When you think of the Arctic, it often conjures up images of darkness and cold, of a lifeless region at the top of our planet. This part of the world however, has lots of hidden life and wonder. Its glaciers, mountains, icebergs, tundra, flora, and midnight sun all come together to create a surreal environment that can often feel like another planet.
And so, while animals are usually at the top of most travellers’ lists of sights to see, here is a visual adventure of lesser known reasons to put a trip to the Arctic on your bucket list.
Zodiac cruising
Photo courtesy Stu Darnley.
Zodiac boats allow you to get close to the action. These small, agile craft let you navigate close to bird cliffs and glaciers. If you’re lucky you’ll hear the creaks and cracks of ancient ice breaking off and falling into the sea.
Impact of man
While the Arctic has never been largely inhabited by man, there are a few spots where settlements have been established. One such site is Pyramiden, a once-thriving Russian mining base founded in 1910 and abandoned in 1998. It has since remained largely vacant with most of its infrastructure and buildings still in place.
Photo courtesy Stu Darnley.
Tundra flora
The Arctic isn’t just about the animals; there’re also several kinds of flora to see, such as moss campion, a beautifully flowering shrub.
This beautiful species is also called the compass plant because due north can be determined by the flowering side of the plant.
Photo courtesy Stu Darnley.
Expedition cruising in the ice
Cruising through the pack ice north of Svalbard presents a beautiful wilderness as we search for bears and seals.
Photo courtesy Stu Darnley.
Never-ending sunsets
Nights run long at the Polar Bear Pub as the sun never sets and it’s easy to forget the time.
Photo courtesy Stu Darnley.
Getting There
G Adventures runs a number of departures to the Arctic encompassing a wide range of departure dates and activities to cater for different tastes. We’re thrilled at the prospect of showing you this big blue planet of ours — check out our expedition trips here.
