Arctic / North Pole Cruises & Tours
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Table of contents
- 250+ Arctic / North Pole cruises with 402 reviews
- Arctic / North Pole Cruises & Tours Reviews
- Travel Arctic / North Pole your way
- Best tour companies for Arctic / North Pole tours
- Popular Arctic / North Pole Cruise Ships
- Best places to start your Arctic / North Pole tour
- Discover Arctic / North Pole tours for every budget
- Arctic / North Pole tours for every type of group
- Top Arctic / North Pole travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Arctic / North Pole
- Arctic / North Pole travel guides - curated by our experts
- Contact our Arctic / North Pole travel experts
- What our customers ask about Arctic / North Pole Cruises & Tours
250+ Arctic / North Pole cruises with 402 reviews
Compiled by
MelissaArctic / North Pole travel expert at TourRadar
Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Excellent tour, staff went above and beyond to make the tour as memorable as possible.”
Lynette, traveled in June
An eight-day Arctic voyage aboard Ocean Albatros reveals Svalbard's remote wilderness. The itinerary includes Ny Alesund research stations, Kongsbreen Glacier cruising, and pack ice navigation, while showcasing diverse wildlife and historic whaling settlements.
Duration 8 days Destinations Longyearbyen, Ytre Norskoya, Svalbard, Ny Aalesund Age Range Ages 12+ Operator On The Go Tours From
- NZ$13,535
Arctic Experience in Tromsø and Lofoten Islands
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The accommodation was excellent. We saw the Northern Lights in Tromso, and it snowed most days.”
Gerry, traveled in March
The world's northernmost Polar Park houses lynx, wolves, and reindeer. Clarion The Edge in Tromsø, 320km above the Arctic Circle, serves as home base for Northern Lights cruises and optional husky sledding adventures. Authentic Sami reindeer farms welcome visitors at approx. $290 per day.
Duration 6 days Destinations Tromso, Narvik, Svolvær, Reine, Harstad Age Range Ages 8+ Operator V.O.S – Vision of Scandinavia From $3,508
15% Off- NZ$2,982You save $526
Norway Fjords and Northern Lights
23 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I wholeheartedly recommend [Name] for Tour Guide of the Year; they made this trip unforgettable and left a lasting impression on all of us.”
Norway's Arctic coastline stretches from Oslo's urban charm to Tromsø's Arctic Cathedral, continuing past Hammerfest and Honningsvåg to Kirkenes. Sámi culture, King Crab fishing, and Northern Lights viewing aboard Hurtigruten ship complement stays in city hotels and berth cabins.
Duration 7 days Destinations Tromso, Skjervøy, Honningsvag, Hammerfest, Kirkenes Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator Contiki From $3,684
5% Off- NZ$3,500+$531 upfront costsYou save $184
The Ocean Albatros reaches 80°N near pack ice. Hinlopen Strait, wildlife at Alkefjellet's bird cliffs, and Nordaustlandet's polar desert await exploration. Twenty-four-hour daylight illuminates searches for polar bears, walruses, and whales in their natural habitat.
Duration 10 days Destinations Longyearbyen, Ny Aalesund, Ytre Norskoya, Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet Island, Barentsoya, Bellsund, Hornsund, Varsolbukta Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Albatros Expeditions From
5% Off- NZ$13,754
Helsinki to Kirkenes - Beyond the Arctic Circle
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The itinerary for the tour was great and utilized the 10 days for maximum activity experience.”
Jessica, traveled in March
Duration 8 days Destinations Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Inari, Kirkenes Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Carisa Travel Group From
5% Off- NZ$8,674
Arctic / North Pole Cruises & Tours Reviews
- Aurora & Glass Igloo Explorer - 5 Days
The tours and hotel stay were excelent. The staff and tour guides were very friendly, caring and bent over backwards to help. All the tours and transfers were timed to perfection, no one was late.
Rianna was amazing and kept the trip very organised. She was very approachable and went out of her way to find extra activities that travellers asked about to ensure everyone had the best experience possible
Norway Fjords and Northern Lights
- Arctic Experience in Tromsø and Lofoten Islands
This trip was amazing. The accommodation was excellent. We saw the Northan Lights in Tromso up near the lake. We stayed a couple of extra nights in Tromso as it was so beautiful. It snowed most days. Our highlight was the Atlantic Husky Sledding. What an experience and would defiantly recommend it to anyone.
Travel Arctic / North Pole your way
Greenland's toughest treks really put your outdoor skills to the test. The route between Karale and Tasilaq Fjords has you crossing glaciers and setting up camp in some seriously remote spots - our travelers come back exhausted but absolutely thrilled with the experience. There's also a great trek around the Kujataa UNESCO area where you'll mix glacier hiking with stops at Viking ruins and current Inuit communities. You'll need solid fitness and basic camping experience for both. What's cool about these hikes is how they blend the technical glacier parts with cultural discoveries; one minute you're working out how to cross a river, the next you're exploring old WWII sites. The guides are exceptional - they're technically skilled for the glacier crossings and also really knowledgeable about the climate changes they're seeing right in front of them.
