AE Expeditions unveils 2028 Northern Hemisphere season, with all-new Cultural Expeditions

AE Expeditions (part of Aurora Expeditions) has opened its Northern Hemisphere 2028 season for bookings, featuring 29 expedition departures across 20 countries and territories and the introduction of seven all-new Cultural Expeditions.

Sailing aboard the purpose-built small ships Douglas Mawson and Sylvia Earle, the season encompasses 16 Polar Expeditions, six Discovery Expeditions and seven Cultural Expeditions, visiting 161 unique ports across the Arctic, Europe and Central America.

The Cultural Expeditions mark an exciting new chapter for AE Expeditions, taking the company’s 35-year heritage of exploration beyond the polar regions and into some of Europe’s most fascinating cultural and historic coastlines.

Designed for curious travellers who want to look beyond the landmarks, the voyages use the freedom of small-ship travel to combine iconic cultural sites with lesser-known destinations and authentic local experiences. Onboard historians, archaeologists, naturalists and local experts will bring each destination to life, while included Your Choice experiences will allow travellers to shape their days around their interests.

“Cultural Expeditions broaden the possibilities of expedition travel while remaining true to everything AE Expeditions stands for: small ships, expert interpretation, genuine discovery and meaningful connections with the places we visit,” said Justin Ewin, Aurora Expeditions’ Global Head of Product.

“They bring AE Expeditions pioneering spirit to destinations rich in history, tradition and local character, inviting travellers to look beyond the landmarks and uncover the people and stories that have shaped each place. Whether exploring an archaeological site, tasting regional cuisine or meeting local artisans, these voyages are designed to create richer and more memorable connections.”

Seven new Cultural Expeditions
The inaugural program features seven entirely new itineraries spanning the British Isles, Ireland, the Mediterranean, Europe’s Atlantic coastline and Scandinavia.

Highlights include:
The Isles of the British Isles
Sylvia Earle | Departs 19 April 2028 | 11 days | London to Dublin | Was £12,474 Now From £9,356 per person twin share *
Explore a side of Britain few travellers experience, journeying through distinctive islands including Sark, the Isles of Scilly, Lundy, Anglesey, the Isle of Man, Mull, Skye and Rathlin Island. Coastal walks and visits to island communities are complemented by royal, clan and maritime history, with opportunities to encounter puffins, grey seals and thriving seabird colonies.

Valletta to Lisbon: The Mediterranean: Beyond the Icons
Douglas Mawson | Departs 31 May 2028 | 15 days | Valletta to Lisbon | Was £16,285 Now From £12,214 per person twin share *
Sail beyond the Mediterranean’s familiar routes to explore ancient temples, historic ports and Moorish fortresses. Highlights include Sicily’s Valley of the Temples, Palermo’s markets, Sardinia’s rugged coastline, Tangier’s medina and Portugal’s Algarve.

A Northern Saga
Douglas Mawson | Departs 26 June 2028 | 14 days | Amsterdam to Bergen | Was £15,911 Now From £11,934 per person twin share *
Journey through Northern Europe and Scandinavia, uncovering Viking heritage, Hanseatic trading cities and capitals shaped by maritime exploration. Travel through the Kiel Canal to Berlin, Copenhagen and Oslo before exploring some of the world’s most breathtaking fjord scenery.

Additional voyages include: Forever Irish, The Cross and the Crescent Moon, Storied Shores of the Mediterranean and Coasting the Atlantic. 

Polar Expeditions
AE Expeditions’ 2028 program features 16 Polar Voyages, including two new itineraries exploring Norway, Svalbard and Greenland.

New for 2028
Norwegian Fjords & Svalbard Explorer
Sylvia Earle | Departs 8 June 2028 | 11 days | Tromsø to Oslo via Longyearbyen | Was £14,865 Now From £11,149 per person twin share *
Experience two sides of the Arctic, combining northern Norway’s fjords and fishing communities with Svalbard’s glaciers, tundra and wildlife-rich wilderness. Zodiac excursions and guided walks offer opportunities to encounter walrus, Arctic foxes, whales, seabirds and, with luck, polar bears.

