Secret Atlas

Story

Secret Atlas was founded and is led by a small team of polar explorers, photographers, and operations specialists with years of experience in the polar regions. Driven by the belief that guests deserve a more authentic way to explore, the team envisioned voyages that are quieter, smaller, and shaped by the conditions rather than a fixed schedule. That vision led to the creation of a new category of travel: the Expedition Micro Cruise.

Twelve guests in the Arctic. Thirty-six in Antarctica and South Georgia. Six guests per Zodiac. Every operation is shaped by the conditions of the day, not by an itinerary written months in advance.

Expedition Micro Cruises create smaller groups ashore, more time with expert guides, and a lighter footprint on the environments visited. Operating well below the regulatory limits that shape larger-ship voyages allows for longer landings, quieter encounters, no waiting lists, no anonymity, and the freedom to follow the conditions rather than a schedule.

Mission

To explore the polar regions in a way that respects them—quietly, in small numbers, and with the time to truly connect with the environment—while delivering the depth of experience that only a micro-scale expedition can provide.

Vision

To establish Expedition Micro Cruises as a distinct and recognized way of exploring the polar regions, setting the standard for immersive, responsible, and small-scale polar travel.

Smaller groups. Deeper experiences. Lighter footprints. Responsibility built into every operation, not added as an afterthought.

For Secret Atlas, responsible travel begins with how each voyage operates. It means running small, placing less pressure on landing sites, wildlife, and the communities that call these regions home. It means making deliberate choices about group size, vessel design, supply chains, and the regulatory frameworks that guide operations—reducing impact before a voyage begins rather than offsetting it afterward.

Responsibility must be measured broadly. It extends beyond emissions to include how lightly operations move through remote environments, how much pressure they place on fragile ecosystems, how wildlife is treated, and how local communities are engaged. By this measure, Expedition Micro Cruises offer a structurally lower-impact approach than higher-volume polar tourism. Fewer people ashore at any one time, more controlled operations, and a style of exploration built around respect rather than volume create a fundamentally different experience.

The approach is simple: continuously reduce impact, operate responsibly, and remain transparent about the trade-offs involved.

Group Size as the Foundation

Twelve guests in the Arctic and thirty-six in Antarctica and South Georgia mean less pressure on every landing site, fjord, and wildlife encounter. Smaller groups allow for more meaningful experiences while minimizing environmental impact.

Upcycled Vessels, Not New Builds

Both Vikingfjord and Freya are converted vessels rather than new builds, avoiding the embodied carbon associated with construction from scratch. Vikingfjord now operates with a modern Tier III engine and NOx filtration system, improving efficiency while reducing vibration levels that can affect marine wildlife.

Working Within Strong Regulatory Frameworks

Operations comply with the Polar Code and IMO regulations and are conducted within the frameworks established by AECO in the Arctic and IAATO in Antarctica. Stronger environmental protections are welcomed and supported, including the 2025 UAV restrictions across Svalbard’s nature reserves and national parks—measures that help safeguard sensitive environments while maintaining exceptional expedition experiences.

Supporting Polar Science

Research partnerships form an active part of expedition operations. In 2024, MV Freya served as the platform for Polar BLAST (Baseline, Life, and Structure of the Arctic), a scientific initiative led by Dr. Paige Maroni to map Arctic biodiversity and assess ecosystem health in a region warming nearly four times faster than the global average.

Daily ROV dives explored seafloor habitats never previously imaged, with scientific findings shared with guests throughout the voyage. The scale of a twelve-guest expedition vessel creates unique opportunities to support meaningful field research. Polar BLAST returns to the Arctic aboard Freya in summer 2026 for continued research and exploration.

Field-Based Conservation

Beach cleanups and conservation awareness activities are integrated into every voyage, encouraging active stewardship and a deeper understanding of the environments visited.

Supporting Local Communities

Longyearbyen serves as the operational home base, with local staff living and working in Svalbard year-round. In Greenland, partnerships with Greenlandic guides ensure local knowledge and perspectives remain at the heart of each experience.

Training opportunities are also provided aboard expedition vessels through collaboration with Campus Kujalleq in Qaqortoq, helping future Arctic Guides and Arctic Adventure Guides gain the practical field experience required for certification. Cultural visits support local institutions, including the museum in Ittoqqortoormiit on Greenland’s east coast, while short supply chains are prioritized whenever possible, including the use of locally sourced seafood.

Wider Stewardship Partnerships

Partnerships with organizations such as Yachts for Science help support marine research in remote polar waters. Conservation awareness remains an integral part of every voyage, reinforcing a shared commitment to protecting the regions explored.

Explore. Respect. Protect.