The Arctic Circle encompasses northern Scandinavia, the majority of Greenland and Iceland, small areas of Canada and Russia, and the Svalbard archipelago. Most of the region is sea, but in winter this sea freezes over, as thick sheets of ice and snow cover the Arctic Circle, creating a floating ice shelf.
Our Arctic expeditions focus on the Svalbard archipelago, a vast Polar wilderness that can be explored on foot, by ski, or even by dog sled! Arctic Cruises offer another means of exploring the region's amazing wildlife and fantastic glacial scenery, while winter expeditions provide an opportunity to experience the spectacle of the Northern Lights.
The summer solstice, at the peak of which the Arctic Circle experiences 24 hours of daylight, begins in late June. During the summer months, from May to September, the sea ice begins to melt, making it possible to embark on an Arctic cruise further north. This is a wonderful time to see wild-flowers and search for Arctic foxes, migrating seabirds and of course, the mighty polar bear.
From Longyearbyen, the de facto capital of Svalbard, we offer a number of day trips and short Arctic expeditions, including boat trips to Pyramiden and Barentsburg in the stunningly beautiful Isfjorden ('the Ice Fjord'), as well as mountain treks, dog sledding, snow-mobiling, kayaking and much more. Get in touch with our travel team on 01822 600 600 or info@Ganeandmarshall.com to start planning your arctic adventure.