North America, Japan and the Russian Far East come alive with autumn colours, and this is the end of the cruising season in Europe and the Arctic. Many ships are on the move, repositioning to their winter bases, so look out for some interesting itineraries along the coasts of Africa and South America.
Autumn expedition cruises
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Autumn expeditions...
HX Expeditions
Galápagos Islands - Nine of the Best Isles
From Lima (Callao) to Quito
1 Sep - 16 Sep 2026 (15 Nights)
From £7,668 per guest
National Geographic - Lindblad Expeditions
Greek Isles Odyssey: Mythology, History and Cerulean Seas
From Athens (Piraeus) to Athens (Piraeus)
1 Sep - 8 Sep 2026 (7 Nights)
From £9,892 per guest
National Geographic - Lindblad Expeditions
Galápagos Escape: A 7-Day Voyage
From Quito to Guayaquil
1 Sep - 5 Sep 2026 (4 Nights)
From £6,332 per guest
Hurtigruten
The Coastal Express – South
From Kirkenes to Bergen
1 Sep - 6 Sep 2026 (5 Nights)
From £1,860 per guest
Hebridean Island Cruises
Northern Ireland Discovery
From Oban to Oban
1 Sep - 8 Sep 2026 (7 Nights)
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Hurtigruten
Discover Norway with Summer Arctic Cabin Adventure
From Oslo to Oslo
1 Sep - 6 Sep 2026 (5 Nights)
From £2,534 per guest
Hurtigruten
Discover Norway with Summer Snowhotel Stay
From Oslo to Oslo
1 Sep - 6 Sep 2026 (5 Nights)
From £2,534 per guest
Hurtigruten
The Svalbard Line – North
From Bergen to Longyearbyen
1 Sep - 8 Sep 2026 (7 Nights)
From £3,123 per guest
Our Insight
Adventures in autumn
Canada and New England are well known for their 'fall colours', and this is a popular region for mainstream cruise ships at this time of year. Expedition vessels also ply this route, but don't expect anything too adventurous. For a more unusual autumn colours voyage, head to the Russian Far East; this is a particularly good time of year for spotting brown bears.
Japan also puts on quite a show when it comes to autumn foliage, providing an interesting counterpoint to the cherry blossom season in spring, and you'll often find expedition ships here at this time of year. As autumn moves into winter, look out for interesting itineraries around the myriad islands of Indonesia. This is also a good time to visit the South Pacific, when the weather is cooler and drier.
October and November can be a good time to visit West Africa, when the fierce summer heat has subsided, and some cruise lines linger here before repositioning to South America or the Indian Ocean. By the end of October there are already ships in Antarctica, and while these early season cruises are too soon to see penguin chicks or whales, you will experience the snowy scenery at its most pristine.
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Russian Far East
There’s remote, and then there’s the Russian Far East – this extraordinary region is like another world, with amazing scenery, isolated settlements and abundant wildlife.
Japan
If you have a picture in your head of what Japan is like, you are only scratching the surface! Each region of this amazing country has its own character.
South East Asia
This extensive region covers a whole variety of countries and lands, including the extensive Indonesian archipelago, the huge island of Borneo, diverse and spectacular Papua New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific, and the ever intriguing Vietnam and Cambodia with their rich history and captivating cultures.
