Arctic Circle
Kingdom of the Polar Bear
The Arctic Circle | In Summary
- Svalbard, the primary Arctic destination offered by The Classic Safari Company, sits at roughly 78°N and is one of the world’s highest concentrations of polar bears — with an estimated 3,000 bears in the archipelago, outnumbering the human population of around 2,500.
- Expedition cruises to the region are conducted aboard purpose-built ice-strengthened or nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels; the 50 Years of Victory, operated by Poseidon Expeditions, is the world’s only nuclear-powered icebreaker offering civilian passenger voyages and is capable of reaching the geographic North Pole at 90°N.
- The Arctic summer season (June–August) delivers the phenomenon of the midnight sun — continuous daylight for up to four months — which creates extraordinary photographic conditions and allows round-the-clock wildlife spotting; the northern lights, by contrast, require the darkness of autumn and winter and are therefore a separate travel proposition entirely.
The Arctic Circle is the ‘kingdom of the polar bear’ – a spectacular wilderness of glaciers, mountains, fjords and breathtaking icebergs. This region of the planet, north of an ever-shifting latitudinal line of roughly 66º30’N – is best explored by expeditionary cruise ship. From the moment you throw the lines and start your voyage you are in the land of the polar bear, beluga whale, walrus and reindeer. The Arctic is also home to the rich and unique culture of the Inuit people, who have survived in this harsh landscape for over 9,000 years.
The most accessible destination for northern wildlife and ice fields is Spitsbergen, in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, where in the summer months of June to August the sun never sets. The islands are the northernmost inhabited places on the planet and this region showcases tremendous wildlife and birdlife, as well as offering fascinating lessons in glaciology. It is truly an unspoilt wilderness.
You Will Love
• Epic ice landscapes
• Polar bears, arctic foxes, caribou, musk-ox, seals and whales.
• Witnessing the midnight sun
• Historic whaling stations
• The dancing green northern lights
• Indigenous Inuit culture
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
Unforgettable experiences in the Arctic Circle
Explore the Arctic by Zodiac
Explore the Arctic by Zodiac
Experience the wilds of the arctic by leaving the comfort of your icebreaker ship and cruise the cool Arctic waterways on a small Zodiac boat. Look out for bearded and ringed seals in the dark waters of the fjords, drift past clif...
Witness the iconic wildlife of the Arctic
Witness the iconic wildlife of the Arctic
Seeing the astonishing wildlife that has adapted to live in one of the harshest and changeable environments on earth is a marvel to behold. Hardy reindeer and oxen patrol the plains in search for grass, while snow white arctic fox...
Paddle a kayak through the polar waters
Paddle a kayak through the polar waters
Exploring the polar waters in a sea kayak brings the immense wilderness to life. Paddle between imposing icebergs and glaciers of all shapes and sizes, float beneath cliffs that teem with breeding sea birds, or drift quietly as yo...
A collection of expeditions to the Arctic Circle
Arctic: North Pole Expedition
Set Departure | Voyage to the Top of the World
Join a voyage to the top of the world! Poseidon are the leading operators of North Pole expedition cruising and the only operator to reach the North Pole at 90 degrees north since no other vessel ventures this far. Their ice-breaker ship, the nuclear-powered ‘50 Years of Victory’, is the only one of its kind in the world....Read More
Norway: The Best of Svalbard
Set Departure | Arctic wildlife cruise
This remarkable expedition cruise departs from the Norwegian settlement of Longyearbyen and explores the island’s the jumbled edge of the north-polar ice cap - a frozen wilderness of precarious beauty and a stronghold of endangered Arctic wildlife. Expect to encounter walrus, Arctic fox, reindeer and one of the Arctic’s highest concentrations of polar bears. This is one of the best places in the world to view them hunting on the pack ice....Read More
The Arctic Circle: Frequently Asked Questions
The optimal timing depends on what you wish to experience. The summer season, running from June to August, offers the midnight sun, open water for zodiac and kayak excursions, and the best conditions for spotting polar bears on land and in the fjords of Svalbard. For the northern lights, travel in late September through March, when polar darkness returns — though this requires a different itinerary and vessel. The Classic Safari Company can help you determine the right season for your priorities.
Svalbard and the broader Arctic region support a remarkable concentration of wildlife adapted to extreme cold. Polar bears are the iconic drawcard, but expeditions regularly encounter walrus, Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer, bearded and ringed seals, and narwhal. The cliff faces of Svalbard’s fjords host vast seabird colonies including Brünnich’s guillemot, kittiwake, and puffin. Cetacean sightings — including beluga, bowhead, and fin whales — are possible throughout the summer season.
