G Adventures sees more demand for polar expeditions

G Adventures has seen a significant increase in demand for its 2012 polar expedition programme, with bookings for trips to the Arctic and Antarctica rising by 15 per cent.

The 100th anniversary of Robert Falcon Scott's journey to the South Pole is thought to have contributed to the growth in interest, along with the recent airing of the BBC documentary series Frozen Planet.

G Adventures offers a number of polar expeditions in the Arctic between June and September and in Antarctica in November and March.

Among the highlights of the range is a 13-day Antarctica tour starting from £3,629 per person featuring up-close encounters with leopard seals and penguins.

An eight-day package starting from £2,269 per person provides the opportunity to see polar bears, orca and humpback whales, with a guarantee that passengers will be credited the value of their cruise to put towards a future Arctic voyage if they do not spot a polar bear.

Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures' founder, said: "The success of Frozen Planet illustrates the high level of interest in seeing some of our planet's most amazing sights and wildlife, and what is being done to protect this fragile environment."

Michael Edwards, the operator's general manager in Europe, added: "What we're seeing is expedition cruising being perceived as more accessible. The poles are intriguing to people and expedition cruising is [a] great way to see these regions."

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