Find trip

Aurora Expeditions, in partnership with Dr Sylvia Earle and Ocean Geographic, is excited to invite you aboard the "Arctic Climate Expedition 2025"

The BIG ACE - the Bears, Ice, Glaciers, Arctic Climate Expedition 2025 begins from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and navigates northward to go beyond 80°N in pursuit of the remaining Arctic ice shelf. The voyage will aim to proceed (weather permitting) eastward towards Kritøya, circling around Austfonna, one of the largest glaciers on the planet. Throughout, the aim will be to encounter and observe a diverse array of Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, walruses, puffins, and arctic foxes, amidst the stunning backdrop of sea ice platforms and calving glaciers. With Svalbard boasting an astounding 2100 glaciers, this expedition promises an unparalleled natural spectacle.

Hosted by Dr Sylvia Earle in her 90th birthday year, this expedition will honour Dr Earle’s lifelong advocacy for the world’s oceans by inviting changemaker passengers to use their own voice, contributing their various talents or ‘superpowers’ to instigate meaningful conversations and spur action to safeguard the planet for future generations. 

BIG ACE seeks to lobby for the protection of the Arctic, foster a collective appreciation of our planet’s fragility and mitigate the impact of climate change through the power of the arts. The Arctic, where warming occurs at a rate four to five times greater than the global average, is undergoing significant degradation. 

As a Certified B Corporation™, we’re committed to driving positive change and contributing to a more sustainable future. The Arctic Climate Expedition 2025 is a key initiative towards fulfilling that goal – building ambassadors for the conservation and preservation of our planet.

BIG ACE isn’t confined to scientists and researchers; this epic project calls for an assemblage of 110 global citizens and we welcome people of all ages, nationalities, educational and professional backgrounds. Each participant will be asked to contribute their specialised expertise for a collective cause, using their unique voice. Whether through storytelling, film production, poetry, music, art, education, lobbying, or other avenues, every participant will play a vital role in championing the Arctic’s cause.

Highlights

Travel with Dr. Sylvia Earle and Ocean Geographic.
Venture close to 80° north, watch for polar bears on pack ice.
Enjoy the best of Svalbard, a world of near-endless daylight, where polar bear sightings quicken your pulse, guillemot cries echo from towering cliffs, and beluga whales rise from the sea.
Explore tundra adorned with wildflowers, keep watch for arctic fox, and discover historical camps of explorers and hunters. Circle some of the worlds largest glaciers.
Circle some of the worlds largest glaciers. With Svalbard boasting an astounding 2100 glaciers, this expedition promises an unparalleled natural spectacle.
Push through pack ice to find walrus and bearded seals, and delight in the breathtakingly beautiful fjords.
Engage in hands-on workshops and activities designed to foster environmental stewardship and promote sustainable living.

Aurora Expeditions is actively monitoring developments around Avian Influenza outbreaks closely and are is in constant communication with key authorities such as IAATO. We have implemented enhanced biosecurity measures for arrival in Antarctica and reinforced our onboard protocols, and our expedition team will continue to closely assess each landing site to ensure to determine any risks. 

The Avian Flu has extended its presence to South Georgia, leading to temporary restrictions at some landing sites. Although specific locations may be inaccessible due to the ongoing situation, landing at numerous open sites is still permitted. 

In the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and adventurous attitude when joining our voyages. This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond our control.

Itinerary

Staterooms and Prices

Choose your departure

Meet our Expert Team

Each voyage is accompanied by our highly acclaimed expedition team who we believe are the best in the business. Many are recognised leaders in their fields, keen to share their daily insights on shore and onboard. While your actual team may vary between voyages, every member of our Expedition Team is among the world's best remote area specialists.

Included Activities

Image description
Bird Watching
Image description
Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
Image description
Marine Mammal Spotting
Image description
Photography
Image description
Polar Plunge
Image description
Scenic Cruising
Image description
Trips Ashore
Image description
Walking
Image description
Wildlife Watching
Image description
Zodiac Cruising

Add-on Activities

Low impact
Moderate
Difficult
Advanced

Our Ship

The Sylvia Earle

Capacity
130 Passengers Maximum
Year built
2022
Cabins
71
Length
104 m
Decks
8
Speed
10-12 knots

Loyal Travelers

We love celebrating our loyal expeditioners who return to explore with us. After your first Aurora Expeditions voyage, you’ll automatically achieve Bronze Adventurer status. The more voyages you embark on, the higher you climb—progressing to Silver and eventually Gold!

Solo Travelers

Voyages with Aurora Expeditions are such a fantastic choice for solo travelers, giving you the chance to experience the world’s most remote and incredible destinations with like-minded travelers and our expert guides, while on board our small, social and welcoming ships.