Our top Arctic expeditions take you deep into Greenland and Svalbard's untamed spaces. You'll cross the Arctic Circle with a proper champagne toast before heading north to feel the Arctic Ocean between your toes - the guides are fantastic at sharing real stories of northern life as you travel the Dempster Highway. If you're keen on spotting wildlife, the Spitsbergen voyage reaches 80° north where polar bears hunt on ice floes and you can visit incredible Little auk colonies with over 200,000 birds. The fjord tours use specialized ships to navigate thick ice, while land routes let you try your luck panning for gold at working Klondike mines and explore heritage sites like the SS Klondike. Our travelers often tell us they love how these tours mix close-up wildlife encounters with genuine cultural insights.
Select from our extensive range of 171 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Arctic / North Pole with our expert guides leading the way.
Explore a wide diversity of northern lights tours through Arctic / North Pole. We have 138 adventures that vary from 3 days to 15 days. With the greatest number of departures in January, this is also the most popular time of the year.
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Best tour companies for Arctic / North Pole tours
Popular Arctic / North Pole Cruise Ships
Best places to start your Arctic / North Pole tour
Most Arctic journeys kick off from Reykjavik which offers 19 departure dates, while Helsinki runs a close second with 14 options. You can also start from Rovaniemi, Tromso with 10 departures each and also Copenhagen with 6 departures. Our booking patterns show you'll need to plan about 74 days ahead - that's just over two months before you want to travel. This timing really matters when you're looking at peak season dates since these specialized polar trips fill up fast. The sweet spot for visiting falls between June and September when you get those long daylight hours - perfect for spotting wildlife and taking photos. July and August are particularly good months according to our regular travelers; you get nice stable temperatures and the ice conditions work well for getting around. Temperature-wise, you're looking at 3-7°C (37-45°F), which works really well for outdoor activities and wildlife watching.
Discover Arctic / North Pole tours for every budget
Our budget-friendly Greenland trips pack a lot into 8 days of Arctic exploration. You'll navigate through the Tunulliarfik fjords by zodiac boat, getting close to massive icebergs and hiking across ancient ice sheets with expert guides leading the way. The mix of wilderness camps and local hostels gives you real Arctic experiences while keeping costs sensible. Starting from Iceland, you can join husky sledding near Tromsø and catch the Northern Lights from spots our guides know well. Our customers particularly like how we blend outdoor activities with local culture - there's time at working reindeer farms, chances to learn from Sami communities and visits to the Viking ruins in Qassiarsuk. It's great for active travelers who want to see and do plenty without spending a fortune.
Arctic / North Pole budget tours
Arctic / North Pole tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
213 tours in Arctic / North PoleExplore a wide diversity of group tours through Arctic / North Pole. We have 213 adventures that vary from 3 days to 32 days. With the greatest number of departures in March, this is also the most popular time of the year.
Small Group
48 tours in Arctic / North PoleOur Arctic small-group expeditions blend intimate wildlife encounters with vast polar exploration. The Svalbard trips venture up to 80° north, where experienced guides take you glacier trekking, kayaking and watching for wildlife - our past travelers often mention how the small numbers allow them to move quietly near polar bear territories and bustling seabird colonies. Through Greenland's southern fjords, groups can trek ancient ice sheets, discover Norse ruins and paddle among soaring icebergs, while the Dempster Highway journey crosses the Arctic Circle for champagne toasts, before connecting with indigenous communities and trying traditional gold panning. Our guests particularly appreciate having room to photograph wildlife without the crowds, plus the ability to adapt activities based on conditions. A highlight tour combines Helsinki's sleek design district with Longyearbyen's frontier atmosphere, then heads deep into Spitsbergen's raw landscapes, where intimate groups can easily deploy Zodiac boats to observe walrus colonies and weave through magnificent ice formations.
Private / Personalized
153 tours in Arctic / North PoleOur private Arctic tours let you set the pace, with personal guides and custom itineraries that fit your interests. The Finnish Lapland winter trips are a highlight - you'll stay in glass-roofed Aurora cabins and take private snowmobile rides to quiet reindeer farms. Up in Tromsø, your dedicated guide knows exactly when and where to catch the Northern Lights, plus they'll set up exclusive campfire spots away from other groups. Our travelers tell us they love being able to adjust plans based on weather and their energy levels. You'll get your own husky sledding instruction and private visits to Sami cultural sites. It works really well for photographers, families and also small groups who want premium comfort with their own space to explore.
