Arctic Circle
Travel Guide

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Explore - discover the northern permafrost wilderness regions inhabited by
colourful indigenous peoples, magnificent whales and cuddly but scary polar bears. Brochure | Tours Search | Arctic Tours

Arctic Travel:
versus...the antarctic [see right]

Indigenous peoples
Yes, Polar Bears
No, Penguins
Yes, Whales & Seals
24hr daylight July-August
The word Arctic is derived from Arktos, 'the bear' in Greek, due to the Great Bear constellation above the North Pole.

When to go:
Best: March - November, for weather and wildlife migrations.
In Canada, October for polar bears, July-August for beluga whales, fur seals and birds.
Worst: November - March (dark, very cold and snow moves horizontally)

Length of stay:
Minimum worthwhile stay in Arctic regions, not including flights or sail time : 4/5 days in any area where wildlife is active, bearing in mind that there are also indigenous cultures to appreciate in some areas.

Recommended: 1 week or more if you wish to see ice-oriented human cultures as well as wildlife.

Arctic Wildlife guide:
Sightings will depend on the area of the Arctic visted, the specific tour and the weather conditions at that time but there will be possible sightings of:

Polar Bears - the second largest bear on the planet (the Kodiak is bigger but very rare). Known as 'Nanuk' to the Inuit, the polar bear is a big fan of seal sashimi, and lives in coastal regions including Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia. The best known place to find them is Churchill, Manitoba in Canada, where people and bears have been coexisting more or less successfully since the eighteenth century. Problems are rare and always occur through starving bears or human stupidity.

Arctic Fox - closely related to the Red Fox it has adapted with a thicker coat and Arctic colourings. Comfortable with humans and they sometimes travel in groups. Seen in the northern regions of Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Finland, and Russia during the summer months or more southerly regions during the harsh winters.

Laysan Albatross - the largest flying bird in the world but once a favourite food for the Inuit, it sleeps on the wing.

Bald Eagle - once common throughout North America and Canada they still inhabit the more northerly areas into the Arctic wilderness.

Grey Wolf - the largest of the wolves and a pack hunter in northern timbered areas of the U.S.A, Canada, northern Europe and north east Russia. The Arctic wolf is a smaller and lighter coloured version. Misunderstood by humans (like most animals) and therefore endangered. If you see one running frantically about, nose to the ground, it's hunting mice (see? - totally misunderstood)

Beluga Whale - an absolutely gorgeous, photogenic white whale [these are the only whales that can turn their heads].

Peregrine Falcon - holds the world record for a speeding nose dive on radar.

Narwahal - the 'sea unicorn' is a small whale with a long corkscrew horn. These fantasy creatures live between Canada and Greenland.

Wolverine - this fascinating weasel on steroids can be found the northern reaches of the USA, much of Canada, the mountains of Norway, Finland and much of north eastern Russia.

Caribou - otherwise known as reindeer, this deer with velvet horns is the Arctic's most romantically associated animal. Domesticated sled pulling reindeer are one of the more environmentally sound ways to travel on your holiday. Found in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Finland, Sweden and Russia.

Walrus - the majority of these toothy giants live in the Pacific Ocean, summering in the Bering Sea and wintering in the more northerly Chukcki Sea via a swim or a lift on an iceberg between Alaska and Siberia. Their less migratory cousins in the Atlantic tend to hang out around the northern shores of Canada and Greenland. They pose about on rocky outcrops waiting to be photographed by tourists.

Bowhead Whale - also known as the Northern Right Whale or Greenland Right Whale, one of the three whales unique to the Arctic.

Seals - The ring seal [polar bear main course] spends most of its life under the ice. Wonder why?

Musk Ox - a hairy buffalo type animal previously hunted to near extinction but reintroduced to Alaska and the Taimyr peninsula in Russia. Very hard heads that give resounding thumps during the mating season.

p.s If you see a penguin in the Arctic it's either the much loved British chocolate biscuit you have in your hand or you've been hitting the Absolut anti-freeze too hard.

Indigenous Peoples guide:
The region covers several different countries but inhabitants are generally of Asian origin through migration. Once referred to simply as Eskimos the various groups are :

The Aleut, Yuit and Inuit ['Eskimos'] who inhabit Alaska, Northern Canada and coastal Greenland.

The Saami ['Laplanders'] who inhabit the most Northern parts of Scandinavia (particularly Finland).

Russian groups including the Komi, Tungus, Yukaghir and Chukchi inhabit the northern most expanses of Russia including Siberia.

Ecomessage:
The Arctic circle is a relatively unspoilt region of the planet. While human habitation on its edges means that there is ample opportunity for snow based activities, please remember that snowmobiles are not the most environmentally friendly method of travel and do not feed wild animals under any circumstances. Cooking meat on open camp fires will attract the local bear population and never camp out in the Arctic without an experienced guide.

