Our Team 
Our Tour Experts 
Heroes and Heroines Julian is a glaciologist, working on the form and flow of glaciers and ice caps and their response to climate change. In a career of over 30 years, he has taught in the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bristol and Cambridge. Since 2002, he has been Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute, including its Polar Museum. He was awarded a Doctor of Science degree by Cambridge University in 2016.
-
![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
-
![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
-
![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Arctic - Spitsbergen and Greenland Cruise with The Friends of The Scott Polar Research Institute
| Start date | End date | Days | Prices from | Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/08/21 | 13/09/21 | 14 days | £7,725 ex. flights | £5,435 | Julian Dowdeswell | 20 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
Join like-minded people cruising aboard the Ortelius from Spitsbergen to Northeast Greenland, finishing in Iceland in conjunction with The Friends of The Scott Polar Research Institute.
Wildlife is also a large draw to the area, and despite the lesser abundance than in other parts of the Arctic, the ‘Arctic big five’ are regularly sighted. Keep your eyes open for bears, musk ox, belugas and walruses and if lucky narwhal.
This is a unique opportunity for up to 20 passengers to join this special group in partnership with The Friends of The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI). Voyage in the company of The Friends of The Scott Polar Research Institute committee members Julian and Evelyn Dowdeswell and John Shears, who will be on hand to share their knowledge and presentations will be given during the voyage.
There are very few polar voyages available which offer so much variety in terms of wildlife and landscapes, which is what makes this particular trip so compelling.
Introducing your experts
Julian Dowdeswell
Evelyn Dowdeswell
Evelyn Dowdeswell is a glaciologist, working in the Bristol Glaciology Centre.
Her main research interests are the form and flow of glaciers and ice sheets using satellite remote sensing techniques and glacial geology and sedimentology.
She has carried out field work in Baffin Island, Spitsbergen and Antarctica.
She has also written a book on Captain Scott and the history of his exploration of Antarctica for young children.
John Shears
John is a polar geographer and environmental scientist, with over 25 years of experience of working in both Antarctica and the Arctic, first with the British Antarctic Survey and then with the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge.
John was also an environmental and operations adviser to the UK government in Antarctic Treaty discussions for more than 20 years and was a UK Antarctic Treaty Inspector in 2005, 2012 and 2015.
In 2017, John started up his own company, Shears Polar Limited, to provide expert lecturing, expedition guiding, and consultancy services for projects in the polar regions.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1Expert Hosts
Hosted by Julian and Evelyn Dowdeswell, and John Shears from SPRI
2Polar History
Travel in the wake of British Arctic explorers, Poole, Clavering and Scoresby
3Daily excursions
Take to the icy blue waters in zodiacs, exploring jagged coastlines and calm bays
4Expedition ship
Voyage aboard the comfortable, 108 passenger expedition vessel, Ortelius
Day 1
Longyearbyen
Day 2
Western coast of Spitsbergen
Days 3 - 4
At sea
Day 5
Clavering Island
Day 6
Teufelschloss
Day 7
Segelsällskapets Fjord
Day 8
Antarctichavn
Day 9
Scoresbysund
Day 10
Røde Island
Day 11
Sydkap
Day 12
Ittoqqortoormiit
Day 13
Blosseville Coast
Day 13
Day at Sea
Day 14
Akureyri
Day 1
Longyearbyen
Embark Ortelius in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen.
Day 2
Western coast of Spitsbergen
Sail towards Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.
Days 3 - 4
At sea
Set sail for Greenland. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds.
Day 5
Clavering Island
Arrive at Clavering Island in remote Northeast Greenland. Bones of muskoxen and Arctic hare suggest that the Inuit were hunting in this area. Nowadays we may encounter muskoxen in this region. In the afternoon, land at Myggebugten.
Day 6
Teufelschloss
Arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology.
Day 7
Segelsällskapets Fjord
Enter Segelsällskapets Fjord, with the streaked slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering the north side.
Day 8
Antarctichavn
Explore Antarctichavn, an extensive valley where groups of musk oxen are frequently spotted.
Day 9
Scoresbysund
Explore Scoresbysund, sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. Visit Danmark Island, find the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago.
Day 10
Røde Island
Zodiac cruise near Røde Island, one of the world’s most cherished iceberg attractions: The austere blue-white of the icebergs sets sharp against the brooding red backdrop of the sediment slopes.
Day 11
Sydkap
In the morning you encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters high and more than a kilometre long. Land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.
Day 12
Ittoqqortoormiit
Make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about five hundred inhabitants.
Day 13
Blosseville Coast
In the afternoon you sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.
Day 13
Day at Sea
A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds – and at night, the magical northern lights (Aurora Borealis).
Day 14
Akureyri
Disembark in Akureyri. From here, transfer by bus to Reykjavik.
Expedition Ship
Originally built in Poland in 1989 as an ice-strengthened passenger vessel, the 298-foot-long Ortelius spent many years plying the frozen waters of the Arctic and Northern Pacific before being totally refurbished in 2005.
Sleeping a total of 108 passengers, the vessel provides comfortable (but not luxurious) cabins that range from quads to suites, each with a private bathroom. She carries a fleet of zodiacs for landings.
We have 20 berths, in a range of cabin types allocated as part of this part charter.
The Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute
Established in 1920 as part of the University of Cambridge, the Scott Polar Research Institute is a centre of excellence in the study of the Arctic and Antarctic. The mission of the SPRI is to enhance the understanding of these polar regions through scholarly research and its publication, educating new generations of polar researchers, caring for and making accessible its collections (including its library, archives, photographic and object collections), and projecting the history and environmental significance of the polar regions to the wider community for public benefit.
This Arctic cruise is in partnership with The Friends of The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and will be accompanied by expert glaciologists, Julian and Evelyn Dowdeswell.
Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Moderate ActivitySingle Supplement
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
Flexibility
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
What is included
- Voyage aboard the Ortelius on a full board basis including snacks, coffee and tea
- Accompanied onboard by Julian and Evelyn Dowdeswell and John Shears from The Scott Polar Research Institute.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage with daily afternoon tea
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
- AECO fees and governmental taxes
- £25 to help fund the communities, conservation agencies and NGOs that we work with
- £25 contribution to ‘Trees and Science’ in mitigation of your carbon emissions
What is excluded
- International flights
- Pre or post-cruise hotel accommodation
- Personal expenses on board such as alcoholic beverages, bar charges or laundry expenses
- Visa and passport expenses
- Baggage, cancellation or medical travel insurance
- Gratuities at the end of the voyage for expedition staff and ship crew (suggested amount €10-12 Euro per day)
Why a Steppes expert-led group tour
1.Experience matters
We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.
2.Like-minded travellers
Steppes Travellers are like-minded people; interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours, usually consisting of eight to ten travellers, aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.
4.Peace of mind
When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.
3.It’s about who you know
We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.
Our future tour dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days | Prices from | Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/08/21 | 13/09/21 | 14 days | £7,725 ex. flights | £5,435 | Julian Dowdeswell | 20 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
Reserve your place on this group tour
Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.
01285 880 980Send us an enquiry
Send us a message and one of our travel experts
will get right back to you.
Expert-Led Group Tours
Explore similar expert-led group tours
With an average group size of just eight to ten people our group tour itineraries enable you to travel to some of the most intriguing regions of the world in the company of experts guides in the field and, of course, with likeminded people.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
Featured in the press
