A vast, untameable wilderness where Polar bears prowl the ice under the midnight sun
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Arctic Holidays
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Arctic tour highlights
Spitsbergen: The remarkable islands of the Svalbard archipelago are part of Norway, lying high above the Arctic Circle. They cover around 62,000 square kilometres (about the same size as Ireland), mostly in the form of three larger islands – Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. Combining a great variety of flora and fauna with stunning remote landscapes, a visit to Spitsbergen is a must for wilderness and wildlife enthusiasts.
Russian Arctic: The eastern seaboard of Russia dominates the North Pacific but is so remote that few ever visit it. This isolation has protected one of its most valuable assets – a vast wilderness inhabited by Kamchatka brown bears, whales and an astonishing array of birds. The pristine Wrangel Island, untouched by glaciers during the last ice age, is a treasure trove of Arctic biodiversity and is perhaps best known for the multitude of polar bears that breed here. A Russian Arctic tour promises an unforgettable experience.
North Pole: It doesn’t get more dramatic than a voyage to the North Pole, where you are – literally – on top of the world. Trips here will leave you feeling more than a little humbled as you take in the gargantuan glacial landscape from a place where all directions face south. You can perform the shortest possible circumnavigation of the globe before heading south to explore the remote Franz Josef Land. With its massive flat-topped islands and steep basalt cliffs, this archipelago is a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Greenland: Greenland is the world’s largest island, and home to a staggering coast-to-coast ice sheet that covers 80% of its land and reaches depths of three kilometres. Towns cling to its rocky coastline, pristine fjords eat into the landscape, and vast glaciers slowly carve their way through the mountains. In the short summer season, the Midnight Sun brings 24-hour daylight to the island. If lucky, you could spot polar bears, humpback whales, walruses, reindeer and more. Greenland offers excellent chances of seeing the Northern Lights during the winter months too.
Melanie Mclaren Spitsbergen Photography: In Search of Polar BearsThis was a fantastic trip from start to finish. We were blessed with calm seas and were lucky enough to see alot of wildlife including blue whale, reindeer, foxes, walrus, lots of gillmots, kitiwaks,and puffin and of course polar bears. The activities were very well organised and stress free and the service onboard was fantastic Would recommend to anyone interested in the polar regions.
Mike Britton Spitsbergen Photography: In Search of Polar BearsWe had been looking for an Arctic or Antarctic holiday for a while, so when this Exodus deal came up, we jumped at the chance. Our hope was to see polar bears and arctic foxes, but we know that the animals are wild and unpredictable, so tried to set our expectations realistically. The trip was well planned and organised; we had time on arrival at the Helsinki airport hotel on Day 1 to get the train into the city for a half-day exploration. The next day we flew to Spitsbergen and then onto the boat. We were very pleasantly surprised by our cabin – much bigger than we had expected. The staff on board were excellent – both the Expedition team and the crew, the catering was wonderful and it was perfect having soft drinks available all day, with wine & beer served with dinner. Our wildlife expectations were more than met, sighting 2 different whale species on our first evening sailing from Longyearbyen! The highlights continued via the daily Zodiac trips and hiking onshore : reindeer, arctic foxes, walrus, whales, many seabirds and flowers – and of course, we saw polar bears. We know how lucky we were, but we saw 6 bears in 3 different locations, The Expedition team were all very knowledgeable about both flora and fauna and were happy to share information. But we should also stress that they were very safety-conscious and ensured all the guests were able to do the activities safely. We had such a good time, that we didn’t want to leave the ship to come home!
FAQs on Arctic Holidays
Yes, you can travel to the Arctic Circle by booking a polar voyage where you’ll board a ship built to withstand the harsh conditions. By booking an Arctic Circle holiday with a reputable travel provider, you can reach parts of the world that very few people have visited.
During your Arctic holiday, you’ll be based on one of Quark’s polar-class vessels fitted with spacious cabins, private bathrooms and dining rooms. They’re well-qualified for polar waters and can travel to areas that other ships simply can’t access. For more information, see our Polar Fleet page.
The ships are kept warm, clean and comfortable with a wet and mud room to store your gear and boots.
Activities you can get involved in on an Arctic holiday include:
- Zodiac excursions
- On-shore excursions
- Presentations with expedition leaders and polar experts
- Sea kayaking
All Arctic tour itineraries should be treated as a guide only – it is possible that the capricious nature of wind, visibility and ice, plus other factors, may lead to adjustments to the route published.
A holiday to the Arctic Circle can be a demanding trip with harsh conditions. For example, on-shore excursions require ‘wet’ landings, where you’ll slide into ankle-deep waters (wearing wellington boots) before walking onto dry land. There are, of course, no paths, so be prepared for slippery, rough terrain and, sometimes, fairly deep snow.
Our Arctic tours tend to take place during the summer months and into early autumn. Typically, temperatures range from -10°C to 10°C during this period. You will also encounter longer daytime hours during this period. The melting of the sea ice makes it an ideal time to set off on an Arctic tour.
Check your itinerary to see which countries you pass through on your adventure, as temperatures may vary slightly.
An Arctic holiday means you’ll be exposed to polar climates – in other words, it will be extremely cold! On the longer Zodiac cruises, you’ll be sitting still for most of the time with the potential for sea spray and a cold headwind. We can provide you with rubber boots and a parka suited to the extreme temperatures.
You should pack a hat, scarf and at least two pairs of gloves, plus plenty of warm socks – it’s recommended that you wear two pairs during your expedition.
When it comes to clothing, you’ll need waterproof trousers, fleeces and thermal tops to help stay warm. Comfy shoes and clothes are recommended for when you spend time on the vessel.
You can find a full list of equipment in your Arctic holiday trip notes.
Alongside suitable clothing, we recommend you pack your camera and binoculars to get a better glimpse at the wildlife. We also recommend SPF, sunglasses, plug adapters and a first aid kit to make sure you’re on top form during your Arctic holiday.
Geographically speaking, holidays to the Arctic Circle are more accessible for those travelling from the UK. The Arctic landscape also has more variety, including snow-capped peaks, glaciers and tundra land masses with snow that melts during the summer months. This means the wildlife tends to be more varied too.
While it isn’t necessary to be of a certain level of fitness, it’s recommended that you feel fit enough to make the most of the daily excursions. You need to be able to get in and out of the rubber zodiac boats, for example.
Our Arctic tours are rated as ‘leisurely’ and we recommend reading our activity level guidelines to find out more.
Why choose an Arctic holiday from Exodus?
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