The magic of seeing a polar bear in his natural environment is a thrill beyond description, especially when set amongst the beauty of the flower-strewn tundra. 
Fiona Pearce, Canada, Alaska & The Arctic Specialist, 01993 838710
Beyond the tree-line at the earth’s northern extremity lies the Arctic. By turns serene, majestic, wild and ferocious, these chill lands and waters frame some of the world’s most hardy and enchanting flora and fauna, clinging to a precarious knife-edge of survival. Icebound through the winter, in the summer the rocky tundra is carpeted with delicate wildflowers and supports a surprising abundance of wildlife.
For 4,000 years successive generations have adapted to the harsh Arctic environment, developing distinctive cultures that left traces on the land, and in our language. Kayak, parka, husky, anorak, and igloo are words we adopted from early attempts to map the region, borrowed from the Arctic people in hazardous – and often tragic – voyages of exploration.
Much of the Arctic is also only accessible in the summer months of July and August, when the frozen seas melt briefly to reveal enormous, barren islands, some the size of small countries. Temperatures at this time average nine degrees Celsius but can reach as high as 18 degrees on sunny days. It is in these seasonally accessible areas that those with an adventurous spirit and an enquiring mind can experience unique expedition cruises that visit Inuit settlements, sites of European explorer history and a wonderful variety of wildlife, all set amongst fantastically remote scenery on a truly epic scale.
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Selected Highlights
Our specialists have travelled the length and breadth of the country to research the best places to stay and things to do. Here they list a few of their favourite “unmissables”.
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Explore Auyuittuq National Park Reserve
Auyuittuq is Inuit for 'the land that never melts' and is one of the most spectacular destinations in Canada's north. Straddling the Arctic Circle in...
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Cruise the coast of Baffin Island
Steam north from the top end of Québec to explore Auyuittuq National Park, just 12 kilometres from the Arctic Circle. Along the way, make remote landings...
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Discover ancient Inuit settlements & the wildlife of the High Arctic
Stay at Arctic Watch Lodge on the northern tip of Somerset Island. Looking like a futuristic outpost on a distant planet, adventurous guests are led by...
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