02 May 2027
Twin share
£12,765pp
Escorted tour
Scotland to Spitsbergen Expedition Cruise – 17 Days
Orkney, Shetland, Bear Island and the fjords and sea ice of Svalbard aboard a small ice-rated expedition ship.
17 days
From £11,495
Tour overview
This 17-day expedition cruise sails north from Scotland through the Northern Isles and across the Norwegian Sea to the Svalbard archipelago, one of the best places in the world to see polar bears, walruses and Arctic seabirds. Travellers aged 18 and over sail aboard the Ultramarine, a small, ice-rated expedition ship designed for polar waters, with an expert expedition team. You stay fourteen nights on board with full board, plus a hotel night in Aberdeen before sailing and one in Helsinki after a charter flight from Longyearbyen. Itineraries are flexible, shaped each day by ice, weather and wildlife.
After a night in Aberdeen you board the ship and sail to Orkney, an archipelago rich in Neolithic sites that are among the oldest in Europe, with close-knit communities and rich birdlife. Further north, Shetland brings sheer sea cliffs, white sandy beaches, 5,000-year-old ruins and a unique blend of Norse and Scottish culture.
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Three days at sea follow as you sail into the Norwegian High Arctic, with time on deck to watch for seabirds and whales and talks from the expedition team. Bear Island, where the Greenland, Norwegian and Barents seas meet, is home to huge seabird colonies on its towering cliffs. Your introduction to Svalbard begins in Storfjorden, a wide fjord often dense with sea ice, where you have two days to search for polar bears and seals.
Sailing up the west coast of Spitsbergen, you explore Hornsund's mountains, glaciers and icebergs, the branching fjords of Bellsund and the tidewater glaciers of Krossfjorden, just 660 nautical miles from the North Pole. At Smeerenburgfjorden, the northernmost point of the voyage, you look for walruses near the remains of a whaling station, before a final day in Isfjorden and arrival at Longyearbyen, the frontier-style capital of Svalbard.
The physical rating is medium, with Zodiac landings and walks on uneven ground. This voyage suits wildlife lovers and photographers seeking a true Arctic adventure, with puffins and Scottish islands along the way. There is only one departure each year, so early booking is recommended for this rare voyage. Warm, waterproof layers are essential for the landings.
Trip highlights
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Orkney's Neolithic sites (Day 3)
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Shetland's sea cliffs (Day 4)
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Bear Island's seabird colonies (Day 8)
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Sea ice in Storfjorden (Days 9–10)
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Krossfjorden's tidewater glaciers (Day 13)
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Walruses at Smeerenburgfjorden (Day 14)
Your route
12 stops from Aberdeen to Helsinki
- Aberdeen Days 1–2
- Stromness (Orkney) Day 3
- Skara Brae Day 3
- Sumburgh Head (Shetland) Days 4–7
- Bear Island Day 8
- Storfjorden Days 9–10
- Hornsund Day 11
- Bellsund Day 12
- Krossfjorden Days 13–14
- Isfjorden Day 15
- Longyearbyen Day 16
- Helsinki Days 16–17
Why choose this tour
A rare voyage from Scotland to the High Arctic on a small expedition ship. Puffins, polar bears, walruses and sea ice in a single journey.
Best suited to
- Wildlife lovers and photographers
- Expedition cruise enthusiasts
- Travellers seeking the Arctic
- Adventurous couples and solo travellers
Day-by-day itinerary
17 days from Aberdeen, United Kingdom to Helsinki, Finland
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Day 1 · Aberdeen Arrive in Aberdeen
Check in to the group hotel.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Aberdeen Boarding
Board the ship and set sail.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 3 · Orkney Orkney
Neolithic sites and birdlife.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Shetland Shetland
Sea cliffs, beaches and ancient ruins.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Norwegian Sea At sea
Sail north, watching for seabirds.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · Norwegian Sea At sea
Talks from the expedition team.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Norwegian Sea At sea
Approach the High Arctic.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8 · Bear Island Bear Island
Huge seabird colonies on the cliffs.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 9 · Storfjorden Storfjorden
Into the realm of sea ice.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 10 · Storfjorden Storfjorden
Search for polar bears and seals.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 11 · Hornsund Hornsund
Mountains, glaciers and icebergs.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 12 · Bellsund Bellsund
Fjords, glaciers and bird cliffs.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 13 · Krossfjorden Krossfjorden
Dramatic tidewater glaciers.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 14 · Smeerenburgfjorden Smeerenburgfjorden
Walruses and an old whaling site.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 15 · Isfjorden Isfjorden
A final expedition day.
- Hotel
- Ultramarine
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 16 · Longyearbyen, Helsinki Longyearbyen to Helsinki
Leave the ship and fly to Helsinki.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 17 · Helsinki Depart Helsinki
Make your way home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Aberdeen (1 night) Hotel
- Expedition voyage (14 nights) Ultramarine, ice-rated expedition ship
- Helsinki (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 14 nights aboard an expedition ship and 2 hotel nights
- Meals 16 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners, including full board on the ship, with 16 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners
- Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki and transfer package
- Zodiac landings and cruising
- Talks and guided excursions with the expedition team
- Orkney, Shetland, Bear Island and Svalbard
Not included
- Meals not included 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- International flights to Aberdeen and from Helsinki
- Optional activities
- Tips and personal spending
- Travel insurance with expedition cover
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a fixed itinerary — plans change with ice and weather
- You dislike days at sea
- You want a large ship with many facilities
- You are under 18
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–17 · Lunch: Days 3–15 · Dinner: Days 2–15
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £11,495 per person, twin share, tour only. 2 upcoming departures.
04 May 2028
Twin share
£11,495pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Will I see polar bears?
Svalbard is one of the best places to see them, but sightings can never be guaranteed.
What is the ship like?
The Ultramarine is a small, ice-rated expedition ship built for polar waters.
Is the flight from Svalbard included?
Yes, a charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki is included in the transfer package.
Does the itinerary change?
Yes, the route is flexible and depends on ice, weather and wildlife.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 18.
Who leads the voyage?
An expert expedition team leads landings, Zodiac cruises and talks.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary