A Guide to the Arctic

The great sweep of the Arctic encompasses the northernmost latitudes on earth, offering unparalleled encounters with the natural world at its most rugged and wild. Immerse yourself in this mesmerising world steeped in rich history, fascinating traditional culture and wildlife that entrances and delights.

Polar bear enjoying the sunset © A Hernandez

What Animals Can You Expect to See?

Besides the polar bear, there is an incredible variety of wildlife to see in the Arctic – far more than in the Antarctic, in fact! From cuties like arctic foxes and puffins, to the mammoth-like musk oxen and whales, many expedition days have the potential for jaw-dropping wildlife sightings.

We have a commitment to only encounter wildlife in their natural habitat, which makes any interactions that much more magical! Plus, with 25 years’ experience in the Arctic and our passionate Expedition Leaders, we are clued up on all the best spots to see which wildlife, where, and at what time of year.

Polar Bears

Whales Musk Oxen

Seals Arctic Foxes

Orcas Arctic Hares

Birds Reindeer

The word Arctic comes from the Greek word arktikós, ‘near the bear, northern’. The Great Bear constellation can be seen in the northern sky.

Svalbard

Norway There are eight countries within the Arctic region: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Canada, Denmark (Greenland) and Iceland.

Canada

Greenland

Iceland

Do People Live There?

Yes. Humans have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years.

Today, there are more than two million people living north of 60 degrees north, many in modern settlements.

How Large is the Arctic?

The polar regions cover the ends of the earth like caps, and the Arctic is just slightly larger than Antarctica.

The largest ice sheet in the Arctic is 1.71 million km² (0.66 million square miles).

Best Time to Visit

Fortunately, we steer clear of the polar regions in winter. When we visit in summer, the weather is actually quite pleasant! Temperatures across the regions vary greatly. In summer, the average temperature at the North Pole is barely freezing at 0°C (–32°F). The best time to visit the Arctic is between May – September.