Discover ports and far flung destinations larger ships simply cannot access and enjoy exhilarating excursions in these incredible pockets the globe. Embark on an expedition cruise to the Polar regions, discover the beauty and bays along Australia's Kimberley coastline, island hop through the Galápagos, or cruise around Africa on one of 2,780 small ship expedition cruises.
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 30 years. Every trip is designed to truly...more experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Led by a local leader, our small group tours offer a sustainable way to travel off the beaten track, while giving back to the places and people that travellers visit.
It's time to join Ponant's team of experienced naturalist guides and expedition experts to discover some of the world’s most distant and sought-after shores,...more venture into the heart of extreme lands and be immersed in nature on one of many Zodiac outings and shore excursions. Whether you dream of stepping foot on the Antarctic Peninsula, witnessing the incredible rise of Montgomery reef in the Kimberley or meeting and interacting with local communities in the Arctic, Ponant, the world leader in luxury expeditions can take you there.
Hurtigruten Group is the world’s leading adventure travel group, offering unique small-ship and land-based adventures from pole to pole – and anywhere...more in between. We take our guests to the most spectacular areas on the planet, offering a mix of pristine wilderness and visits to genuine local communities.
Discover an incredible ecosystem brimming with wildlife as you weave between the islands of this fascinating and scenically rich archipelago.
African Wildlife Safaris
Dock in the heart of incredible destinations along the African coast and access some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife experiences, from spotting the Big Five in South Africa to the unique species of Madagascar's Nature Reserves.
Immerse yourself in the icy wilderness on an expedition filled with bucket list experiences. Keep watch for wildlife on sea kayaking and Zodiac excursions, take an invigorating Polar plunge, and perhaps even camp out on the ice.
Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their cruise expeditions around the world
Great Lakes Explorer with Viking Gail and Helen, NSW, Australia, Sep 2024
The trip highlights included outstanding expertise and knowledge of the expedition crew. Our talks were succinct and informative and you could participate in a wide range of scientific discussions and activities. We loved the zodiac and special operation boat rides, would have loved the option to do both rather than choose. Optional shore excursions ...read more were rather expensive and some should have been included (walking tours of towns). Safety was always paramount.The ship’s crew also were most attentive and accomodating. We had a lovely time and Viking’s standard of service remains very high.
Kimberley Cruise John & Carol, NSW, Australia, Jul 2024
This cruise was extremely well organised with experienced and friendly guides. The zodiacs were a challenge at first but after a few days and gaining confidence in the driver it wasn’t as daunting. Some days it wasn’t possible to view the scenery behind you from the zodiac. Food, crew and fellow passengers were excellent.
Kimberley Coastal Expedition Diane and David, NSW, Australia, Jun 2024
Great trip - Broome inclusions were brilliant, flights good and the APT team were fantastic! Cruise was beyond our expectations- excellent food and service, great accommodation and wonderful crew who looked after us superbly - I could not recommend this trip highly enough!
Excellent Kimberley Expedition Michael and Mandy, NSW, Australia, Jun 2024
Our Kimberley Coastal Expedition and 3 Day Broome add on (thanks to APT), was a fantastic trip. We travelled with APT who used the Ponant Luxury Expedition ship the Le Laperouse. We went out each day exploring the Kimberleys on zodiacs and had an expert naturalist with us to share their vast knowledge on this beautiful region. We saw loads of wildlife ...read more ranging from turtles, crocodiles, sharks, fish, birds, as well as aboriginal art and fantastic scenery. The ratio of crew to passengers was 1:1 so service was fantastic. The meals and entertainment on board were great and we really enjoyed our daily briefings in the theatre each afternoon. We would like to thank Rachael from Global Journeys, the APT team of Margie and Lauren, all our naturalists especially Kiwi Ed and the Le Laperouse crew, for making this a memorable holiday.
Viking, renowned for its luxury river cruises, is breaking ice with its collection of expedition cruises in 2024 and 2025. With bucket-list polar voyages to the Arctic and Antarctic, Viking’s immersive itineraries allow guests an in-depth exploration of some of the most remote and captivating...
Experts on the Norwegian coast, many of whom live locally, will be by your side as part of your voyage with Hurtigruten, showing you their home and sharing their stories with you. No guidebook, website, or mobile app can replace the human connection of having one of ...
Having established the Original Coastal Route along the coast of Norway 128 years ago, Hurtigruten is integral to, and ingrained in, the Norwegian culture and way of life. Their unmatched experience in sailing these waters, makes them the local experts, and no one knows the fjords, wildlife,...
Following the recent launch of Viking expeditions, you can now look forward to exploring Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes on board Viking’s two new purpose-built expedition ships. Maintaining its reputation as The Thinking Person’s Cruise, Viking has developed an...
Common Questions Common Questions About Expedition Cruises
What is an expedition cruise?
An expedition cruise focuses on exploring remote and exotic locations and getting up close to the stunning scenery and wildlife of destinations less travelled. Expedition cruises are led by an expedition team made up of experts in fields such as ecology, marine biology and the environment as well as photography....read more Once the choice of hardy adventurers, expedition cruising is now serviced by many luxury cruise operators meaning you can enjoy the adventure without forgoing beautiful cabins, fine dining and a little bit of luxury.
What is the difference between a traditional cruise and an expedition cruise?
One difference between traditional and expedition cruising is the size of the ship. Traditional cruise ships vary in size from huge to small and intimate whereas expedition ships are always smaller. This not only enables them them to reach more remote areas, but also keeps passenger numbers low which is far more...read more sustainable for exploration in those areas. Traditional cruising involves sailing from port to port all the while enjoying fantastic eateries, lavish entertainment and an abundance activities on board as well as day excursions at each stop. Expedition cruising is more focused on one destination rather than the cruising lifestyle. Entertainment tends to be educational and a great deal of time is spent off the ship exploring and enriching the passengers understanding of the region.
