Arctic Cruises & Tours

Midnight sun, ethereal natural light shows and preening polar bears – welcome to the edge of the map.

A pristine Eden of mountain peaks, glacial structures and pretty much every shade of blue known to man, this winter wonderland sometimes seems too beautiful to be real. Polar bears, whales, reindeer and walruses dot the ice-strewn land and seascapes while wildflowers bloom on the inland plains. Come the seasonal equinoxes, Aurora Borealis throws up its dazzling display of lights. On some summer nights the sun never sets. Enchanting, stark and about as remote as you can get while crossing parts of eight countries – Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland (Denmark), Russia, Canada and the USA – the Arctic Circle really is poles apart from the typical travel experience. Set sail on a cruise to the Earth's tip top - The Arctic.

Arctic highlights

Your home on the sea

We know you want to be as comfortable as possible while on board, which is why we’ve chosen vessels equipped with modern conveniences along with luxurious touches that make each voyage a true pleasure. Each ship boasts onboard chefs to prepare a range of hearty, quality meals, and onboard experts to ensure you spend more time seeing the sights and less time thumbing through a guidebook.

Boat Ocean Adventurer
Ocean Adventurer
BOAT TYPE: Expedition PASSENGERS: 128
This sturdy expedition ship was built in 1975 and underwent an $8 million refurbishment in 2017 which included new engines and refurbished cabins...
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Ultramarine
Ultramarine
BOAT TYPE: Expedition PASSENGERS: 199
If you’re looking to take your polar adventure to the next level, Ultramarine is designed to help you discover amazing new places.
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Ocean Endeavour - Arctic
Ocean Endeavour - Arctic
BOAT TYPE: Expedition PASSENGERS: 200
The Ocean Endeavour - Arctic is a comfortable and spacious ship with a gym, library and wide range of cabin types.
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Why choose us

Custom built ships

Each vessel is purpose-built for polar conditions, well-equipped and fitted with modern conveniences to create a home away from home. Each ship also boasts a team of professional chefs preparing high-quality meals around the clock, a crew of experienced sailors and expedition leaders to chart a course.

Expert leaders

Travel with polar experts in a range of fields – glaciology, ornithology, marine biology and natural history – who provide invaluable context and insight to the region. Trained guides in Arctic terrain ensure you can travel with peace of mind onboard and during onshore activities.

Onboard activities

When you’re not spotting wildlife from the deck, exploring onshore or taking part in an adventure activity, all our Arctic trips include educational seminars to learn about the region’s unique flora and fauna. On top of all that, there’s a library where you can do your own polar research or have some downtime in the lounge.

Full board

All cruises provide three meals a day, 24-hour tea and coffee, and activities including Zodiac excursions, onboard seminars and shore landings. Our chefs know just how to warm you up after your Arctic outing, just be ready for a second serving!

Safety

Our polar operators are the best in the business and make your safety traveling in this potentially hazardous region their number one priority, adhering to all international maritime and SOLAS regulations.

Sustainable travel

We strive to use travel as a force for good. That’s why we choose to give back to the communities we visit, carbon offset all our trips and take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you’re traveling to improve the planet.

Arctic tour reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 672 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Northern Lights Escape

Kiya · Traveled March 2024
My partner and I throughly enjoyed the Northern Lights Escape tour, and found it to be the perfect mix of day activity’s while still positioning us perfectly to have the best chance at seeing the lights at night. Would recommend the tour for anyone who wants to see the natural beauty of Iceland with an informative guide who goes the extra mile to make your experience special.
Review submitted 13 Mar 2024

Northern Lights Escape

Amanda · Traveled March 2024
Everything was amazing - yes, even the fermented shark! If you get Stefan as a leader, you're in for a treat. FYI if you're a millenial solo female traveler, I felt super safe on this trip - there were 6 of us! Take the plunge!
Review submitted 13 Mar 2024

Northern Lights Escape

Ric · Traveled March 2024
Our Iceland trip with Stefan exceeded all of our expectations--and we went in with very high expectations. Everything was well organized and well executed. The scenery is beyond description. But what really makes a trip successful is the people. Our tour guide, Stefan, was exceptional and the others in our tour group were fun and considerate. The trip could not have been better. The Northern Lights were our primary reason for the trip. We saw the lights and so much more. On a scale of 1-5, I give this trip and our guide Stefan a 10.
Review submitted 12 Mar 2024

Northern Lights Escape

Carole · Traveled March 2024
The March Northern Lights Tour did not disappoint. From seeing the Northern Lights on the first night out, to beautiful ice rocks at Diamond Beach, the black sand of Black Sand Beach, stunning waterfalls, hiking an ice cave, and so much more, this was a wonderful tour of the Southern area of Iceland. I would highly recommend using Intrepid for tours. The small group number made it much more enjoyable. I only wish Stefan could be the tour guide on all your tours. He was knowledgeable, organized, accessible and just plain fun to hang out with.
Review submitted 10 Mar 2024

Premium Iceland in Winter

Jeffrey · Traveled March 2024
A wonderful trip full of adventure and unbelievable sights and people- highly recommend Intrepid and our guide Joseph!
Review submitted 13 Mar 2024

Arctic travel FAQs

SMALL GROUP TRAVEL THAT'S GOOD ALL OVER
We're here to do good by creating positive change through the joy of travel.
We're here to do good by creating positive change through the joy of travel.