Arctic Holidays

Amazing wildlife is often the main inspiration for a visit to the Arctic – who wouldn’t want to witness a polar bear prowling the pack ice or a quivering herd of walrus hauled out on a remote beach? But the Arctic offers much more than plentiful wildlife – spectacular scenery, unique cultures and a fascinating history of exploration can also be experienced across this vast region.

Deep fjords, ancient glaciers and rugged mountains make up the landscape, whilst the icy Arctic Ocean is home to a wealth of marine life. Permafrost reaches hundreds of metres in depth and only the top layer of soil melts in the brief summer. Yet with 24 hours of summer daylight and at times surprisingly mild temperatures, moss, lichen and flowering plants thrive.

Spitsbergen, the largest of the Svalbard islands, is ruggedly beautiful with prolific wildlife and its easy access, via Oslo, makes it an ideal option for first-time Arctic visitors. In Greenland, the unique bond between the Inuit and the environment adds another dimension to voyaging, which is echoed in the Canadian Arctic and the wild Torngat Ranges of Northern Labrador. For the ultimate Arctic adventure, you can also follow in the footsteps of early explorers venturing to the North Pole or remote Franz Josef Land with its rich wildlife.