Wild Greenland: An Active Arctic Expedition
Sylvia Earle | Departs 23 August 2028 | 9 days | Reykjavík return via Kangerlussuaq | Was £12,698 Now From £9,524 per person twin share *
Designed for active travellers, this expedition combines West Greenland’s immense ice, colourful communities and spectacular hiking. Walk on the Greenland Ice Sheet, explore Disko Island and hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord.

Returning Polar favourites
Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard & East Greenland
Sylvia Earle | Departs 26 July 2028 | 15 days | Oslo to Reykjavík | Was £19,124 Now From £15,299 per person twin share *
Journey from Svalbard’s wildlife-rich tundra and glaciers to East Greenland’s monumental icebergs and remote fjords, with opportunities to search for polar bears, walrus, whales, musk oxen and Arctic hare.

Northwest Passage
Sylvia Earle | Departs 12 September 2028 | 15 days | Calgary to Reykjavík | Was £20,768 Now From £15,576 per person twin share *
Follow one of the world’s most legendary maritime routes through the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, exploring Inuit communities, historic expedition sites and coastlines shaped by glaciers, sea ice and centuries of Arctic exploration.

Discovery Expeditions
The expanded 2028 Discovery program features six voyages combining active exploration, wildlife, landscapes and coastal culture across Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Norway and Central America.

New for 2028
Northern Lights & Wild Isles: Iceland, Greenland to Scotland
Douglas Mawson | Departs 23 September 2028 | 14 days | Reykjavík to Aberdeen | Was £15,911 Now From £11,934 per person twin share *
Cross the North Atlantic from Iceland’s volcanic Westfjords to East Greenland’s iceberg-filled fjords, the Faroe Islands and Scotland. Highlights include Dynjandi waterfall, fjords of East Greenland, remote island communities and opportunities to encounter whales, seabirds and the aurora borealis.

A returning Discovery favourite
Wild Scotland
Sylvia Earle | Departs 17 May 2028 | 11 days | Aberdeen to Glasgow | Was £12,474 Now From £9,980 per person twin share *
Explore Scotland’s wild archipelagos, from the Hebrides and UNESCO World Heritage-listed St Kilda to the Orkney and Shetland islands. Discover prehistoric and Viking heritage, cruise beneath sea cliffs and look for puffins, seals, dolphins, otters and basking sharks.

Your Choice Inclusive Experiences
Cultural and Discovery voyages will feature Your Choice Inclusive Experiences, allowing travellers to select from included small-group experiences aligned with their interests and preferred activity level.

Across 37 Cultural Enrichment Experiences, expeditioners can explore themes including Local Flavours, Art & Artisans and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Experiences range from discovering Granada’s Alhambra and walking the Giant’s Causeway coastline to hiking Norway’s iconic Pulpit Rock.

The 46 Discovery Wild & Immersive Experiences span themes such as Active Explorers, Ice, Glaciers & Waterfalls, Wildlife & Natural Wonders and Coastal Culture & Heritage. Examples include guided walks through Vegaøyan’s UNESCO-listed cultural landscape, exploring Vatnajökull National Park and Iceland’s glacier lagoons, and uncovering Orkney’s prehistoric heartland at Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar.

“The 2028 season gives travellers three distinct ways to explore, from the remote wilderness and extraordinary wildlife of our Polar Expeditions to active Discovery journeys and the deeper cultural immersion of our newest voyage style,” Ewin said.

“Across every itinerary, the experience remains distinctly AE Expeditions: purpose-built small ships, expert-led exploration, more meaningful time off ship and a responsible approach to discovering the world’s most remarkable places.”

The Northern Hemisphere 2028 season is on sale now, with travellers able to save up to 25 per cent on selected voyages when booked and deposited by 31 October 2026.*

For more information, visit aexpeditions.co.uk/special-offers/arctic-global-2028 or talk to your local travel agent.