Aqua Expeditions has unveiled full details of its new summer Arctic season, with bookings now open for 2026 voyages in Svalbard and the Arctic Circle. Launching on 30 May 2026, Aqua Lares will offer 5- to 14-night expeditions through Svalbard and the Norwegian Arctic, as well as dual-destination sailings that combine the Arctic with the Scottish Isles.
Aqua Lares is the only superyacht in the Arctic Circle offering both private charters and individual cabin bookings for just 30 guests. The vessel features 15 cabins, including three expansive Owner’s Suites ranging from 13–66 sqm.
Each summer, Aqua Lares will sail deep into the Norwegian Arctic, offering rare and intimate passages through Svalbard and beyond. The itineraries will explore towering glaciers, sea ice, and remote archipelagos home to some of the planet’s most elusive wildlife.
Departing from either Longyearbyen or Tromsø, depending on the itinerary, Aqua Lares carries guests into regions few vessels can reach. Along bird cliffs like Alkehornet, thousands of guillemots and kittiwakes nest above reindeer-grazed tundra. At Gravneset and Smeerenburg, guests encounter historic whaling outposts, where 17th-century Dutch whalers once processed their catch amid the stark beauty of Svalbard’s northwest coast.
Zodiacs venture into the drifting sea ice in search of polar bears, walrus, and bearded seals, while sightings of humpback, minke, and sperm whales add unforgettable marine moments. On land, tundra walks reveal Arctic foxes and reindeer, with continuous daylight under the midnight sun allowing extended excursions and uninterrupted wildlife viewing.
Scenic highlights include the immense blue face of Lilliehöökbreen Glacier, the fjords of Raudfjord and Kongsfjorden, and the secluded landing sites of Van Keulenfjorden and Reinøya. At Gjesværstappan and Bear Island, guests witness some of Europe’s largest seabird colonies, while stops in Skarsvåg and other far-north villages add human context to these wild frontiers.
Bookending the Arctic season, Aqua Expeditions will offer two dual-destination sailings (9- and 14- nights) that combine Svalbard and the Arctic Circle with the Scottish Isles, exploring some of the most storied and culturally rich destinations in the British Isles
Departing from Glasgow, Aqua Lares will sail to Iona, considered the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland, where travellers will explore a serene island anchored by its historic abbey. Nearby, Staffa’s basalt columns and the famed Fingal’s Cave offer a geological wonder shaped by volcanic activity. The remote archipelago of St. Kilda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals remnants of a self-sustaining island community and cliffs alive with seabirds. On the Isle of Lewis, guests stand among the Callanish Stones — a prehistoric circle shrouded in Celtic mythology. In the Shetland Islands, Aqua Lares visits Mousa Broch, one of Europe’s best-preserved Iron Age towers, set above seal-inhabited shores.
Arctic expeditions aboard Aqua Lares will operate annually from June through September, with inaugural departures starting on 30 May 2026. Rates begin at US$10,150 (approx. AU$15,470) per person (double occupancy) for 5-night itineraries, or from US$435,000 (approx. AU$662,815) for full private charters of up to 30 guests. Fares include all meals, house wines and beer, non-alcoholic beverages, excursions, Wi-Fi, and laundry.
