COMO Hotels and Resorts’ dedication to thoughtful travel—defined by holistic wellbeing, inspired dining, and intuitive service—takes a bold new direction with a rare Arctic collaboration. Partnering with specialist expedition operator Natural World Safaris, the award-winning hospitality group has created two micro-cruises to the Svalbard archipelago: immersive, small-group, expert-led expeditions that carry the brand’s sensibility beyond its hotels and resorts and into one of the world’s most remote regions.
Launching in May and September 2026, the 10- and 11-night itineraries offer rare access to the High Arctic, paired with the refinement and quiet elegance for which COMO is known. As the first Arctic expedition conceived by a luxury hospitality brand, the COMO Arctic Journey sets a new benchmark, seamlessly uniting polar exploration with elevated comfort and restorative wellbeing.
Crafted alongside Natural World Safaris, renowned for expertise in wildlife-rich and hard-to-reach destinations, the journey explores the raw beauty of Svalbard in an immersive way, allowing each experience to unfold naturally. Guests travel aboard the M/S Polarfront, a former Norwegian weather ship transformed into an intimate expedition vessel. With just seven suites accommodating a maximum of 12 guests, the experience is inherently personal, delivering rare access and exceptional attention to detail.
Each voyage evolves organically, guided by weather, wildlife and opportunity rather than a fixed schedule. Days are shaped by expert insights and hands-on exploration, from Zodiac excursions through glacial fjords to guided landings amid dramatic landscapes. Encounters with Arctic wildlife, towering peaks and remote islands are complemented by onboard talks, photography sessions and informal discussions exploring polar ecology, sustainability and regional culture.
Wellness plays a central role, as Arctic exploration is paired with COMO Shambhala practices to create a journey that is both invigorating and restorative. Guests are invited to slow down and recalibrate through tailored treatments led by expert bodyworker Matteo Pasquali, as well as through quiet moments of contemplation set against the vastness and stillness of the polar environment.
Dining is a defining feature of the expedition, overseen by COMO’s Vice President of Culinary, Daniel Moran. Every meal is created exclusively for the journey, with menus that balance comfort and nourishment while drawing on both Eastern and Western influences. Using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, the culinary program, paired with a carefully curated wine list, elevates expedition dining into an experience as memorable as the surrounding landscapes.
Together, COMO Hotels and Resorts and Natural World Safaris present an Arctic journey that reimagines exploration through a lens of elegance, wellbeing and authenticity—offering a new way to experience one of the planet’s last great frontiers. The two distinct COMO Journeys offering contrasting perspectives of the polar north for 2026 include:
COMO Journey: Into the Arctic is now on sale. The 10-night May 2026 expedition starts from £21,500 (single occupancy) or £36,300 for two sharing a suite on an all-inclusive basis, including one night pre-expedition in Longyearbyen. Both expeditions are also available for private charter.
