The Arctic is unlike anywhere I’ve travelled. Its huger-than-huge wilderness gives you the sense you are far away from the rest of the world, (like, really far.) Over the time I was there, signs of mankind were rare, with the exception of a few trappers’ huts from times gone by. To be sure, this was a very different kind of place and I was excited to be there.
There’s also something very rewarding about having to search far and wide for signs of wildlife. On the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, the best wildlife doesn’t just present itself when you wish it would. You have to watch for it, and much of our journey was spent watching the horizon for even a glimpse of a polar bear or a seal poking its head out of the sea ice. It can be frustrating at times, but when you do get a close encounter, it’s so much more rewarding than when you’re at a zoo, where no effort is required at all.
I would recommend everyone go to the Arctic at some point in their lives. The remote location coupled with the absence of any hustle and bustle make for an astounding holiday from the rest of life.
An interested polar bear approaches the Expedition, where it spent an hour with us before wandering off among the sea ice.
A male Atlantic puffin heads out to fish from the cliffs of Diabasodden, Svalbard.
A curious walrus approaches the beach on Storøya Island in northeastern Svalbard.
A morning feeding frenzy brings in minke whales to feed with dolphins and thousands of birds.
A polar bear watches from a distance off the island of Storøya in northeastern Svalbard.
An inquisitive arctic fox displaying its summer coat takes a break from foraging for birds’ eggs at Diskobukta, Edgeøya, Svalbard.
Pair of Atlantic puffins, also known as sea parrots because of their colourful bills.
There are more black-legged kittiwakes in the world than any other species of gull. They build their nests on narrow cliff ledges, up to hundreds of metres above the ground. Pictured here at Diskobukta, Edgeøya, Svalbard.
An Arctic Fox stalks glaucous gulls on Alkefjellet, a cliff several kilometres long and covered in over one hundred thousand nesting birds.
Getting There
Perpetual winter, endless wonder. Come and see this one of kind landscape with your own eyes and create memories that will last a lifetime. G Adventures runs a wide range of departure dates to the Arctic aboard the Expedition. We’re thrilled at the prospect of showing you this big blue planet of ours— check out our small group trips here.
