Arctic

In focus: The Arctic states

There are eight Arctic states (Canada, Russia, Alaska, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Greenland and Norway), and in the High Arctic – midway between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole – frozen islands and frigid seas harbour a surprising amount of wildlife. Look out for arctic foxes, whales and the mighty polar bear.

Although you may think of the region as one big Arctic wilderness, there’s surprising variety across the states. Greenland, the world’s second-largest island, is covered in a huge ice sheet, 3km deep, with towns clinging to its rocky coast. Svalbard, a jagged scatter of islands, is the outlying territory of the Kingdom of Norway and home to the world’s northernmost town, Longyearbyen. Head to the Canadian Arctic for dramatic scenery and historic stories of the search for the Northwest Passage. Norway's Spitsbergen is better for wildlife spotting, as the landmass is smaller and the animals more concentrated.

When travelling with Exodus, you’ll be on well-equipped, comfortable boats with expert crew. And for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition like no other, journey to the North Pole by ice-breaker and take flight in the on-board helicopter for an aerial view that will leave you feeling on top of the world.