Your passport to adventure
PHONE: 1 877 260 3950
PHONE: 1 877 260 3950
An Arctic tour with Encounters Travel is guaranteed to show off the country's natural beauty and unique wildlife – making it an irresistible draw for anyone looking to get close to nature and experience an adventure of a lifetime.
An Arctic tour introduces you to the frigid land and ice-covered seas that are home to the polar bear, caribou, musk oxen, arctic fox, whale and numerous species of bird and all set to the stunning backdrop of snow and ice – the perfect opportunity to experience Arctic wildlife.
The northern polar region is a place of unparalleled beauty – its ice-filled seas, glacier streaked mountains and vast polar deserts make it a truly memorable place to visit.
A cruise in Canada's Northwest Passage is a popular option and perfect for an Arctic expedition - its highlights include Prince Leopold Island, where spectacular sandstone cliffs are the nesting home to thousands of thick-billed murres, northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes; the iceberg-filled Bellot Strait; and Cambridge Bay, the Musk ox capital of the world.
A cruise around Norway's Svalbard Archipelago, Iceland and Greenland offers a great opportunity to view polar bear, walrus and caribou. Sightings of Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Ducks, Kittiwakes and Glaucous Gulls are possible in and around the many glacier-fed fjords.
If you’re keen on an Arctic tour and seeking the ultimate adventure to the North Pole, it is very possible on board a specially designed ice-breaker ship however, spaces are very limited to the North Pole.
The best way to experience the wonderful variety of scenery and wildlife of the Arctic is onboard one of the many specially converted expedition cruise boats, although the land-only option is possible.
There are plenty of cruise ships to choose from and the lengths of itineraries vary depending on which area of the Arctic you are interested in visiting and, of course, your budget.
The expedition vessels range in size from 50 to 130 passenger and levels of comfort vary accordingly. Typical embarkation ports include Resolute Bay in Canada, Juneau in Alaska and Spitsbergen in Norway – an almost complete Arctic circle.
Our suggested Arctic tour itineraries are a good starting point and will give you an idea of what's available.
At Encounters Travel, our Arctic tours are based on specific cruise ships which we prefer to use, however, if you have a preferred shipper, we can normally provide a quote including all air and ground arrangements pre and post-cruise.
It is also possible to include some extra time either before or after your cruise, to explore your country of embarkation – simply contact us for any additional information.
My experience with Encounters was excellent from start to finish. The Tour Guide, Sheriff, was the most passionate, enthusiastic and professional guide I have ever had on a tour and his love for Egypt really made me enjoy my time so much more.
Encounters Travel did such a superb job in organizing this tour. I had never heard of them before going on the Maldives Magic tour, however now I will recommend them to friends/family and use them for my future planned trips.
Our tour is what made the trip that much more memorable. Rather than being plopped at a westernized resort, we were able to get a taste of how the locals live, eat and entertain themselves. We stayed in quaint guesthouses on the islands amongst the locals, ate authentic Maldivian cuisine (one day even with a Maldivian family who made us breakfast), and viewed a traditional dance/singing performance which was absolutely delightful. This was a trip of a lifetime that I will never forget.
I thought it was very good we didn't have to worry about anything everything was in order and kept with the schedule as planned, unless we wanted to deviated from it to do somethingelse. The trip really a trip of a life time.
There was a time many years ago that I wanted to travel to Egypt and didn't because of the cost. This trip was, to me, very affordable. I think everyone should experience this trip. The tour guide was alos excellent, Sherif Mohammad.
Took care of every single detail from prior to our arrival in Cario until we we're dropped of at the airport a week later.
Our hotels, tours, meals, and tour group we're all wonderful.
Our tour guide was wonderful!
The price was great and the people wonderful!
I purchased my rid tour as part of a group coupon. Is obituary hesitant but my tour was great. The staff at Encounters were professional and helpful. I had a lot of questions but no one made me feel like a pest. Good experience.
I always wanted to go to Morocco and I finally got to go last September. I'm glad I chose this tour group. They were professional and attentive. Good times!
Time: GMT-4
Dial Code: The area code for the three Territories of Canada in the Arctic far north is +867.
Area: 13,985,000 km2
Elevation: The lowest point in the Arctic is the Litke Deep in the Eurasian Basin, at 5,450m (17,880 ft.) | The highest point in the Arctic is the Gunnbjørn Fjeld, Sermersooq, Island of Greenland, Greenland summit at 3694m (12,119 ft.)
Population: About 4 million people live in the Arctic
Capital: Tromsø
Government: The eight Arctic nations make up the Arctic Council
Language: Inuktitut
The Arctic is a polar region situated at the northernmost part of the Earth. The Arctic encompasses the Arctic Ocean, nearby seas and parts of Alaska (United States), Northern Canada, Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Russia.
The landscape of the Arctic is characterised by seasonally varying snow and ice cover, as well as treeless permafrost (permanently frozen underground ice) containing tundra. Depending on the season, parts of the Arctic seas feature blocks of ice. The Arctic land is bordered by the subarctic.
The climate in the Arctic consists of cold winters and cool summers. The precipitation is usually in the form of snow. The coastal climate is influenced by the ocean with warmer temperatures and heavier rainfalls. Global warming is currently affecting the Arctic, resulting in sea ice shrinkage and diminished ice in the Greenland ice sheet.
The indigenous people of the Arctic and the cultures in the region have adapted to the cold conditions over the years. Herbivores living in the tundra include the caribou, the lemming, the Arctic hare and the muskox. There is also a vast collection of birds and marine species that reside in the colder regions.
The Arctic has sizeable natural resources, such as gas, minerals, fish and fresh water. The region encompasses some of the last continuous wilderness areas in the world. The Arctic holds one-fifth of the Earth's water supply. The Arctic's tourism industry is on the rise.
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Overview of the diverse and unique wildlife of the Arctic from polar bears to humpback whale, to walrus and arctic fox.
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