2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Arctic activities Wildlife Polar bears Whales How to pack Choosing a ship Advice Responsible tourism

Arctic wildlife cruises

The Arctic may be a harsh habitat - with six months of winter darkness, six of summer and endless stretches of ice and snow - but it supports an astonishing amount of life. Arctic wildlife cruises, with superb biologists and wildlife guides, will help you spot polar bears, enormous walrus, fluffy Arctic foxes and several species of whales, plus birds, seals and orca.

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Arctic wildlife cruises

Polar Bears

The world’s largest land predator inspires awe amongst all Arctic travelers – not least because when you’re out looking for polar bears, you’re never quite sure if there’s one out there looking for you.

Known as nanuk by the Canadian Inuit, this cuddly-looking creature is anything but. Weighing up to 550kg, they feed mainly on the blubber of seals which they catch when the seal pops up through a breathing hole in the sea ice. The bears must follow the ice; the seals live at sea, and catching a swimming seal is near impossible. Trapped or beached whales provide a rare but welcome feast – if a carcass is spotted, your ship will likely make a diversion to see if any polar bears are feeding on it.

One of the most sought-after sights is a mother with her cubs. They emerge from their dens in early spring, and make their way to the sea ice. The polar bear’s Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means sea bear, and these creatures actually spend most of their time at sea. 350km is the furthest a polar bear has ever been recorded swimming – so you’ll need to keep an eye on the sea as well as the ice floes to spot the bear!

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Watching a mother and cub polar bear for over an hour, watching a male bear stalking reindeer... seeing and hearing a splendid walrus waking up and bellowing atop a small berg echoeing around a small remote glacial bay!! Hearing polar stories ashore, whilst keeping lookout for bears...
- Jonathan Turner, one of our traveler reviews

Our Arctic cruising Vacations

The subject of surreal songs, stories and poems, the walrus - with its whiskery moustache and old-man skin - is often anthropomorphised in both contemporary and traditional culture.

Walrus

Most people’s first impression of a walrus is how astonishingly large they are – up to 3.5m long and rearing up to shoulder-height. Their distinctive tusks help them haul their blubbery bodies out of the water and onto slippery ice. During the mating season, they are also used as dangerous weapons by aggressive, territorial males. Walrus can be seen in Canada, Greenland, Russia and Alaska throughout the summer – often drifting on ice floes.

Arctic foxes

The Arctic fox is one of the most beautiful creatures to inhabit this snowy landscape. Perfectly camouflaged, their blue-white fur turns brown in summer once the snow melts and the rocks reappear. They use their thick tails for extra warmth, curled in their burrows.

Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier Exodus, had a magical experience watching foxes hunting on Svalbard:
“Just outside of Longyearbyen is probably the best place to see Arctic foxes. They’re at the bottom of one of the bird colonies there. The hatchlings fly from the cliff face straight into the ocean, but quite a lot of them don’t make it. They bounce on the tundra, and the Arctic foxes pick them off. They then bury them in the ground for future use if they get enough. There are a number of Arctic foxes, so a lot of that birds from that colony don’t make it to the water’s edge. The foxes also take eggs from the rookery edge – it’s a great place to see them in action.”

Travel Team

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Calling us from outside the US?

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All whales have an air of mystery, but those inhabiting the Arctic waters are more mysterious than most, from the ghostly beluga to the narwhal - the 'sea unicorn'.

Whales

The white beluga is one of the smallest whales, living in social pods across the Arctic. It is related to the narwhal, whose long, spiral tusk is actually an oversized tooth, although its purpose has never been discovered. The Inuit still hunt narwhals, whose skin is an important source of vitamin C. The 60-ton bowhead whale has the most enormous mouth of any creature, with 3m-long baleen plates. It is endangered throughout much of it range due to extensive whaling.

More about Arctic cruising

When to go on an Arctic cruise

The best time to go on an Arctic cruise is during the summer months, when the sea ice melts enough to let ships pass, and the midnight sun bathes these northern lands - find out more with our month by month guide.

Arctic cruises travel guide

Our Arctic cruises travel guide reveals why the best way to explore is a small ship expedition cruise, and compares the different Arctic areas - with Northern Lights, Inuit art, dog sledding,and - of course - polar bears.

Arctic cruise itineraries

There are several Arctic cruise itineraries available, focusing on different regions and activities - wildlife features on any Arctic cruise, but use our interactive map to find out which species you are likely to see and where.

Things to do on an Arctic cruise

An Arctic cruise is not all about onboard entertainment - the most exciting things to do on an Arctic cruise all involve disembarking and getting up close to the action on zodiacs, on foot, by kayak or even on snowshoes.

Activities in the Arctic

On a typical Arctic cruise the amenities are quite basic as the aim is to spend a lot of time on land - optional activities in the Arctic range from nature hikes to kayaking and even the chilling ‘Polar Plunge’!

Where to see polar bears on an Arctic cruise

The big ticket attraction on Arctic cruises is the chance to see polar bears and while sightings can never be guaranteed certain locations are more likely than others - read on to find out where to see polar bears on an Arctic cruise.

Whale watching in the Arctic

With at least 17 species seen in Arctic waters at different times of year, responsible whale watching in the Arctic has immense potential, and onboard experts are always at hand to explain what species and behaviours you’re witnessing.

What to pack for an Arctic cruise

With comfortable but compact cabins, and various practicalities that you’ll need to prepare for, knowing what to pack for an Arctic cruise is essential to make the most of the space in your suitcase and ensure you bring all you need.

Choosing a ship

An Arctic cruise is likely to be one of the most memorable vacations of your life, so it’s important to get it right - here's our advice on choosing a ship for an Arctic cruise so you have all you need to know before making a decision.

Life onboard ship

What will the sleeping and eating arrangements be, how many fellow passengers can you expect, but most importantly, what will you be doing each day - read on to find out what life onboard ship on a typical Arctic cruise vacation involves.

Save or splurge?

Deciding whether you ought to save or splurge on an Arctic cruise vacation is likely to be one of the biggest issues you face during the planning process - here are some of the ways you can either cut costs or supersize your trip.

Arctic cruises advice

Read on for the best Arctic cruises travel advice offered up by our vacation experts who have spent years working in the far north, with tips on which regions to visit, recommendations for twitchers and health and safety advice.

Responsible tourism in the Arctic

Responsible tourism in the Arctic is a thorny issue but taking a responsible Arctic cruise can help strengthen this region, its communities and wildlife against exploitation, climate change and land grabs - find out more below.