sustainable living. These engaging sessions encompass a variety of subjects, including essay writing, fine art painting, photography, and public speaking, empowering participants to express their commitment to conservation through diverse creative outlets.
If you have chosen an optional activity such as kayaking, you will have an opportunity to enjoy that activity when conditions allow. For those who are enthusiastic to participate in a polar plunge, as soon as conditions are suitable, you will hear the announcement to prepare for an exhilarating dip – a memory you will savour for years to come.
Day 13 Disembark in Longyearbyen, fly to Oslo
During the early morning, we cruise into Longyearbyen and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your Expedition Team and enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport for your return charter flight to Oslo to continue your journey.
Note: the arrival time in Oslo is contingent on the approved allocated flight slot of our charter flight to Longyearbyen, which we expect to receive in February 2025.
Dr. Sylvia Earle, often called Her Deepness, is a pioneering oceanographer, explorer, and conservationist with an unwavering commitment to marine protection. The first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, she has earned over 100 prestigious honors, including Time Magazine’s first Hero of the Planet, the UNEP Champion of the Earth, and the National Geographic Hubbard Medal. As President and Chair of Mission Blue and the Sylvia Earle Alliance, she leads efforts to safeguard the world’s oceans through the global Hope Spots initiative. Still holding the record for the deepest solo dive at 1,005 meters, Sylvia continues to inspire ocean advocacy through groundbreaking research, exploration, and education.
Radisson RED Oslo Airport offers the ultimate convenience with a direct walkway to the terminal and a 20-minute train ride to Oslo.the hotel blends bold urban style with top-tier comfort and a lively social atmosphere. Each of the 214 soundproof rooms features Smart TVs, fast, free Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, blackout curtains, and in-room coffee and tea facilities. Guests can stay active in the newly refurbished fitness center and enjoy all-day dining at GAMO.
The Sylvia Earle has been meticulously designed for luxury expedition cruising. Observation lounge and viewing platforms offer spectacular panoramic views of scenery and wildlife and there are purpose-built activity preparation areas including four Zodiac-launching platforms for fast and safe transition off the ship for daily excursions.The majority of cabins have a private balcony, plus there are interconnecting rooms. In between landings, guests can enjoy the heated swimming pool and jacuzzis and admire the impressive scenery from the top deck, and the lecture theatre and science centre are the places to be for presentations on topics including history and culture, and wildlife. The ship will also feature a fully-stocked medical clinic designed for use in remote areas.
