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Arctic Circle ToursListed below are expeditions to the Arctic Circle provided by some of the leading tour companies in the industry. Choose the route of interest from the list below (routes are shown on the map to the right, click to enlarge) and browse the available options. For further details and to book your tour, click "details & booking" to visit the tour company website. Spitsbergen (10) Spitsbergen and Norwegian Fjords (3) North Pole Expedition (0) Russian Arctic (0) Northwest Passage (0) |
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Spitsbergen
The classic Arctic expedition explores Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, renowned for its polar bear viewing.
There are 10 tours available for this route:
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Arctic Wilderness A cruise around Spitsbergen gives you ample opportunity to explore all aspects of this fascinating arctic island. See the great eastern nature reserves and some of the most spectacular highlights of the Arctic. We aim to take you well above the 80th parallel and placing you closer than 600 nautical miles from the Geographical North Pole. The eastern part of Svalbard is more barren and characteristically High Arctic, compared to other places that we visit with the M/S Fram. During this extended voyage, you will see some of the most spectacular fjords of Spitsbergen. The eastern part of Svalbard is mainly divided into two large nature reserves and combined, they represent one of the largest and mainly untouched, wildernesses in Europe. Traversing the large fjord east of Spitsbergen will give you spectacular views of the island's east coast, with hundreds of glaciers and mountains. If we are lucky, we'll meet some of Svalbard's marine mammals like seal and walrus and wherever there is ice, there is a great chance of spotting polar bears. | |||||||
If there is such a thing as a classic Arctic expedition, this is it. Explore the western edge of Spitsbergen and some outlying northern areas home to polar bears and walrus. Come across colonies of seabirds numbering into the thousands and look for whales in the water. Joining you on this exclusive departure will be photographer Steve Davey. Steve is an experienced Arctic photographer, and brings a unique blend of tailored tuition, encouragement and boundless enthusiasm to every tour he accompanies. He has led a number of travel photography tours to some of the world's most fascinating destinations. He'll be on hand to give you detailed instruction about taking the best landscape and wildlife images on this expedition. This trip is organised in conjunction with Peregrine, who have an office in the United Kingdom, which means that you have a range of payment options and if you but your flights through them, you trip can be fully ATOL protected. | |||||||
This Spitsbergen odyssey reveals the diversity of this island archipelago and takes us into the kingdom of the polar bear. You'll explore the coastline, with no open sea crossings, against a backdrop of spectacular glacier-covered peaks and discover deep fjords in the west, mysterious, fossil-rich desert plains in the east and best of all, seals and whales in the Arctic pack ice. This voyage offers the best chance for seeing reindeer and polar bears, and features wildflower walks across sweeping tundra, trapper camps and historical remains of whaling stations. | |||||||
Similar to our Realm of the Polar Bear but with 3 additional days in Arctic waters, this exciting 10-day cruise to the Svalbard archipelago is a once in a life time opportunity to see polar bears and other arctic wildlife in their natural habitat while cruising along some of the most remote coastlines in the world. Our home for this incredible holiday is the very comfortable MS Expedition, a recently refitted and refurbished vessel, uniquely equipped to meet the demands of cruising in polar regions. We board the boat in the world's most northerly town of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen. From here we will make a leisurely circumnavigation of the island investigating the its many fjords and bays. From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region's plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of nonstop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife we will explore Svalbard not only by ship but also up close from small Zodiac boats and on foot. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land which is only accessible for just a couple months of the year. Each day of our cruise there are presentations and informative talks from the expert expedition staff on the wildlife, history and environment of the area and these are followed up with excursions in the Zodiacs guided by the expedition staff. There are also opportunities for exploration on foot in the company of polar experts. Outfitted as a cruise ship, the MS Expedition provides an excellent base for polar exploration. With dining areas, presentation rooms, good sized cabins, and viewing decks, we will have plenty of space and entertainment whilst onboard. After our 10 day cruise through the Arctic waters of Svalbard, we dock at Longyearbyen and disembark with some very special memories. | |||||||||
Starting in Longyearbyen, we leave civilisation behind. Our aim is to sail this remote polar region in order to experience the Arctic wilderness, drift ice, flora and fauna. Our final itinerary is dependant on weather and ice conditions, which have to be assessed during the voyage. The Gulf Stream has allowed the island's 400 km long western coastline to become incredibly rich in animal and plant life, while the remote east is forever under the grips of the arctic winter environment. Some years it is possible to sail through the Hinlopen Strait to attempt a circumnavigation of the archipelago, while other years there is a great deal of ice, which makes it harder to navigate around. There are departures in July, August and September. We recommend the early tours for those who are keen to see large ice floes and the richest bird life. For those who would rather travel further east with the chance to sail around Spitsbergen, we recommend a tour later in the season. Our specialist guides will ensure we get the most out of the experience, as well as recounting tales of Svalbard's cultural and exciting polar explorative heritage - traces of this rich history can be found on several of the excursions, when we go ashore. The Realm of the Polar Bear The further north that we sail, the more ice we will meet, and this ice will gradually build up into large ice floes with seals resting on them. This is polar bear country, where the bears hunt for food, here is your best chance of seeing the 'King of the Arctic' in his natural habitat. In Spring there are large ice floes and the richest bird life. | |||||||
