Remote, vast and largely untouched
Named after the north polar constellation ‘Arktos’ (meaning ‘bear’ in Greek), the Arctic is home to the icy North Pole. The average winter temperature in the wilderness is minus 30°F. In the summer, temperatures can soar to +50°. The Arctic comprises of a vast area of continent that includes the ice-covered Arctic Ocean, islands, ice-sheets and Greenland and Spitsbergen, and the northern regions of Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Russia. It’s also rich in history, native culture and unique wildlife.
A once in a lifetime luxury cruise adventure to the Arctic allows you to explore the untouched areas of stunning frozen hinterland that you can’t otherwise reach by land. Indigenous mammals like polar bears, wolves, beluga whales, caribou and foxes inhabit the areas. Migratory birds and other wildlife also come to the Arctic to raise their young. Furthermore, there are a variety of plant species that surprisingly thrive in the extreme conditions.
The Arctic’s climate is characterised by long, cold winters and summers that are short and cool. All of the regions of this vast landscape experience extremes of solar radiation throughout the year. Visit in the summer season, when average temperatures range from −10 to +10 °C (14 to 50 °F), with some areas exceeding 30 °C (86 °F).