Arctic Voyages
The unimaginable majesty of the Arctic, a vast ice-encrusted ocean ringed by islands, casts a spell on all who visit. Many of our clients are drawn back time after time to visit different areas. We offer a variety of voyages, some geared towards active exploration with walking, kayaking or skiing, others for those who want a more leisurely pace in comfortable vessels. Whichever you choose, the memories of this dramatic wilderness will stay with you always.
Our voyages to the Arctic include Arctic Norway where several itineraries are based around Spitsbergen (Svalbard), East Greenland, Iceland, the Scottish Islands, the Russian Far East, the Canadian Arctic and the High Arctic.
The descriptions in the following itineraries are a guideline only, since the routes taken and the landings made will be dependent on ice and weather conditions. We are happy to supply you with more detailed descriptions, day-by-day itineraries and reports of similar voyages in previous years on request.
Where activities are available on certain voyages they are shown here. These are optional, for which a supplement is usually payable.
What’s new and what’s happening in 2023 and 2024
Many voyages are subject to early booking offers and increases in global fuel prices which vary from ship to ship, are time sensitive and can change without warning. Brochure prices may therefore be different from those on the website. Rest assured we will always offer you the best price available at the time of your enquiry. Please contact us to find out more.
- Visit Canada’s remote Arctic with Ultramarine in August 2023 and 2024. This rare itinerary is intent on visiting Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands and onboard helicopters will aim to fly you up to explore the Devon Ice Cap.
- Ocean Endeavour explores remote Scotland on her Scotland Slowly voyages from Glasgow to Aberdeen in June 2023
- Witness the 2023 summer solstice on Hondius with her East Spitsbergen and Summer Solstice voyage in June 2023
- Greg Mortimer’s exciting new Northern Lights Explorer voyage sails from Kirkenes to Bergen via Iceland, Greenland and Jan Mayen in September 2023 and similarly in 2024, but with an Icelandic disembarkation.
- SH Vega’s unusual voyage routes Portsmouth to Dublin via Stornaway in April 2024.
- Sylvia Earle circumnavigates Iceland in May 2024
- Plancius goes birding in Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen – May 2024
- Sea Spirit‘s British Isles voyage from Portsmouth to Edinburgh is back by popular demand in May 2024.
- Ortelius has an extended North and East Spitsbergen and Bear Island voyage in June/July 2024
- Sylvia Earle travels right around the southern coast of Greenland on her Greenland Odyssey voyage in July 2024.
- Ultramarine has heli-flightseeing on her new Gems of West Greenland voyages in July 2024.
- Venture to the North Pole on new luxury hybrid icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot.
- For the trip of a lifetime try Sylvia Earle‘s 31 day Complete Northwest Passage from Kangerlussuaq to Nome in August 2024
The British Isles
The Faroe Islands
Arctic Norway
Iceland
Greenland
Russian Arctic
Canadian Arctic
Fiona Brijnath
Map
Travel Tips
Comments
Fiona’s travel tips
FOR THE ACTIVE: pick the hiking-focused voyages- you can do some great walks of 6-7 hours on selected days.
TOP TIP: Book a Scotland to Spitsbergen voyage and then the consecutive North Spitsbergen one. It’s fun to leave the UK by ship and you will get a discount off the second voyage.
MY FAVOURITE PLACE: When not tundra hiking, standing on the foredeck watching for whales.
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Far Frontiers Travel
Our sister company, Far Frontiers Travel, specialises in tailor-making bespoke travel to Central Asia, China and Mongolia, the Far East, Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas, Indochina, Myanmar, Middle East, North Africa and Europe, Russia and South America.
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Clients’ comments
“The Sea Spirit (as you know) is very well appointed and very smooth. The catering / cuisine was amazing. As you may already know a “Svalbard Circumnavigation” was not achieved as the sea ice front was considered to be too far south, but this lent itself to numerous landings – regularly two a day – and an outstanding number of “wildlife” sightings, including, much to everyone’s delight five Polar Bears. The expedition staff were all very knowledgeable, helpful, and took good care of us.”
Alfred Ingram, Svalbard Circumnavigation
“A very enjoyable trip and the ship was very good particularly the enormous cabins! I thinki I sailed on one of her sister ships some years ago. I also enjoyed meeting Peter your other client who had many interesting tales to share!”
Sheila Westwater, Across the Arctic Circle
“First of all, thank you for arranging on my behalf the trip from Aberdeen to Longyearbyen earlier this month. It was a very good trip indeed and most enjoyable. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was different from last year’s – which is what I wanted. I felt that I was well-served by you and on the whole, the trip went very well indeed. Jan Mayen is an experience – you have to believe it. What weather!”
Stephen Mott, Arctic Ocean, Aberdeen to Longyearbyen
“Once we finally got past the ridiculous amount of changes, problems and hurdles that seemed to beset us before we went, we had an amazing holiday. In my previous two trips, I’d seen one polar bear per trip, distant. Two arctic foxes that almost ran past me and disappeared on the first trip, none on the second. Never seen a beluga. Well, this time, we had five bears, two really close. More arctic foxes than I can count, with gorgeous cubs coming incredibly close. Three to five belugas. The weather was mostly very kind to us. Most activities went to plan and, even on the day that a bear stopped us walking, he hung around to sleep and chill out, allowing us to get fabulous views from the zodiacs. The upgraded cabin was really nice, as was the lounge with the lovely large, low windows, perfect for wildlife watching in comfort.”
Sue Henning, Around Spitsbergen on Hondius
“Yet again thank you for making the travel arrangements to and from Sea Spirit so easy. Another educational and enjoyable trip. Including time spent in this part of the world in the early 1960s it must be about my 20+ time to have crossed 66°30’N. After about an hour from sailing we came across a feeding frenzy which included whales (Humpback), dolphins, gannets and other sea birds. Yet another amazing sight to add to the list.”
Peter Wright, Crossing the Arctic Circle on Sea Spirit
“A brilliant holiday! Franz Josef Land must be the ultimate Arctic experience.”
Barbara Forrai and Margaret Dykes, Franz Josef Land
“Particular thanks to Fiona for her courtesy, professionalism and help with booking flights back to Edinburgh. Pre-departure information very good. Excellent handling of last-minute changes caused by change of vessel.”
Mr and Mrs Norman Robb, Ann Rayner and Ronald Cramond, Aberdeen to Spitsbergen voyage
“A trip of a lifetime which exceeded all my expectations. Thank you for your side of the arrangements – everything went like clockwork.”
Jane Hamilton, Sail North Spitsbergen
“Deepest thanks for all your kindness and help before departure and to lovely staff on board.”
Alison Lambie, St Kilda, Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen (Plancius)
“The arrangements you made for me were very good and I recommend Arcturus to all.”
Elizabeth Lonkhurst, Iceland/Greenland (Polar Star)
“We had prompt and detailed answers to queries and a feeling of personal, knowledgeable service. A fantastic experience- we had an idea of what to expect having been to Antarctica and it lived up to expectations!”
Dr. Andrew and Dr. Katharine Balkwill, High Arctic circumnavigation (Polar Pioneer)