Similar to our Realm of the Polar Bear tour, with three additional days of exploring. Scour the ice and tundra in search of the elusive polar bear and encounter even more icebergs, glaciers, and unique wildlife than you ever thought possible on this 11-day expedition. Search for lounging seals, grazing reindeer, and colonies of birds under the midnight sun. | |||||||||
This exciting 8-day cruise to the Arctic waters of the Svalbard archipelago is a once in a life time opportunity to see polar bears and other arctic wildlife in their natural habitat while cruising along some of the most remote coastlines in the world. Our home for this incredible holiday is the very comfortable MS Expedition, a recently refitted and refurbished vessel, uniquely equipped to meet the demands of cruising in polar regions. We board the boat in the world's most northerly town of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen. From here we will make a leisurely circumnavigation of the island investigating the its many fjords and bays. From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region's plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of nonstop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife we will explore Svalbard not only by ship but also up close from small Zodiac boats and on foot. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land which is only accessible for just a couple months of the year. Each day of our cruise there are presentations and informative talks from the expert expedition staff on the wildlife, history and environment of the area and these are followed up with excursions in the Zodiacs guided by the expedition staff. There are also opportunities for exploration on foot in the company of polar experts. Outfitted as a cruise ship, the MS Expedition provides an excellent base for polar exploration. With dining areas, presentation rooms, good sized cabins, and viewing decks, we will have plenty of space and entertainment whilst onboard. After our 8 day cruise through the Arctic waters of Svalbard, we dock at Longyearbyen and disembark with some very special memories. | |||||||||
Arctic Wilderness Starting in Longyearbyen, we leave civilisation behind. Our aim is to sail this remote polar region in order to experience the arctic wilderness, drift ice, flora and fauna. Our final itinerary is dependant on weather and ice conditions, which have to be assessed during the voyage. The Gulf Stream has allowed the island's 400 km long western coastline to become incredibly rich in animal and plant life, while the remote east is forever under the grips of the arctic winter environment. Some years it is possible to sail through the Hinlopen Strait to attempt a circumnavigation of the archipelago, while other years there is a great deal of ice, which makes it harder to navigate around. There are departures in July, August and September. We recommend the early tours for those who are keen to see large ice floes and the richest bird life. For those who would rather travel further east, we recommend a tour later in the season. Our specialist guides will ensure we get the most out of the experience, as well as recounting tales of Svalbard's exciting polar explorative heritage - traces of this rich history can be found on several excursions when we go ashore. The Realm of the Polar Bear The further north that we sail, the more ice we will meet, and this ice will gradually build up into large ice floes with seals resting on them. This is polar bear country, where the bears hunt for food, here is your best chance of seeing the 'King of the Arctic' in his natural habitat. In Spring there are large ice floes and the richest bird life. | |||||||
From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region’s plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of non-stop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife that live in this polar wilderness, you’ll explore this landscape not only by ship but also on foot and via Zodiac. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer, and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land we dare only to explore a few months of the year. | |||||||||
The perfect opportunity to venture into the remote landscapes of the High Arctic, this extraordinary week-long adventure takes you through a land of frozen fjords, polar bears and ice-blue glaciers. Under the hypnotic glare of the midnight sun, you'll sail through the beautiful setting of Spitsbergen, the largest and only permanently populated island on the Svalbard archipelago.Beginning in the old mining settlement of Longyearbyen, you'll cruise along spectacular fjords and past towering glaciers, spending your days either on the deck or in small, sturdy zodiac boats searching for whales and polar bears. Travelling in the company of expert guides, you'll learn about Arctic history and the natural ecology of the area, whilst enjoying the serenity and majesty of the High Arctic tundra.With five full days to appreciate the beauty and nature of this incredible place, there will be ample opportunities for some spectacular photo opportunities, as well as good chances of spotting seals, whales and other Arctic wildlife before heading back to Longyearbyen and home.Highlights
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