Luxury Polar Safaris made for you
Start PlanningAntarctica expeditions, Iceland whale watching and Svalbard wildlife on luxury polar trips
Polar expeditions are as much about the journey as the destination. Our travel specialists bring together expert-led explorations with stays aboard luxury vessels and in remote lodges and camps. Look for polar bears in Svalbard, spot humpback whales in Iceland or embark on a voyage to Antarctica.
Luxury tours in Iceland offer plenty of opportunities to experience its wildlife and glacial landscapes. Head out from Reykjavík by RIB boat to look for whales, dolphins and breeding puffins. Or cruise among the icebergs of Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, where seals can often be seen swimming or resting on the ice. In summer, look out for Arctic terns and other seabirds around the lagoon.
To venture deeper into the Arctic wilderness, explore the Svalbard archipelago, set in the Arctic Ocean roughly halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Depending on the season, you can travel by snowmobile, cruise alongside glaciers and look for Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer and, with luck, polar bears.
At the opposite end of the earth, our luxury trips to Antarctica take you across the Southern Ocean into one of the world’s most remote environments. Look for penguins and fur seals, as well as humpback whales and orcas among ice floes and towering glaciers. Shore landings and guided excursions offer opportunities to learn about the region’s wildlife and landscapes alongside expert polar expedition teams.
Get in touch to start planning your luxury polar exploration trip. Jacada’s travel designers will create a bespoke itinerary, taking care of the details so you can focus on the experience.
Experiences picked by our polar safari specialists
Observe Antarctica’s penguins
Look for and learn about Antarctica’s Adélie and emperor penguins with expert guides. Observe chinstrap penguins in the Weddell Sea.
Cruise from Cape Horn to Antarctica
Cross the Drake Passage from Cape Horn in Chile to Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands, looking for fin, humpback and Antarctic minke whales.
View puffin colonies in Iceland
Take a cruise around Iceland’s Faxaflói Bay to look for humpback whales, dolphins and, between May and August, tens of thousands of nesting puffins.
Track Svalbard polar bears
Join a Svalbard sailing expedition, looking for animals of the arctic including polar bears, which hunt from the sea ice, and learning wildlife photography tips from onboard experts.
Look for rare and endemic birds
Seek albatrosses, blue-eyed shags and giant petrels in Antarctica. Or see thick-billed murres, barnacle geese and Atlantic puffins at Svalbard’s Diabas bird cliffs.
A word from one of our experts
These remote wilderness areas are characterised by ethereal landscapes and the incredible wildlife living within them. Our expert-led expeditions open up these dramatically different worlds. I particularly love planning safari trips to Iceland, which offers a more accessible way to explore otherworldly landscapes and marine life.
Travel Designer
Luxury polar accommodation
There are many incredible places to stay on a polar safari or Antarctica cruise. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our safari experts:
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Polar safari trip inspiration
Get inspired with our polar safari example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
Where to go on a luxury polar safari
Antarctica
The White Continent is a wilderness outpost that provides crucial habitat for some of the world’s most alluring species. Arrive and explore via an Antarctica cruise with onboard experts including marine biologists and photographers. Observe penguins, whales and orcas.
Iceland
On the rim of the Arctic Circle, Iceland has dramatically beautiful landscapes that, at times, barely seem real. Trek among glaciers, mountains and ice fields, and visit waterfalls, geysers and lava fields. Cruise around the coast and lagoons to view whales and puffins.
The Svalbard Islands
Between Norway and the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean, the Svalbard islands are more than half-covered by glaciers. The archipelago’s national parks and nature reserves are home to rare wildlife including polar bears, arctic foxes and whales. Go in summer for peak viewing.
When to plan a luxury polar safari
The best time for an Arctic Circle tour or cruise is between June and September, when the sea ice breaks up enough to let vessels navigate the waters. Explore Svalbard in May or June to see migrating seabirds and polar bear cubs against a still-snowy backdrop. And go in July or August for peak midnight sun.
Luxury tours to Antarctica operate during the summer season, from November to March. December and January are key months for penguin viewing with hatching and chick-feeding activity. We recommend booking your cruise 12 to 18 months before departure.
Iceland’s puffins and whales
May–August
Arctic travel window
June–September
Svalbard midnight sun
July–August
Antarctica penguins
December–January
Plan your polar safari
Whatever you want from your luxury polar safari, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Don't take our word for it
Your trip, your story
We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.
Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.
