Discover

The Polar Regions

Antarctica

 

There is simply no place on earth than can rival Antarctica for elemental splendour. This is the ultimate continent, an inhospitable paradise of rock, water, ice and snow that captures the imagination in a way no other place can.   

With Aurora Expeditions you can experience the overwhelming beauty and wildness of Antarctica in an almost unparalleled way. Whatever itinerary you choose, the frozen continent is there for you to behold in all its majesty: from the fly/fly expedition that drops you in the South Shetland Islands where you board the brand new purpose built ice strengthened ship The Greg Mortimer, to take on the monster icebergs of the Weddell Sea in it’s Antarctica Complete itinerary, a 23-day epic journey that, weather permitting, includes crossing the Antarctic Circle, each journey is a once-in-a-lifetime expedition unlike any other you will take in your life.    

On an Aurora Expedition cruise you can kayak past glittering icebergs in the waters off South Georgia Island; Zodiac cruise through the glassy waters of the Weddell Sea and see the iridescent blues of those icebergs up close; stand on the Antarctic continent and watch as seals and penguins go about their daily business; and, if you time it right, experience a solar eclipse on the white continent.   

 

The Arctic

 

For the Vikings, the Arctic was a journey into the imagination, an adventure to the gates of Valhalla. For modern travellers – and the Inuits who live there – the Arctic is a challenging wonderland of short summers with long days followed by dark winters that shed little light.   

Aurora Expedition’s fleet of small ships explores the very best of the Arctic – at the right times. Following the warm flow of the Gulf Stream, you can navigate the Norwegian coastline as far as Spitsbergen or sail the icy waters to Iceland, Greenland and beyond. For a real adventure, sail to Franz Josef Land deep in the Barents Sea, exploring its remote landscape of lichen and glaciers and visiting Nansen’s winter camp at Cape Norway.   

On an Arctic cruise, the whole panorama is yours to enjoy, from Inuit villages on the Greenland coast to sailing right up to the giant glaciers of Svalbard.  

Where to Book

  • Polar bear in the ice of Svalbard

  • Humpback whales in the waters of Ilulissat

  • Walrus on the floating ice of Svalbard

  • Glaciers at Fjord Disco Bay, West Greenland

  • Cambridge Bay, Nunavut in the springtime

  • Houses of Kulusuk village, Greenland

  • Beeremberg Volcano on Jan Mayen Island

  • Aurora lights over Hamnoy, Lofoten

Average temperature

Information below is based on average highest temperature for each month.

  • 4℃
  • 4℃
  • 4℃
  • 1℃
  • 0℃
  • -2℃
  • -3℃
  • -3℃
  • -1℃
  • 1℃
  • 2℃
  • 3℃
  • 10
  • 10
  • 9
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 10
  • 9
  • 11
  • 12
  • 10

Information above is based on the average number of days which experience some form of rainfall for each month.

Rainfall

When to Visit

Below gives you information and a rating of the best time of year to visit.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Our Ratings

  • Most Recommended
  • Recommended
  • Highly Recommended
  • Not Recommended

Where to book


Aurora Expeditions take small groups of travellers on voyages of discovery to regions that inspired their own founders, thereby creating lifelong ambassadors for the preservation and protection of these sacred, wild places. Enjoy personal attention from remote area specialists on unforgettab...

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Spending the last 30 years taking travellers to remote parts of the Polar Regions, Quark has continued to deliver industry breaking firsts including the discovery of the Emperor penguin rookery at Snow Hill Island and the launch of their game-changing ship Ultramarine. Go beyond the famil...

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Wendy Wu Tours are the UK’s leading specialist tour operator offering fully inclusive tours in almost every region of the world, from Asia to South America. With over 25 years of touring experience, they offer an authentic experience, delving deep into local life, with expert guiding from ...

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Hotels

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Top Offers

We’ve hand-picked a range of enticing offers to incredible destinations. If you want value for money on your next trip, start by reviewing our dedicated Top Offers page.

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