
When to visit the Arctic
The arctic summer, blessed with long days and buzz of wildlife and human activity, is favoured by travellers seeking the classic arctic experience. But delve deeper and you'll find…
Discover MoreMost people fly to the Arctic, but you can get there by ship, or even car! Although flying is quickest, and cheap regular flights make the Arctic easily accessible, the adventure of the journey is far greater on an expedition vessel.
Svalbard is one of the most accessible parts of the High Arctic, and the least expensive to get to. There are daily scheduled flights from Oslo (Norway) to Longyearbyen, which take around 3 hours. Though short, these flights can be at awkward times, requiring an overnight in Oslo.
Flights book up quickly in spring and summer, so booking flights early is strongly recommended for getting to Svalbard. Prices vary and fluctuate, so we also recommend doing a bit of research before booking.
Surprisingly remote, getting to Greenland is only possible by plane via Denmark (4 hrs) or Iceland (3 hrs).
The most important route is Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq, which has one daily flight in each direction. There are currently no direct flights from North America.
A truly iconic destination which resides on many a traveller’s bucket list, it's actually more accessible than many realise. The most popular route for getting to the North Pole is via icebreaker ship from Murmansk in Russia, during the summer months, forcing a path through the ice to reach 90 degrees north.
Alternatively, for those shorter on time, you can fly to Svalbard and from there arrive at the North Pole by helicopter (in April only).
In the absence of scheduled flights, charter flights from gateway cities like Ottawa, Toronto and Edmonton are called upon to reach remote Inuit communities and logistical centres.
Ship operators often book these charter flights in advance, so you don't have to, but we recommend checking your trip notes to see what is included.
The Russian Arctic occupies the longest and least populated coastline in the whole of the Arctic. Access is limited and expensive, and visitor infrastructure rudimentary at best once you arrive.
One notable exception to this is summer trips by expedition ship from Anadyr to Wrangel Island, an important polar bear denning site.
The arctic summer, blessed with long days and buzz of wildlife and human activity, is favoured by travellers seeking the classic arctic experience. But delve deeper and you'll find…
Discover MoreSvalbard is geographically closer to the North Pole than to Norway. Surprising then, that getting there is quite so straightforward, with regular flights from Norway to …
Discover MoreWe partner with selected ice-strengthened Arctic expedition vessels from small yachts and nimble little ships with convivial atmospheres, to larger Russian research boats and …
Discover MoreOne of history's expeditionary legends, The Arctic has captivated humankind's imagination for hundreds of years. It is defined as any area above 66 33'N and standing at a …
Discover MoreOur team of experts are ready to help you with any questions about a trip to the Arctic. Call us now to start your journey.