Unique wildlife and pristine landscapes of transcendent beauty will often spring to mind when we think about the Arctic and Fjords. However, the true vastness here is one of the most underestimated aspects of Earth’s northernmost region. Centered on the North Pole, the Arctic Circle encompasses a mighty eight nations. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
Mighty glaciers, soaring icebergs and giant ice flows, are just some of the bewildering sights you’ll see. The coastline varies from fjordlands to icy archipelagos, to coastal tundra and narrow inlets, with endless horizons or mountain ranges behind. And you couldn’t be in a better place to witness the Northern Lights.
Each species you encounter has especially adapted to the harsh conditions here – you’ll seem them nowhere else, and they are often the highlight of a polar trip. Watch polar bears hunting; walrus dozing in the sun; narwhals fishing; arctic foxes camouflaged against the snow, and beluga whales breaching, whilst above you, myriads of seabirds fill the sky.
Scattered throughout the region are tiny communities, historic trading posts, old whaling stations and expedition base camps. Indigenous cultures, some descended from the Vikings, are all diverse in their ways of life, languages and beliefs, but all live off the surrounding land and sea. There’s a rich tradition of storytelling, with practices and legends passed down the generations.
Visa requirements for Indian citizens traveling to the Arctic depend on the specific region, as there is no single Arctic visa. For the Svalbard archipelago, which is part of Norway, a visa is not required due to the. However, if you are traveling via mainland Norway, a Schengen visa is necessary for the transit portion of your trip. For other regions like Greenland, a visa is required and must be applied for in advance, while Antarctica does not require a visa but necessitates permits arranged through tour operators.
Major airports for Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Svalbard cruise ports include Longyearbyen Airport (LYR) for Svalbard (via Oslo or Tromsø), Keflavík International Airport (KEF) near Reykjavík for Iceland, and Oslo Airport (OSL) for mainland Norway, with some Greenland cruises using smaller airports like Narsarsuaq Airport (UAK) for specific embarkation points. Other international hubs like Copenhagen and Tromsø also serve as major gateways for connecting flights to these Arctic destinations.
The land and wildlife of the region begin to come back to life after winter. The coasts of the Arctic have been locked in by ice for months, which finally begins to break up, allowing humans and animals alike to access the ocean. Whales start their northward migration, beginning to feast on the capelin which come out of the depths to spawn. By late May, the whole Arctic is bathed in the midnight sun, which circles the horizon, never setting. Flowers begin to bloom studded with splashes of colour.
Wildlife activities are at the full swing, due to perfect conditions for seal pups and penguin chicks – as well as whales. December and January bring new life to the icy wilderness. The snow is gone, and the sea ice has retreated northwards – polar bears, belugas and other ice-loving species can be harder to find as they follow the ice into the Arctic ocean. Penguin chicks can be seen huddled in together on the islands and along the Antarctic Peninsula, while the adults head off to hunt for food.
The tundra begins to glow with red and gold hues by August as plants begin to go dormant. Geese, reindeers and muskox gorge themselves, putting on weight before the snow returns. In the skies, the midnight sun ends, and darkness rapidly returns. Balmy days with frosty nights minimise the number of irritating biting insects and the tundra brims with delicious mushrooms and berries. And most spectacular of all, as darkness returns to the Arctic skies, so do the breathtaking northern lights, which have dazzled polar explorers since time immemorial.
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