Arctic Expedition Trips

75 Trips
9 Offers
Picture yourself here. Our unique travel itineraries are centered around remote wilderness, wildlife migrations and ever-changing ice. Describe your ideal Arctic trip to our experts & get aboard with ease.
A group of five travelers in yellow jackets stands on a rocky ridge overlooking fjords below and mountains dotted with snow on the ridge above them
Trips, Tours & Cruises

Arctic Trips Handpicked by Our Experts

View All Arctic Trips
70 Cruises
5 Land Tours
9 Offers

The Arctic is generally described as everything north of the Arctic Circle, a line of latitude at approximately 66° 34′ N. The region spans the Arctic Ocean and eight countries, and despite its harsh climate, over 4 million people call this place home. These settlements, along with the Arctic’s history of Viking conquests and polar explorers, make it a culturally exciting region to visit—not to mention its stunning icescapes and central symbol: the polar bear.

Our team can match you with the perfect Arctic expedition. Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the North Pole are ideal for explorations by small ship cruise, and our selected itineraries get you up close to the abundant wildlife. Canada and Greenland are prime for Arctic adventures by land, with a variety of unique wilderness lodges in strategic locations for viewing polar bears. Start your Arctic trip search here!

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Arctic Expedition Trips
with AdventureSmith

Our unique Arctic travel itineraries span from Norway to Canada, but they’re all centered around remote landscapes, wildlife migrations and ever-changing ice. Why choose to book your Arctic trip with AdventureSmith?

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Personalized

Work with one Adventure Specialist to research, purchase & prepare for your Arctic expedition.

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Selection

We offer an unmatched selection of Arctic trips at wilderness lodges & aboard expedition ships.

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Experience

Our crew has traveled to the Arctic and can make personalized trip recommendations.

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Value

Our breadth of Arctic expeditions means more opportunities to match you with savings.

A red-hulled Arctic expedition ship in calm icy waters near a rocky brown shore.

Why Travel to the Arctic?

What travel destination is more evocative of exploration and adventure than the Arctic? Pristine, beautiful landscapes are filled with rare and exotic wildlife, and the vast wilderness lends a sense of true exploration and discovery that is not easy to find in this world. The Arctic is at the edge of the map—21st Century terra incognita—and represents a new frontier for many.

AdventureSmith’s Arctic trips span from Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and Norway, over to Canada and all the way up to the North Pole. Where will your Arctic expedition take you? Our experts are standing by to give you a personalized trip recommendation.

In Pursuit of the Pole & Polar Bears

With our Arctic expedition trips squarely focused on exploring the natural world, one of the top reasons travelers seek our expertise is to find wild, remote places and encounter polar bears. Learn fun facts about Arctic wildlife spotting, or head straight to the polar bear Mecca by booking a Svalbard cruise or the ultimate Arctic destination: the top of the world on a North Pole expedition.

A white polar bear stands on the ice seen from above.

“What travel destination is more evocative of exploration & adventure than the Arctic?”

Climate

Arctic Expedition Trips

Temperature & Rainfall

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. High (F) 24 26 23 30 38 45 50 49 43 35 30 26
Avg. Low (F) 14 13 13 21 29 34 38 38 35 27 21 17
Avg. Rainfall (Inches) 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.1 1.4 0.6 0.5 0.4

Arctic Trips for Any Season

You can travel to the Arctic any time of the year, but there are many seasonal nuances to take into consideration depending on your travel goals and mode of transportation. The Midnight Sun around the solstice, aurora borealis cruises in the late season, endemic wildlife at all times of the year… Arctic expedition ships primarily operate May through September, while Canada’s prime polar bear viewing land-based tours are in the late fall. If you’re seeking to ski or view the Northern Lights, look for a wintertime Arctic trip. Note that the climate data referenced above is for Nuuk, Greenland.

Want to Learn More About the Arctic Travel Climate?

Arctic Expedition Trips

Hear from Adventure Specialist Taylor Cranney about what it’s really like at the North Pole in this review of her trip. See her impressions from 16 days at sea and who might be cut out for an expedition of this caliber.
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Arctic Expedition Trips

Travel with us to Churchill, Canada, near the world's greatest concentration of polar bears. Learn from our expert about this trip's logistics and what it's like on a polar rover.
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Arctic Expedition Trips

Read a detailed ship review from our expert who was aboard Ultramarine, plus see traveler ratings on everything from the food & helicopters to his Greenland itinerary highlights.
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Arctic Expedition Trips

AdventureSmith's founder writes this firsthand review of the National Geographic Resolution & Endurance. Learn what makes these the best-in-class, next-generation expedition ships, from X-Bow design to on-deck igloos.
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Arctic Expedition Trips

A travel expert lends her Arctic cruise insight on what you can expect aboard a small ship polar bear cruise in the Arctic Svalbard region.
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Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

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