The Arctic region provides one of the world’s most elusive and unique holiday experiences and there is a vast range of holiday options available. Luxury Arctic cruises are designed with two things in mind – comfort for everyone on board, and exploration of amazing destinations.
Unlike travel to Antarctica where you have one destination that covers the entire South Pole, the ocean of the Arctic is actually home to a number of countries, each with their own unique culture and experiences. From Spitsbergen in Norway to the Canadian Arctic, cruises to Iceland and Greenland, through to Alaska, Russia and the North Pole.
If you’re planning tours to the Arctic circle region, you want to base it on the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. The most popular luxury Arctic cruises operate between June and September, where you can enjoy anywhere from 18 to 24 hours of sunlight. Travel in June will still provide you with plenty of ice and polar bears, while September is ideal if you plan to circumnavigate Spitsbergen. This is also when the birds begin their migration.
If your ultimate goal is to see the Northern lights, the lights are usually visible between the end of September and early March. If you do travel in winter, keep in mind you’ll have limited daylight and won’t be able to enjoy the scenery as much. It’ll also be well below freezing!
If you want to truly experience a unique holiday, visiting the North Pole is something most people never have the opportunity to do. Your luxury Arctic cruises will take your ship through the pack ice, stopping at Franz Josef Land, one of the most remote landscapes on earth. Franz Josef Land is a Russian archipelago that is inhabited by military personnel.
It’s made up of 192 islands and is home to polar bears and colonies of kittiwakes, as well as passing bowhead whales and Atlantic walruses. As your cruise continues through the North Pole, you’ll spot Polaris, the North Star – and a point of direction for many sailors in history. Although the North Pole is much warmer than the South Pole, don’t expect the temperatures to be more than 0 degrees Celsius in summer.
Luxury Arctic cruises will also take you to Russia and the Far East where you can experience an abundance of whale and wildlife viewing; and Newfoundland, where you can explore the rich Viking history, Labrador and the Inuit culture of Baffin Island.
When planning your luxury Arctic cruises, do some research to find the ultimate tour. Eclipse Travel has holidays and expeditions you’re guaranteed to love.
