This summer, families are invited to join a truly extraordinary experience: the 2025 Arctic Youth Expedition to Svalbard, Norway—a breathtaking archipelago just 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole. 

From gliding through icy fjords to walking alongside scientists, this is more than travel—it’s real, hands-on science in one of the most remote ecosystems on Earth.

At the heart of this journey is a belief in learning through discovery. 

Guided by a team of respected polar researchers, students aged 9 and up will conduct field investigations, join citizen science projects, and encounter wildlife like walruses, Arctic foxes, seabirds—and possibly even polar bears.

The next exciting expedition starts from August 4, 2025!

Full itinerary for August 4, 2025

What’s Waiting in the Arctic Classroom?

Cruise into the Wild

Aboard a polar expedition vessel, young explorers will travel through dramatic landscapes of glaciers, basalt cliffs, and tundra. 

Each stop reveals a different side of the Arctic, from breeding bird cliffs to reindeer trails and walrus colonies basking on ice.

Key Locations

Ny-Ålesund

The world’s northernmost permanent settlement, and home to China’s Yellow River Arctic Station. August is a prime time for observing post-breeding bird behavior.

Moffen Island

A sand-ringed sanctuary north of 80°N, where walruses gather—and where spotting an ivory gull might hint at the nearby presence of a polar bear.

Alkefjellet Cliffs

Home to thousands of thick-billed murres nesting along dramatic volcanic cliffs.

Svingeldalen Tundra

A glacier-carved valley perfect for observing species like snowy owls, snow buntings, and—if lucky—Arctic foxes or reindeer.

The Ship

All fieldwork and Arctic cruising will take place aboard the legendary Seaventure, a vessel with a pioneering history in polar expeditions.

Formerly known as MS Bremen, the Seaventure holds a remarkable legacy:

• The first passenger vessel ever built for polar exploration

• The first expedition vessel to complete a full circumnavigation of Svalbard

• The first to circumnavigate the entire Arctic, having conquered both the Northeast and Northwest Passages multiple times

With over 300 safe voyages completed, this ship is more than a vessel—it’s a living part of polar history. 

Two landmarks in Antarctica, a strait and an island, are named in its honor. 

In 2025, Seaventure underwent a full upgrade and modernization, offering a safer, smoother, and more comfortable experience for science learners and explorers alike.

Who’s Leading the Way?

Three expert mentors will accompany the expedition.

Zhu Lixin

Marine Microplastics & Ocean Conservation

A postdoctoral researcher trained in China and the U.S., and an advisor to UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Dr. Zhu brings over a decade of field and lab experience.

Students will ride a zodiac boat across Arctic waters to collect ice and seawater samples, conduct microplastic research, and participate in beach cleanups contributing to global marine data.

Wang Xieshuang

Arctic Wildlife & Bird Ecology

A zoologist and experienced youth educator with a background in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wang will guide students through species observation and research.

Participants will record seabird behavior, map food chains, and draft their own Arctic field reports and visual science logs.

Li Renzhe

Expedition Safety & Environmental Education

With over 20 polar expeditions and recognition from global polar tourism organizations (AECO & IAATO), Li brings safety, survival skills, and deep ecological awareness.

Students will learn field safety, data recording, wilderness survival, and how to contribute meaningfully to real-world ecological monitoring.

What Students Will Gain

Field Science Training: Use binoculars, log observations, and analyze behavior like real researchers.

Team Projects: Create Arctic food web maps, conduct comparative behavior analysis, and collaborate on final reports.

Multidisciplinary Learning: Ecology, geology, polar safety, and citizen science in action.

Official Certification: All participants will receive a Polar Science Expedition Certificate from the China Association for Scientific Exploration.

Life Experience: For students interested in environmental science, animal behavior, or global issues, this expedition adds a powerful highlight to any future academic application.

No walls. No textbooks. Just the world’s most stunning outdoor classroom.

Let your child become an observer of nature, an explorer of knowledge, and a protector of the Earth.

Now available for sign-up through That’s PLUS. Scan the QR code below to connect with your exclusive trip planner:

Places are limited. The Arctic is waiting!

[Images provided to That's by 66 Expeditions]