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In a bold new step in its product innovation, G Adventures is turbo-charging its expedition offering, with the introduction of a new expedition vessel and a collection of exciting new itineraries – including the much-anticipated relaunch of its Arctic polar programme and expeditions around the Scottish Isles.
The news marks a bold new chapter for the adventure operator, as it continues to break down the barriers of traditional polar cruising by offering affordable, adventurous, and educational small-ship expeditions to travellers in some of the most remote regions of the world.
The product expansion, which will mark G Adventures’ first operations in the Arctic since 2019, will see the roll out of nine new expedition itineraries covering the Arctic circle and the Scottish Isles, between now and July.
“This is huge news for us,” says G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip.
“Our travellers have been asking when we will return to the Arctic and I’m delighted to say the time is now! We’ve been leading the way in small-ship expeditions for over 25 years and, in true G style, we’re not only going back – we’re going beyond – with the addition of completely new itineraries, packed with wildlife and natural history. These feature some of the most dramatic and beautiful coastlines around the Scottish Isles, resulting in our most comprehensive and varied expedition programme in G Adventures’ history.
“Travelling to the polar regions is a once-in-lifetime experience, yet only a small fraction of people feel that an expedition like this is an option for them,” he says.
“Having recently travelled there myself, I felt even more compelled to make these types of trips more within reach for travellers. There’s some hesitation and misconception when it comes to polar trips – that it’s unaffordable, or that it’s something that can only be done on a large, luxury cruise ship. We are breaking down these barriers by offering the types of trips that people crave: incredible expedition adventures, not cruises, that are affordable, without compromising on expertise or experience. And by only offering small ship voyages, we know that every expedition has an easy, sociable atmosphere that our community of travellers love.”
G Adventures’ polar expeditions and cruises are crafted for true experience seekers who crave authentic connections with the world’s most remote wilderness. With just 128 passengers onboard and a 10:1 guest-to-expert ratio, these journeys deliver intimate, immersive experiences that are inaccessible to larger vessels.
These expeditions offer more time off the ship, more chances to connect with the landscapes and wildlife, and a fun, informal vibe that feels more like a crew than a cruise. Travellers can expect daily zodiac excursions (conditions permitting), a warm community atmosphere, and an expert team of historians, biologists, geologists and naturalists bringing every moment to life. Many of the itineraries also offer optional add-ons like kayaking through ice-sculpted fjords and camping in Antarctica under the endless polar sky. By investing in experience over extravagance, G Adventures makes these once-in-a-lifetime adventures accessible to passionate travellers who value substance over bells and whistles.
Four exciting new Arctic itineraries, offering 10 departures, are now available to book – including the eight-day Realm of the Polar Bear and 15-day Arctic Highlights Southbound. Each trip is brimming with incredible wildlife-viewing opportunities, including the chance to spot the elusive polar bear from afar, plus unforgettable encounters with breaching whales, walrus, arctic fox, lounging seals and thousands of puffins and seabird species. Travellers can expect educational sessions with on-board experts, polar plunges in the Arctic waters and the surreal calm of the Arctic tundra and midnight sun.
Five additional trips through Scotland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Labrador will be announced in late-June, providing travellers with new destinations to explore, allowing them to follow in the footsteps of the Vikings.
Replacing G Adventures’ much-loved polar vessel, the ‘Expedition’, which will be retired this summer, the new ship will take on the Expedition name and will set sail for Antarctica this October, offering travellers the opportunity to explore the world’s most southern region, before journeying north to Europe and the Arctic next spring. Having undergone major renovations – including new engines – the more streamlined vessel is significantly more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, and will offer the same adventurous spirit and warm, community-driven atmosphere that have defined G Adventures’ polar journeys for over 15 years.
The four new Arctic expeditions are available to book now, with departures starting in June 2026. Five Antarctica itineraries aboard the newly chartered vessel, Expedition, are live, with trips starting in October 2025.
