From Northern Norway travel north and further north towards the archipelago of Svalbard - next stop, the North Pole. This is true Arctic wilderness. On the island of Spitsbergen a couple of so called 'towns', Longyearbyen and Ny Alesund, house scientists and a few intrepid visitors.

Occasionally as you explore by sea on a Svalbard cruise you might glimpse a small hut left by whalers, trappers or a scientific mission. Once or twice, a ship might appear on the horizon. But apart from that, day after day is filled with extraordinary scenery, and amazing wildlife; although sightings are never guaranteed, there's no doubt in our mind that this is the best place in the world to see polar bears in the wild on a Svalbard expedition cruise.

On board your expedition ship, lectures cover such diverse topics as the race to the North Pole, the fight for ownership of the sea bed beneath, the nesting habits of Arctic birds or the life of the polar bear. All are fascinating in the context of this amazing adventure.

Day by day on your Svalbard expedition trip, your expedition leader plans how to make your adventure as stimulating as possible. Guests are divided into groups to minimise queuing when you set forth to explore by zodiac, or for a hike ashore.

Find out more...

• The best time to visit the Arctic: A month-by-month guide
• How to choose the right Arctic cruise itinerary
• 10 of the best Arctic expedition cruises