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The Arctic

5

Reasons To
Visit The Arctic

  • Icebergs

    Don’t fill up your camera on the first iceberg you see: changing hues with countless shades of blue, icebergs can be stunningly beautiful. Every visitor soon becomes something of an expert in identifying different iceberg types, from low-lying ‘growlers’ that hover about the ship’s waterline to flat-topped tabular icebergs freshly broken from pack ice. Only a tenth of any iceberg can be seen above the water.

    Icebergs

  • Northern Lights

    Some trips in the European or Canadian Arctic have the chance to see the Northern Lights, although this would be at the end of the summer season when there are some nightimes again after a summer where the sun does drop below the horizon.

    Northern Lights

  • Polar Bears

    The symbol of the Arctic, these magnificent bears, who could kill you with a single swipe of their paw, are the highlight of a trip to Svalbard. Lone males roam around looking for food, and mothers fiercely protect their young cubs. Your sightings of these amazing but endangered creatures will be a highlight of your trip.

    Polar Bears

  • Birds

    A cruise around Svalbard will give you the opportunity for a lot of bird-watching, from the noisy colonies of guillemots and auks to the predatory skuas that patrol the skies around them, plus kittiwakes, glaucous gulls, ivory gulls, puffins and arctic terns to name but a few.

    Birds

  • Whales

    The waters of the Arctic are home to whales such as minke, fin, blue, beluga and bow, and standing on the deck of your boat searching for them is bound to be fruitful.

    Whales

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Accommodation in The Arctic: Arctic Watch Lodge

The loung at Arctic Watch Lodge
The loung at Arctic Watch LodgeATVs at Arctic Watch Lodge, Somerset Island
Our Rating: Simple

Arctic Watch Lodge

At the northern tip of Nunavut’s Somerset Island, and already well north of the continental mainland, Arctic Watch Lodge overlooks the fabled Northwest Passage (Lancaster Sound). Renowned polar trekker Richard Webber and his wife Josée established this lodge in 2000 on the site of a former whaling station. Along with their children, Tessum and Nansen, they have an irrepressible enthusiasm for the region and have created an Arctic visitor’s dream destination for July and August.

The lodge offers comfortable accommodation, safely guided and well researched trips amongst amazing scenery, abundant wildlife and ancient historical sites. From the air the lodge resembles a futuristic outpost on a distant planet – a well ordered collection of pristine white domed structures, including a central lodge and 16 permanent cabins that contain duvet-covered beds and running-water toilets. The main lodge houses a kitchen, dining room, lounge, audio visual room and lecture theatre. Food is fresh and high quality, arriving with each plane.

Lancaster Sound has a large polar bear population and is home to walrus, seals and narwhals. The land has musk oxen, Peary caribou, arctic fox and many birds, including the peregrine falcon and snowy owl. There is great char fishing and a number of exceptionally well preserved Thule (ancient Inuit) and early European archaeological sites in the area.

Activities at Arctic Watch Lodge

Activities at Arctic Watch Lodge are tailored to the ability and personal interest of the guests and can include hiking, raft float trips, nature observation walks, photography excursions, exposure to Inuit culture and exploration by 4WD, quad bikes or even light aircraft. The energetic can try the world’s most northern mountain biking and sea kayak expeditions. The lodge is child friendly and a typical day’s programme for younger guests would included short walks, picnics and searches for lemmings. The warm, shallow waters of Cunningham Inlet are the summer home to 2,000 beluga whales and guests at the lodge can wander along the shoreline within metres of these inquisitive mammals.

Further reading:
The ArcticWhen to GoArctic CruisesThings to DoAccommodationAbout The ArcticCountry Guides

Other countries in The Polar Regions:
Antarctica

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