Antarctic Travel:

No indigenous people, 200 scientists
No, Polar Bears
Yes, Penguins
Yes, Whales and Seals
24hr daylight November-January
The word Antarctic is derived from Antarktikos, 'opposite the bear.' It is the only land on Earth owned by no one.

Why go to the Arctic Circle?
Like the Antarctic, the Arctic it has an assortment of strange and wonderful wildlife which manages to survive the extreme conditions, but unlike the Antarctic it has peoples who do the same - in Greenland [Denmark], Canada, Norway, Sweden, Alaska [USA] and Russia.

Downside:
- Seasickness: many tours will be via either a largish cruise ship or a specialist expeditionary vessel, but if you're prone to motion sickness then you could have a problem.
- Cold: those with circulatory problems or a heart condition should take extra precautions against the cold though the summer weather can be mild, depending on the region. Frostbite is a real danger in the colder months and regions.

Where to go:
Choose from several versions of the Arctic experience depending on the culture and wildlife in which you are interested.

Each country though shows some similarity to others throughout the region due to the climate requiring similar specialist survival techniques for both the wildlife and peoples.

Alaska:
Best country for fans of dog sledding and also has the most diverse wildlife found above the arctic cirle in the Arctic Refuge.

Anchorage, Alaska is home to the start of the most famous dog sled race in the world, the Iditarod.Very much an urban setting (it's a city) but a good base for the start of a south Alaskan exploration.

The National Arctic Wildlife Refuge in the far north east has one of the most diverse habitats one could expect due to the close proximity of geographical features. It is also of course wild and protected. Caribou migrate North here from below the Brooks Range and the Yukon Territories in spring.

Canada:
Best country for viewing the wildife, especially along its extensive coastlines.

Churchill, Manitoba on the edge of the Hudson Bay is the best place to see Polar Bears from mid October to mid November and Beluga whales in July and August. It also has the best views in the world of the Northern Lights (aurora borealis). Polar Bears that wander into the town during the summer are locked up until the ice hardens so that locals and travellers can sleep soundly at night. At the last count there were more than 1,500 polar bears living around Churchill. Get there by plane (one and a half hours) or train (thirty six hours) from Winnipeg.

Whale River in Quebec sees the largest Caribou herd migrations on the planet. Get there via Schefferville and travel into this wilderness region about one hundred and twenty miles north east. They migrate in September but unfortunately so do the hunters so avoid hunting season from mid August to mid October and get there first in spring.

Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet, Baffin Island are the best places to see whales, many of whom navigate the same areas when migrating. The waters around Lancaster Sound, running between Baffin Island and the Perry Islands get the most activity.

Ellesmere Island is good for viewing Musk Oxen.

Greenland:
The best country for 'Eskimo' culture.

Disko Bay, Western Greenland is regarded as one of the best places to see both wildlife and get a feel of traditional Greenland culture. Get to Kangerlussuaq airport via Copenhagen in Denmark, Reykjavik in Iceland or Eqaluit in Canada. Great whale watching is virtually guaranteed.

Norway, Sweden, Finland:
Northern regions of these countries are home to the Sami (Laplanders). The best time to visit is in March or April when snow is still abundant but temperatures are mild.

Kautokeino, Finland has a large Sami population and they hold the Sami Easter Festival here - one of the best times to visit.

Jukkasjaervi, Sweden has one of the most interesting hotels in the world made entirely of ice which stays solid from Decemeber to May each year. It has overnight accomodation and a bar where drinks are served on the rocks using glasses cut from the local river ice. Unmissable experience.

Activities Guide:
Cruises and shore visits, possibly even camping on ice, with close up viewing of wildlife.

Sea Kayaking off some cruise ships or land base is a dramatic way to get quietly closer to nature.

Airborne sightseeing tours: particularly in Alaska and Canada where infrastructure and fuel prices make this practicable.

Cross Country Skiing and Trekking: inhabitation allows the more active traveller to see land based interest on foot.

Skiing and Snowboarding: in some regions.

Sledding: as above but for a more relaxed holiday let the huskies, reindeer or horses do the work.

Snorkelling: watch whales while immersed, but get a drysuit first. Ideal for Beluga viewing but perhaps less advisable amongst hunting packs of Killer Whales in case they mistake you for a tasty seal.

Aurora Borealis: view the Northern Lights.

More ice-oriented and wildlife pages:

Iceland | Iditarod Race, Alaska

Yukon Quest Race, Canada | Ice Hotel, Sweden

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Madagascar Pictures | Best Safari Wildlife

Namibia Photos | Costa Rica Photos