English FAQ Contact Dates & rates Login Antarctica Arctic Special deals Highlights About Franz Josef Land Part of the Russian National Park, the archipelago of Franz Josef Land consists of 192 largely glaciated islands All Franz Josef Land cruises The Russian island group of Franz Josef Land is not only one of the more scenic and wildlife-rich locations in the Arctic Ocean, it is also steeped in expedition history. The 192 islands that make up the archipelago are mostly glaciated, covering 16,134 square km (6,229 square miles) and divided by the British Channel, Austrian Strait, and Markham Strait. The largest island in Franz Josef Land is Prince George Land. Norwegian sealers Nils Fredrik Rønnbeck and Johan Petter Aidijärvi first spotted these islands in 1865, but it was not until Julius von Payer and Karl Weyprecht’s 1873 Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition that the first reported sighting of Franz Josef Land was confirmed. The islands got their name at this time, after Austria’s Emperor Franz Joseph I. Read more… Cruises to Franz Josef Land Sort by Nearest departure date Lowest price Highest price Nearest departure date Russian Arctic, Spitsbergen - Franz Josef Land Experience the wildlife, terrain, and history of Eurasia’s northernmost archipelago HDS10-22 This ambitious expedition into the 192-island archipelago of Franz Josef Land gives you the opportunity to spot such exotic Arctic wildlife as polar bears, Greenland whales, and an assortment of seal and seabird species, while also visiting the remains... M/V HONDIUS Cruise date: 1 Aug - 12 Aug, 2022 Price: €6050 Show cruise Russian Arctic, Spitsbergen - Franz Josef Land Experience the wildlife, terrain, and history of Eurasia’s northernmost archipelago HDS11-22 This ambitious expedition into the 192-island archipelago of Franz Josef Land gives you the opportunity to spot such exotic Arctic wildlife as polar bears, Greenland whales, and an assortment of seal and seabird species, while also visiting the remains... M/V HONDIUS Cruise date: 12 Aug - 23 Aug, 2022 Price: €6050 Show cruise Russian Arctic, Spitsbergen - Franz Josef Land Experience the wildlife, terrain, and history of Eurasia’s northernmost archipelago HDS10-23 This ambitious expedition into the 192-island archipelago of Franz Josef Land gives you the opportunity to spot such exotic Arctic wildlife as polar bears, Greenland whales, and an assortment of seal and seabird species, while also visiting the remains... M/V HONDIUS Cruise date: 1 Aug - 13 Aug, 2023 Price: €6550 Show cruise Russian Arctic, Spitsbergen - Franz Josef Land Experience the wildlife, terrain, and history of Eurasia’s northernmost archipelago HDS11-23 This ambitious expedition into the 192-island archipelago of Franz Josef Land gives you the opportunity to spot such exotic Arctic wildlife as polar bears, Greenland whales, and an assortment of seal and seabird species, while also visiting the remains... M/V HONDIUS Cruise date: 13 Aug - 25 Aug, 2023 Price: €6550 Show cruise Blog Franz Josef Land Sites, Species, and Experiences The archipelago of Franz Josef Land is to Russia what Svalbard is to Norway: Both island groups offer excellent Arctic s Read more » All posts » Franz Josef Land experiences See the highlights you may experience: —Arthur Island —Bell Island —Shore-Based Walking —Camp Ziegler More highlights » Franz Josef Land wildlife See the highlights you may experience: —Bowhead Whale —Kittiwake —Polar Bear —Harp Seal More highlights » Map of Franz Josef Land Franz Josef Land FAQ Where is Franz Josef Land located? Franz Josef Land is located between the islands of Svalbard to the west and the islands of Severnaya Zemlya to the east. A Russian archipelago of 192 islands lying around 81° north, Franz Josef Land is largely glaciated and surrounded by ample se Read more » What are the weather and temperature like at Franz Josef Land? We visit Franz Josef Land in the summer, when coastal temperatures range from 0°C (32°F) to 3°C (37°F). Located around 81° north, Franz Josef Land is mostly glaciated and surrounded by a considerable amount of sea ice. Read more » Where do we go at Franz Josef Land? We visit sites that represent some of the most scenic, historic, wildlife-rich areas in the Franz Josef Land archipelago: the Russian base Nagurskoye on Alexandra Land Island, the walrus haul-out site at Apollonov Island, Nansen and Johansen’s Read more » What wildlife can I see in Franz Josef Land? In Franz Josef Land, you have the chance to see many of the iconic species associated with the Arctic wilderness: polar bears, walruses, harp seals, Greenland whales, Brünnich’s guillemots, and much more. Though we can never guarantee any Read more » Show all FAQ 24 photos of Franz Josef Land in the gallery » Antarctica Weddell Sea Antarctic Circle Antarctic Peninsula Ascension Island Cape Verde Falkland Islands South Georgia South Orkney Islands South Shetland Islands Ross Sea Arctic Franz Josef Land Greenland Jan Mayen North Norway Svalbard Highlights Basecamp Polar Diving Mountaineering Antarctic Camping Hiking Ski Mountaineering Photo Workshop Helicopter Tours Kayaking Snowshoeing Resources Rental gear FAQ Stories Photo Gallery Press Contact Careers Privacy policy Terms and conditions Sharing guidelines Insured travel funds Photo and video terms Group request Connect with us on: +31 (0)118 410 410 Sign up and stay updated: Subscribe The cruises on oceanwide-expeditions.com have received an average rating of 9.6/10 based on 520 customer reviews Contact Privacy policy Terms and conditions cookies © 2021 Oceanwide Expeditions