Incredible Arctic Norway
Few landscapes are as arresting as the Arctic beneath the near-endless summer sun, and this 12-day expedition cruise in Finland and Norway explores a place of true spectacle. Under the guidance of a team of specialists, seek out wildlife from reindeer to polar bears and hike the barren but beautiful Arctic tundra. On board your expedition cruise, enjoy fascinating presentations and fine food while cruising through this mesmerising Polar region.
Trip highlights
- Spend time soaking up Finnish culture in the capital Helsinki
- Have the chance to spot polar bears in their natural habitat
- Hop in a Zodiac to cruise past gargantuan icebergs and shimmering glaciers
- Get closer to the Arctic water with a kayaking excursion or brave a bracing polar plunge
- Capture the beauty of the Arctic tundra with expert photography guides
- Discover more through onboard polar presentations and lectures
Bespoke trips with Jacada
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Itinerary in detail
Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.
Days 1–3
Two nights in the Finnish capital
Colourful and creative Helsinki is an energetic place to begin your Arctic adventure. The Finnish capital is a cultural hub, with renowned museums and striking Soviet architecture. Spend your first days here exploring the works in the Finnish National Gallery or Helsinki Art Museum, or simply embrace Finnish sauna culture with a bracing dip by the harbour.
Days 3–4
Step onboard your expedition cruise in Longyearbyen
Once in Longyearbyen, the Arctic frontier town at the heart of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, meet your expedition ship and set sail into the wilderness on your Arctic cruise. As you depart beneath the golden summer sun, gaze out at the mountains in the island’s interior, where glaciers cling to the peaks even throughout the warmer months.
Cruise ships in the Arctic
Days 4–11
Explore sparkling Spitsbergen
Cruising around the island of Spitsbergen – the largest in the Svalbard archipelago – you’ll discover a land of towering cliffs and majestic icebergs that play home to seabirds and mesmerising mammals, like polar bears and lumbering walruses. Out here in the Arctic you’re at the behest of the weather and ice, so there is no set itinerary. Your expert specialists will navigate the conditions to seek out the best wildlife spotting opportunities, landscapes and outdoor experiences. Onboard, polar presentations offer invaluable insights into the striking landscapes, flora and fauna around you.
Make it mine
Glacier Spotting
Wildlife Watching
See the magnificent 14th of July Glacier
Named for the French Bastille Day by Prince Albert I of Monaco after his 20th-century expedition to the region, the 14th of July Glacier is an astonishing 16 kilometres long and rises over 30 metres above sea level. Set between dark, brooding mountains, it has a sheer, icy cliff at the ocean’s edge. Huge chunks of its white and blue wall calve off and crash into the water creating icebergs that become a refuge for wildlife, such as kittiwakes and seals.
Seek out wildlife in historic Smeerenburg
Once a centre of the Dutch and Danish whaling industry and nicknamed ‘Blubber town’, Smeerenburg is now long abandoned. It’s a ghostly landscape, with nothing but broken timbers left of the town now set upon a sparse, rocky plateau surrounded by towering peaks. Harbour seals can regularly be seen lounging on the beaches here, and look out for regal seabirds like the great northern diver or black-legged kittiwake.
Explore more
Beautiful Birds
Wonderful Whales
Meet the myriad seabirds of Alkefjellet
Around 100,000 Brünnich’s guilletmots nest on the precipitous ledges and crevices of Alkefjellet, a toothy, hundred-metre cliff on the edge of the Hinlopen Strait in northeast Spitsbergen. This seabird’s flight may be inelegant – all legs splayed and panicked flapping as they throw themselves from the cliff edge – but underwater they are capable little birds, reaching depths of up to 150 metres beneath the surface to seek out small Arctic cod or crustaceans.
Watch whales and walruses in the Hinlopen Strait
The Hinlopen Strait is the iceberg-filled channel that separates the islands of Spitsbergen and Nordaustland. It’s here, within the Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve, where much of the region’s most exciting wildlife thrives. Chunky, wobbly walruses lounge about on the shorelines while polar bears stalk the ice for their next meal. You’ll spot seals bobbing about between the ice, and humpback whales weighing up to 40 tonnes can sometimes be seen breaching the waters, too.
Days 11–13
A final 48 hours in Helsinki
Spend your final nights in Helsinki indulging in the city’s buzzy restaurant scene and soaking up those final rays of Nordic summer sun. Its harbourside bars and cafes are a fine spot to reflect on your surreal and spectacular Arctic adventure, or to plan the next.
Our trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos was truly the experience of a lifetime, and we have Dan at Jacada Travel to thank for making it absolutely seamless and unforgettable. From the very beginning, Dan took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for—adventure, breathtaking landscapes, unique accommodations, and strict kosher dietary needs—and he delivered on every level…
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
