Northern Adventures – Iceland, The Northern Lights and the North Pole
Are you up for an adventure? As the northern hemisphere careens toward winter, there are some great adventures to be had way up north. Not your average vacation, these trips are often high-thrill and big on intensity. If you aren’t afraid of the cold, snow and ice, here are some expeditions and experiences that you might want to plan in 2017 or one winter in the future:
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Iceland: Iceland’s geology in all its manifestations––glaciers, thundering waterfalls, immense cliffs, geothermal springs, boiling mud pots, and rock and lava-scapes of unearthly beauty––is world-class. It alone makes a circumnavigation a very compelling idea. And when you add in the other itinerary components––Iceland’s people, their unique cultural heritage and contemporary character, the island’s geography and birdlife––seeing it all in one 360º expedition is irresistible. (Photo of Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in Iceland. There is a path that leads under the waterfall and around in a loop if you have the time. Beware the water is quite cold and you will get wet.
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Northern Lights Winter Nights: If you’d like a guided adventure through the Canadian tundra that includes buggy rides, snowshoeing, a dog sled ride and extreme photography, then you might be interested in the Northern Lights Winter Nights package at Frontiers North Adventures. You’ll start and end your trip in Winnipeg, and will be delighted by awesome views of the Northern Lights each night of your adventure, in addition to various exhilarating outdoor activities.
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Visit the North Pole: No, you won’t be lining up to visit Santa and his elves; instead, you’ll be crushing through the ice with Quark Expeditions in a trek to the top of the world. The adventure begins and ends in Helsinki, Finland. From there, you’ll take a chartered plane, then a cruise ship, toward the North Pole. You’ll be able to see it all from above on a breathtaking helicopter ride, and you also have the option of taking in the views from a hot air balloon. You’ll visit Franz Josef Land, an island so remote that it was discovered after Antarctica. When your adventure is over, you’ll return to Finland.
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Arctic Circle Cruises: Take an adventure to see Polar bears. Some of the programs and activities offered include camping on a glacier overnight, whale-watching, sea kayaking and close up photography. In addition to cruises, popular tour companies offer trips to the Arctic Circle region that you may want to consider, like the National Geographic Land of the Polar Bears, the Tauck Tours Manitoba: Polar Bear Adventure or the 8 day Realm of the Polar Bear.Visiting the extreme northern part of the globe isn’t for the faint of heart! If you have the need for adventure and the craving to see a place that is nearly untouched, though, you might consider one of these northern adventures.
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These are recent photos from a friend who took a Polar Bear expedition.