Top Arctic / North Pole travel itineraries to fit your plans
When you join our 7-day Arctic expeditions, you can pick between land-based trips and sea voyages. The Dempster Highway route has become a favorite - you'll cross the Arctic Circle and celebrate with champagne before visiting spots like Fort MacPherson, an old Hudson Bay trading post where some local elders still wear their traditional print dresses. If you're taking the sea route, you'll likely spot Humpback, Blue, Fin whales and also Orcas as you sail across the Denmark Strait towards Jan Mayen. Norway's Arctic offerings include wandering T'órshavn's old lanes and nights in glass-roofed Aurora cabins, where our guests often watch the Northern Lights while lying in bed. The fjord tours combine visits to small fishing villages with excellent seabird watching - you'll see huge colonies of Atlantic puffins nesting right on the coastal cliffs.
Our 10-day trips really dig into Svalbard's wilderness, with routes that put wildlife viewing first. You'll cruise by massive glaciers in Spitsbergen's fjords where our guides excel at finding polar bears hunting on ice floes. The journey takes you to Fair Isle, a perfect spot for close-up puffin photos and picking up authentic Fair Isle knitwear from the people who make it. Our travelers love watching Orcas chase seals in the waters around Fair Isle, and the easy access to grassy viewing banks makes wildlife photography a joy. The trips blend Arctic nature with culture nicely - you can explore the Polar Museum to learn about Arctic explorers and wander T'órshavn's narrow streets filled with cafes, shops and also historic warehouses.
Two weeks in the Arctic gives you our fullest experience, especially around Svalbard and Greenland. These longer trips try to circle all of Svalbard, going as far as Kvitøya where polar bears move freely across the icy terrain. In Northwest Svalbard Nature Reserve, our customers regularly see walrus colonies and thousands of seabirds nesting at Alkefjellet's cliffs. When you reach Greenland, you'll explore southern fjords where Norse ruins stand next to modern Inuit communities. Our travelers particularly like having extra time in places like Qaqortoq with its lovely lake and Nuuk's National Museum, where you can see the fascinating Qilakitsoq mummies. With two weeks, you've got better odds of seeing different whale species and experiencing the midnight sun in all its glory.
Demographics
Arctic expeditions create natural bonds between solo travelers who share the same passion for northern adventures. Summer tours in Greenland bring singles together through shared experiences - you're learning glacier walking techniques side by side, paddling kayaks past towering icebergs and camping together under skies that never fully darken. The Svalbard cruises work especially well for those traveling alone; there's always someone to join you on deck spotting polar bears or heading out on shore excursions to photograph massive seabird colonies. Finnish Lapland in winter draws many independent travelers who mix active days of snowmobiling and dog sledding with social evenings gathered around fires watching for Northern Lights. The Dempster Highway route to the Arctic Ocean lets solo travelers really dive into northern culture, from trying their hand at gold panning to meaningful visits with indigenous communities in remote settlements.
Younger travelers consistently choose Arctic expeditions that blend active discovery with close wildlife encounters. The voyages between Norway and Svalbard venture up to 80° latitude, where guests kayak alongside glaciers, watch polar bears stalking seals on ice floes, and trek to vast seabird colonies bustling with more than 200,000 birds. Small expedition ships naturally create bonds between adventurous travelers through their shared moments - spotting a whale breach from the deck or exploring remote shores in Zodiac boats. Our Helsinki routes get high praise from younger adventurers for their mix of raw Arctic nature with local culture, letting you walk ancient ice fields, explore isolated communities and witness traditional ways of life. These tours stand out by balancing expert guidance with personal freedom - you'll master skills like glacier navigation and wildlife observation while having time to experience the midnight sun or Northern Lights independently. The hybrid-electric fjord excursions from Tromsø appeal especially to our eco-conscious clients, combining sustainable travel practices with chances to observe seals, porpoises and also humpback whales in their element.
Our senior guests particularly enjoy the well-paced road journeys and cultural explorations across the Arctic. The summer route to the Arctic Ocean balances real adventure with proper comfort - you'll cross the Arctic Circle and meet traditional communities while staying in good hotels each night. South Greenland tours hit the sweet spot for active seniors by combining Norse ruins, scenic fjord navigation and valley walks with plenty of photo stops and rest breaks. Finnish Lapland's winter programs nail the mix of bucket-list experiences like Northern Lights viewing with cozy lodges and comfortable transport. The Spitsbergen cruises let seniors watch wildlife right from deck and join gentle guided walks when going ashore. Many of our older travelers praise the Top of Scandinavia route for its cultural depth - visiting Sami communities, exploring historic sites and taking in local traditions at a relaxed, manageable pace.
