Arctic Travel Guide: Places to Go
The land inside the Arctic Circle is divided between eight countries, each with its own very distinct characteristics. From polar bears to history, and wilderness to kayaking, …
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Our most popular Arctic cruises
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
This popular introduction to Svalbard is keenly priced and, with numerous early season departures, guarantees plenty of ice. Sail onboard one of the newest ships in polar waters and spot bears from the plentiful deck space. Optional kayaking and hiking…
- 11 Days
- $9,761
Spring travel in Svalbard is a real treat, particularly on board a 12-guest micro ship. Revel in being one of the earliest visitors with the whole archipelago largely to yourselves. Explore iced fjords, a landscape still shrouded in snow, and…
- 8-10 Days
- $12,500
Reach the top of the world in serious comfort onboard a state-of-the-art luxury, hybrid-powered icebreaker. Travel north through icebound waters and join the exclusive list of intrepid explorers who have visited the geographical North…
- 13 Days
- $38,347
Maximise wildlife sightings with the chance to circumnavigate Spitsbergen island. Search for walrus, arctic fox, whales and of course the ‘King of The Arctic'. Sail through the Hinlopen Strait and visit abandoned trapping stations and experience glaciers up close all…
- 11 Days
- $18,695
Truly escape the modern world and explore Svalbard on board a schooner. Sail north through the melting spring ice, spot wildlife and learn about the archipelago’s rich history. Highlights include the Monaco Glacier, 17th century whaling settlements, close encounters with…
- 11 Days
- $6,000
Circumnavigate Spitsbergen on board on a comfortable expedition ship and in the company of specialist guides. Travelling on a smaller ship allows you more time to explore, and some late-season departures benefit from stunning autumn light. Ask about special guest…
- 12 Days
- $9,390
Sailing in August or September, explore the massive fjords of East Greenland and their legendary icebergs, spot musk oxen and visit ancient and modern Inuit settlements. Late summer provides a great chance of spotting the Northern Lights. A choice of…
- 10 Days
- $6,250
Experience the Arctic’s legendary wildlife aboard an intimate micro expedition ship, amidst a pristine backdrop of calving glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. With an unmatched sense of ‘expedition’ and a deeper connection to nature, you build your own adventure, searching for…
- 10 Days
- $17,500
Travelling in luxury aboard an outstanding expedition ship, we love this trip for its unusual combination of Svalbard and Norway’s northern tip, plus its focus on top-notch service and cuisine. After a hassle-free flight from Oslo to Svalbard, spend seven…
- 11 Days
- $17,600
There are few wilder, more remote places on the planet than East Greenland. Travelling by a small, very comfortable custom-built expedition ship, this voyage aims to showcase the best of Greenland’s eye-popping scenery, vast ice and exotic wildlife. Walk the…
- 12 Days
- $19,769
The big ice and small towns of West Greenland provide a stunning start to this trip before you sail across the Davis Straight to Baffin Island and enter the Northwest Passage. Blend history, scenery and wildlife; pay your respects at…
- 17 Days
- $13,297
Beginning in Svalbard before sailing west across the Greenland Sea and exploring Greenland’s long eastern coastline to finish in Iceland, this is an audacious Arctic journey of startling diversity and contrast. Spectacular landscapes, towering glaciers and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters all…
- 15 Days
- $23,595
This might be a short trip but it packs a huge amount in. Sail among the ice of Disko Bay and spot humpbacks hunting herring; trek to the look out over Jakobshavn Glacier; explore the settlements of Sisimiut and Itilleq…
- 8 Days
- $8,836
What our customers think of our Arctic cruises
Swoops dedication and care to achieve a high value, high quality experience is exceptional. Staff are extremely knowledgeable about the ship, and the itinerary of the expedition and are able to offer the best advice to maximize the travel experience. Read the full review
Travelled: June 2018
Rob & Bonnie Lesnick - United States Of America
We were really lucky with sightings; saw polar bears on four occasions, blue whales twice, lots of fin whales and about 70 beluga whales in an hour on one day, as well as a couple of lovely white arctic foxes and a few walruses.
Travelled: August 2017
Declan - UK
Planning your Arctic cruise
When to visit the Arctic
The Arctic summer, blessed with long days and abundant wildlife, is favoured by travellers seeking the classic Arctic experience. But delve deeper and you'll find each season has …
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Arctic Ship Guide
We partner with selected ice-strengthened Arctic expedition vessels from small yachts and nimble little ships with convivial atmospheres, to larger Russian research boats and …
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Arctic Animals & Wildlife
The Arctic is one of the most diverse wildlife habitats on Earth, harbouring a vast array of animals adapted to the extreme cold. Polar bears and walrus can be spotted on the sea …
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Swoop says
We have more than 80 trips to pick from on over 30 different expedition vessels. Get in touch with us to book your trip ahead of the crowd.
Spring Arctic cruises
As late spring arrives, the Arctic awakens. The vibrant purple saxifrage begins to bloom, signalling the season's change. Migratory birds, including Puffins, Brünnich's, and Common Guillemots, return to their nesting grounds. Simultaneously, expedition ships arrive in Svalbard and Greenland.
With warmer weather and longer, sunnier days, May is the perfect time for thrilling adventures and is also the prime season to experience the spring ice floe edge. This offers unique opportunities to spot narwhals, polar bears, and dramatic icebergs.
Summer Arctic Cruises
June heralds the true arrival of summer in the High Arctic. As the sea ice retreats, North Spitsbergen becomes accessible to ships, opening new routes for exploration. This is prime season for polar bear sightings, with the majestic animals observed both hunting on the ice and traversing the land.
The continuous daylight of the Midnight Sun makes exploration possible around the clock. Life explodes across the landscape: millions of sea and tundra birds begin nesting and laying their eggs, while the ocean welcomes back the great filter feeders – minke, humpback, and fin whales – returning from their winter spent in warmer, tropical waters. On land, the tundra and hillsides transform, carpeted in vibrant blooms of Arctic flowers.
Late-Summer Arctic cruises
Late summer offers the ultimate window for deep Arctic exploration. As the ice recedes significantly, historic voyages become possible, including the monumental expedition to the North Pole, or traversing the legendary Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic.
Meanwhile, East Greenland fully opens, granting access to the majestic Scoresby Sund and prime opportunities for inland exploration.
In Svalbard, Spitsbergen's west coast is now entirely ice-free, making land-based polar bear sightings more common. This period also marks a dynamic natural event: witness the vast seabird colonies preparing for their winter migration south.
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Svalbard Cruises
Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard distils the best of the Arctic into one remarkable archipelago. In high summer, largely ice-free coastlines reveal calving …
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The North Pole
We’ve all gazed at the top of a globe or map and wondered what it must be like up there on the roof of the world. Remote, cold and largely inaccessible – yet that ambition to …
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Northwest Passage Cruises
This labyrinthine waterway was long sought by early adventurers as a sea route linking the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Canada's Arctic archipelago is therefore no …
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What to expect on an Arctic cruise
Choosing to visit the Arctic is the easy part, but what can you expect to do and see once you arrive? From daily zodiac safaris, guided shore landings, insightful lectures and …
Discover MoreReady to Book Your Arctic Adventure?
1. Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
