Choosing Your Adventure

Choosing Your

Arctic Adventure

Stretching across the top of the globe and touching eight countries, the Arctic is rife with opportunity for every type of explorer, whether you seek iconic wildlife, epic icescapes, or enriching encounters with cultures of the far north. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic offers 19 itineraries in this remote part of the world, each providing a unique point of view on the region. Here are some highlights from the areas we explore to help you decide which Arctic expedition is the best fit for your interests.

Svalbard & Norway—Set Out on an Arctic Safari

With vast ice floes and snowy shorelines that are as wild as the Serengeti, Svalbard offers a unique opportunity for animal lovers. Watch for walruses and seals, hike the tundra in search of reindeer, and seek out the icon of the Arctic—the polar bear. On a detour through the Norwegian fjords, cruise and kayak beneath soaring cliffs and tumbling cascades. With its epic wildlife, stunning landscapes, and endless light from the midnight sun, Svalbard is also a dream destination for photographers.

Best for: epic wildlife, iconic scenery, photography

Iceland & Isles—Adventures Amid the Living Earth

In Iceland—home to gushing geysers, sliding ice sheets, and vast, lunar-like lava fields—there are a multitude of ways to interact with the living Earth. Take a Zodiac cruise through a basalt cave, hike the base of a fjord to a thundering waterfall, or stroll sea cliffs aflutter with gannets and puffins. On these shorelines, as well as in the nearby Faroe Islands, explore the cultural threads that link the ancient Vikings to modern-day Arctic communities, and enjoy the Icelandic musicians who join us onboard bring local traditions to life.

Best for: geology, birdlife, Viking history

Greenland—Encounter Epic Ice and Inuit Culture

The quintessential Arctic destination, Greenland’s icescapes glitter in a dazzling tableau of iridescent icebergs and calving glaciers that we explore by kayak, Zodiac, and on foot. Go beyond the country’s icy surface to experience cultural encounters in Inuit communities that thrive amid the extreme conditions at the top of the world. Depending on the time of year, there may also be the opportunity to watch the northern lights paint the night sky with their neon waves.

Best for: big ice, High Arctic culture, northern lights

Canada—Trace the Legacy of Arctic Exploration

Canada plays host to one of the planet’s most legendary expeditions: a journey along the fabled Northwest Passage. This voyage is for the explorer who seeks seldom-seen lands, as well as the mythic creatures that flock to their pristine waters and shores—polar bears, walruses, belugas, and maybe even elusive narwhals. Further south, along the rocky coasts of the maritime regions, we see a different side of Arctic exploration: traces of the peoples who settled these shorelines. Discover Viking villages, a Moravian mission, and other historical relics in a once-popular landing spot for westward voyagers.

Best for: exploration history, rare wildlife, maritime culture

ALL IN: Activities and excursions are always included in the voyage price.