Arctic cruises & tours

The best time to visit the Arctic region is during the high summer season (between June and September) as the weather is warmer and it is more enjoyable to spend long periods of time outside.  

It's generally cold in the Arctic but the summer season does see temperatures rise above freezing and most people find being outside tolerable and sometimes enjoyable.

Arctic tours tend to book out quickly and further in advance than trips to other destinations. Our advice is to book as soon as you've made the decision to travel – you can find the departure dates and availability underneath the itinerary on the page of your chosen trip.  Contact us to discuss your options.

All trips start and finish from either Aberdeen, Helsinki, Reykjavik, Toronto or Calgary.   

On some of our Arctic trips, if the ship is located in a more remote area, such as in Longyearbyen, there will be a charter flight from one of the above-mentioned cities. This flight will be included in the price of your trip and typically takes place on day 2.  

Check the Essential Trip Information section of your chosen itinerary for more specific details and contact your booking agent for more information about flights and transfers.  

The majority of our Arctic trips have a low physical rating of one or two, which means they are accessible to people of all levels of fitness with no major mobility issues and do not require any physical preparation. You can learn more about our physical rating system here.  

So, what does a low physical rating mean in real terms? Activities onshore and excursions involve a bit of walking involved, but all are optional. You’ll be visiting sites where at times you may have to cross uneven ground and take on challenging conditions underfoot. You will have support when stepping on and off the Zodiac boats. If you have any concerns, please speak to your group leader before taking part in any activities. Please read the ‘Is this trip right for you?’ section of the trip you are interested in for an overview of its specific conditions.  

All expeditions include onboard lectures from your crew of experts. These will prepare you for shore landings and give you further insights to the environment and wildlife you might encounter.  

Other included activities are organised depending on conditions and opportunities as they present themselves. You might find yourself joining an organised birdwatching session on deck, watching a movie or playing trivia.  

You’ll also find an extensive onboard library where you can do your own polar research, plenty of board games and a bar area to mingle and chat with friends. Plus, you can always take in the views from the open deck.  

Each of our Arctic tours includes the following:

• Comprehensive pre-departure preparation and information to ensure embarkation is effortless, such as preparing your luggage in your room before arrival.

• Comfortable accommodation, including turndown service twice a day.

• Onboard chefs who provide three meals each day, with tea and coffee available around the clock.

• Zodiac excursions providing the opportunity to step off the ship and explore on land.

• Hosts who are passionate naturalists and ornithologists, on hand to give lectures, help you spot wildlife and give you insights into the Arctic environment.

If you’re travelling alone, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender to bunk with. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll be happy to work with you to organise a rooming configuration that you feel comfortable with.    

If you don’t want to share your space, mention it to our customer service team when booking and they may be able to organise your own room – we call this a single supplement – depending on availability. You may need to pay a single supplement charge.  

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

If your question hasn't been answered, read our full list of Arctic FAQs or contact us.