Arctic expedition cruise, circumnavigation of Spitsbergen
Highlights
Eleven days cruising around Spitsbergen | Trek, snowshoe or watch wildlife, on land | Seabird-filled cliffs of Alkefjellet | Zodiac cruises | 14th of July Glacier | Worsleyneset tundra | search for polar bears around Phippsoya and Isbukta | watch out for walruses on Moffen Island | explore the former whale station at Smeerenburg on Amsterdam Island | Optional dog sledding in Longyearbyen |
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Expedition cruising
What is Expedition Cruising?This is the name we give to cruising vacations which visit the Polar regions of Antarctica and the Arctic. Your small vessel will usually carry around 100 - 130 passengers, accompanied by a crew and Expedition Team consisting of experts in the local landscapes, wildlife and history of the islands you will be visiting. How does it work?
Your trip will consist of a combination of cruising and land based discovery. Days at sea will be spent admiring the view, photographing the sea birds and marine wildlife that you may encounter, cruising past stunning icebergs and attending the talks that your Expedition Team will be conducting.
Shore landings will be scheduled to take place weather permitting throughout your trip. Please be aware that due to adverse weather conditions all scheduled shore visits may not be possible, but traveling in the summer months increases our chances of favourable weather.
You will travel ashore in rigid inflatable boats (RIBS) known as zodiacs; a degree of physical mobility will be required for passengers to climb in and out.
What ship will I be traveling on?
Traveling with us to explore the Polar regions, you will be on one of two ships, more details about your particular vessel can be given by our travel consultants when you inquire about your particular date.
Can I book my flights with you?
Yes! We are a fully ATOL bonded tour operator meaning that we can book flights from the UK as part of your vacation package. Just ask us for a quote including flights when you make your inquiry.
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.
As a global tour operator, we are committed to traveling responsibly and endeavour to practise sustainable tourism wherever we visit. We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when traveling - to respect and benefit local people, their culture, economy and the environment.We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travelers with real life experiences. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip.
Throughout your trip you will be encouraged to take steps to ensure that your journey is environmentally responsible as possible. Your group leader will be on hand to assist with the appropriate disposal of rubbish en route, recycling wherever possible and we encourage all our travelers to use refillable water bottles with purification tablets rather than contributing to the rapidly escalating problem caused by the copious number of plastic bottles discarded globally on a daily basis.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our tours are designed to give travelers real life experiences, so on this itinerary you’ll head off to the Wadi Rum to camp under the stars with our Bedouin hosts, and explore Petra in the company of a local Bedouin guide. Our team ‘on the ground’ in Jordan will all be local people, from your driver to your group leader. We believe that recruiting in country provides benefits not just to the local economy, providing steady work for local people, but is also the best way of giving our travelers unique insights into the country being visited. Traveling with our Jordanian team will give plenty of opportunity to learn about the culture, history and day to day life in this fascinating country.
You’ll stay in a variety of small, comfortable, locally owned hotels, and of course overnight in a traditional style Bedouin camp in the desert. Your group will tend to dine in traditional, locally owned restaurants, and during the day we will purchase food en route from local vendors and small cafes. For the nights where you may want to explore independently your group leader will be on hand to recommend the places the locals eat and where to get the best regional specialities.
We encourage our travelers to respect local culture but also integrate themselves in tradition and customs. In Jordan, the dress code is conservative and care should be taken especially when visiting the timeless temples, tombs, amphitheatres and monasteries in the surrounding area of Petra. We suggest loose, lightweight clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Information can be accessed on our website prior to travel to help ensure travelers are able to follow appropriate dress codes and behaviours at these locations and your group leader will be on hand to assist throughout.
As a global tour operator, we are committed to traveling responsibly and endeavour to practise sustainable tourism wherever we visit. We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when traveling - to respect and benefit local people, their culture, economy and the environment.We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travelers with real life experiences. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip.
Throughout your trip you will be encouraged to take steps to ensure that your journey is environmentally responsible as possible. Your group leader will be on hand to assist with the appropriate disposal of rubbish en route, recycling wherever possible and we encourage all our travelers to use refillable water bottles with purification tablets rather than contributing to the rapidly escalating problem caused by the copious number of plastic bottles discarded globally on a daily basis.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our tours are designed to give travelers real life experiences, so on this itinerary you’ll head off to the Wadi Rum to camp under the stars with our Bedouin hosts, and explore Petra in the company of a local Bedouin guide. Our team ‘on the ground’ in Jordan will all be local people, from your driver to your group leader. We believe that recruiting in country provides benefits not just to the local economy, providing steady work for local people, but is also the best way of giving our travelers unique insights into the country being visited. Traveling with our Jordanian team will give plenty of opportunity to learn about the culture, history and day to day life in this fascinating country.
You’ll stay in a variety of small, comfortable, locally owned hotels, and of course overnight in a traditional style Bedouin camp in the desert. Your group will tend to dine in traditional, locally owned restaurants, and during the day we will purchase food en route from local vendors and small cafes. For the nights where you may want to explore independently your group leader will be on hand to recommend the places the locals eat and where to get the best regional specialities.
We encourage our travelers to respect local culture but also integrate themselves in tradition and customs. In Jordan, the dress code is conservative and care should be taken especially when visiting the timeless temples, tombs, amphitheatres and monasteries in the surrounding area of Petra. We suggest loose, lightweight clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Information can be accessed on our website prior to travel to help ensure travelers are able to follow appropriate dress codes and behaviours at these locations and your group leader will be on hand to assist throughout.
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