Svalbard operates under the Svalbard Treaty of 1920, which grants citizens of all signatory nations — including Australia — the right to enter and remain without a visa. However, travellers must still hold a valid passport and may need to transit through mainland Norway (typically Oslo) en route to Longyearbyen, which is the main settlement and gateway airport. Norwegian transit or entry requirements apply for that leg of the journey. The Classic Safari Company will advise on the full routing and any entry conditions relevant to your trip.
Most travellers fly from Australia to Oslo via a connecting hub in Asia or the Middle East, then take a direct flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen (LYR) — a journey of roughly two to three hours. Total travel time from Australia is typically between 24 and 30 hours. Expedition cruises depart from Longyearbyen, so travellers generally arrive a day prior to embarkation. The Classic Safari Company handles full routing advice and pre- and post-cruise arrangements.
A Svalbard cruise — such as the Best of Svalbard itinerary — explores the fjords, glaciers, and wildlife of the archipelago, departing from and returning to Longyearbyen. These voyages are typically seven to twelve days and are the most accessible Arctic expedition for first-time polar travellers. A North Pole expedition, by contrast, departs from Murmansk in Russia aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Years of Victory, travelling continuously northward through pack ice to reach 90°N — the geographic top of the world. It is a more demanding, longer, and considerably rarer undertaking.
Yes — Arctic expedition cruising is well suited to first-time polar travellers, provided they are reasonably mobile and comfortable at sea. Vessels are ice-strengthened and purpose-designed for polar conditions, with expert naturalist guides, onboard lectures, and daily briefings that enrich the experience at every stage. Zodiac and kayak activities are optional, allowing passengers to self-select their level of engagement. The Classic Safari Company recommends a Svalbard cruise as the ideal introduction to polar expedition travel before considering a more ambitious North Pole voyage.
The Arctic Circle: A Glossary of Terms
Svalbard — A Norwegian Arctic archipelago located approximately 1,300 kilometres north of mainland Norway, comprising Spitsbergen and several smaller islands. Svalbard is the primary gateway for Arctic wildlife cruises and is home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of polar bears.
Longyearbyen — The main settlement and administrative centre of Svalbard, serving as the departure point for most Arctic expedition cruises. It is the world’s northernmost town with a permanent civilian population and has its own commercial airport with direct flights to Oslo.
Expeditionary Cruise — A small-ship voyage to remote or wilderness regions, typically led by onboard naturalists and expedition guides. Unlike conventional cruise ships, expeditionary vessels are purpose-built for ice navigation and include zodiacs and kayaks for shore landings and close-water exploration.
Zodiac — An inflatable rubber craft used to ferry passengers from ship to shore and for close-water wildlife observation in Arctic expedition cruising. Zodiacs allow access to shallow coastal areas and remote landing sites unreachable by larger vessels.
Pack Ice — Sea ice that has drifted from its point of origin and consolidated into large floating masses. Pack ice is critical habitat for polar bears, who hunt ringed seals from its surface; summer ice conditions in Svalbard directly influence wildlife encounter opportunities.
Midnight Sun — A natural phenomenon occurring above the Arctic Circle in summer, during which the sun remains visible for twenty-four hours a day. In Svalbard, continuous daylight persists from approximately late April to late August, enabling round-the-clock wildlife observation.
Aurora Borealis — Also known as the northern lights, this atmospheric phenomenon produces luminous curtains of green, violet, and white light across polar skies. It is visible only in darkness and therefore occurs in the Arctic during autumn and winter — a seasonally distinct experience from the midnight sun.
Brünnich’s Guillemot — A seabird species — also known as the thick-billed murre — that breeds in enormous cliff colonies throughout the Svalbard archipelago. Svalbard’s coastal cliffs host some of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere, with populations of Brünnich’s guillemots numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
Svalbard Treaty — An international agreement signed in 1920 that established Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard while granting citizens of all signatory nations — including Australia — the right to enter and conduct commercial activity on the archipelago without a visa.
50 Years of Victory — The world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker and the only vessel capable of carrying civilian passengers to the geographic North Pole at 90°N. Operated by Poseidon Expeditions, it departs from Murmansk and is the flagship vessel for The Classic Safari Company’s North Pole expedition offering.
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