- Solo Travelers167 tours
- Couples159 tours
- Young Adults (18 - 39)5 tours All tours for Young Adults
- Seniors (50+)53 tours
Best time to visit Arctic / North Pole
- Winter 2025 / 2026
Winter brings real magic to the Arctic, especially when it comes to catching the Northern Lights and getting active in the snow. Lots of our guests head to Finnish Lapland, where they stay in glass-roofed Aurora cabins - you can literally watch the lights dance above while tucked in your warm bed. They zoom across snowy landscapes on snowmobiles to visit remote reindeer farms, learn the art of traditional sleigh steering and also join guided Northern Lights tours with cozy campfire breaks. Norway's coastal Hurtigruten voyages are another favorite, combining Arctic fjord sailing with aurora viewing opportunities past the North Cape, where you might spot humpback whales too. Our travelers particularly love mixing husky sledding through snow-covered forests with visits to Santa's Village right on the Arctic Circle and learning about Sami culture at Rovaniemi's Arktikum Museum.
- 95 tours
- 140 tours
- popular 143 tours
- Spring 2026
Spring is prime time for Svalbard wildlife watching, with expedition ships pushing up to 80° north where polar bears hunt on ice floes. These specialized vessels weave through the ice pack, launching Zodiac boats to get close to Arctic fox dens, walrus colonies and massive seabird gatherings. Our guests really value having expert expedition teams aboard - they know exactly where to find wildlife and share fascinating details about Arctic ecosystems. The mix of extended daylight and lingering winter ice creates ideal conditions for photography, especially at Alkefjellet's towering cliffs where thousands of guillemots make their nests.
- popular 145 tours
- 57 tours
- 16 tours
- Summer 2026
Summer's 24-hour daylight opens up the most remote Arctic corners. The Yukon's Dempster Highway route takes you across the Arctic Circle with a champagne celebration, leading to Native communities where you can try gold panning at working mines. In Greenland, summer tours wind through ice-filled fjords, mixing glacier walks with stops at isolated Inuit villages and also UNESCO-protected Viking ruins. Our customers particularly enjoy exploring South Greenland's Flower Valley, where wild blooms pop against ancient ice sheets. Spitsbergen voyages offer great wildlife viewing - you'll see polar bears hunting, kayak near icebergs and also visit busy seabird colonies.
- 49 tours
- 50 tours
- popular 57 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Autumn trips make the most of darker skies for Northern Lights viewing while keeping temperatures manageable for outdoor activities. Along Norway's coast, Hurtigruten ships combine fjord sailing with aurora spotting - you'll pass the old Finnkjerka rock formation and visit Kirkenes near Russia's border to try king crab fishing. Our travelers like how these autumn tours mix cultural experiences at Sami camps with activities like snowshoeing and riding the cable car up Mount Storsteinen. The shorter days work perfectly for Northern Lights photos, especially when paired with stops at traditional lavvo-huts for hot drinks and also local cultural experiences. Three top-rated tour companies operate in Greenland, and our travelers have shared detailed experiences about each one. Tasermiut leads glacier walks and takes you through old Viking settlements - they've built up quite a following among our customers who want to really get into Greenland's history and landscapes. Their Wonders of Greenland tour needs good fitness levels though; you'll be doing some serious hiking and climbing. A few travelers mentioned they wished they'd known to pack more protein snacks since the provided meals were a bit light on that front. Arctic Range Adventure is running a solid operation with their Arctic Summer Explorer - they're quick to respond to questions and keep everything moving smoothly. Just pack warmer than what's on their list; one of our recent travelers found the temperatures chillier than expected even in summer. Think extra layers, warm socks, gloves and also a good windproof jacket. The feedback points to Greenland being exactly what you'd expect - raw, challenging and fascinating. The trick seems to be in the preparation: having the right gear, being realistic about your fitness and bringing along some extra food just in case. Our travelers consistently say the effort pays off when you're standing on a glacier or walking where the Vikings once lived.
- popular 36 tours
- 29 tours
- 35 tours
Arctic / North Pole travel guides - curated by our experts
Arctic Wildlife: Discover the Animals of the Arctic Circle
Discover the animals you can see within the Arctic Circle. From polar bears to whales and seals, spotting Arctic wildlife is something you will never forget!
Best time to visit Arctic Circle
Learn all about the best time to visit Svalbard, Alaska and other destinations within the Arctic Circle. We've also include tips on where and when to spot polar bears!
Contact our Arctic / North Pole travel experts
Joseph
Expert in Arctic / North Pole at TourRadar
Joseph is one of our seasoned Arctic / North Pole Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Arctic / North Pole tours answered!
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+64 4888 0182What our customers ask about Arctic / North Pole Cruises & Tours
How do I choose where to go on an Arctic cruise?
If you're looking at Arctic cruises you'll find Svalbard Greenland and the geographic North Pole are the most popular spots. Each place offers something special - you can see amazing wildlife explore incredible landscapes and really experience what life's like up above the Arctic Circle. The scenery is just breathtaking and you'll get different experiences depending on where you choose.