Nestled among fjords, islands and snow-capped mountains you'll find Tromsø, a modern urban center still rich in history, with more traditional Norwegian wooden houses than anywhere else in Northern Norway. You'll find the most northerly botanical gardens and planetarium here, where the warming effect of the Gulf Stream gives Tromsø a more temperate climate than surrounding areas.
Qaanaaq, formerly known as Thule, is one of the northernmost towns on the planet. Local Inuit share their culture and traditional way of life with visitors, who may just catch a glimpse of a dog sled, a narwhal hunt, or a breeching humpback whale against the stunning scenery. This far north, the midnight sun lasts from April to August, giving passengers ample opportunity for sightseeing, photography, and drinking in the dramatic geography.
Scoresbysund (Kangertittivaq in Greenlandic), on the Eastern coast of Greenland, boasts the world's largest fjord system, spanning over 38,000 km2. It's also unusually rich in Arctic flora and fauna, despite the long, harsh winters. Arctic willow and dwarf birch grace the lower slopes of the mountains, before giving way to fertile land draped in heather, herbs and a variety of grasses.
Visitors to Ilulissat, a remote Greenland town in the Arctic Circle, marvel at the Illulisat Icefjord (Ilulissat Kangerlua in Greenlandic), a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. This world-famous fjord runs from just south of the town of Illulisat, 40 km east to the Greenlandic ice sheet. The town itself was established in 1741 and named Jacobshavn after its trading post's owner, Jacob Severin.
Travel the famed Europe-Asia sea route, where Franklin's Expedition remains lost to this day. Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Northwest Passage runs along Canada's far northern coast, through the Canadian Arctic archipelago and its 35,000 islands. Traveling from Europe, Quark passengers leave the Atlantic Ocean behind as we enter the Davis Strait, then Baffin Bay.
Canada's newest and largest territory, Nunavut, spans over 2 million km2 in pristine Northern Canada. Formerly a part of the Northwest Territories, the picturesque region is home to just under 32,000 people, mostly Inuit. Travellers to Nunavut may find themselves getting up close and personal with walrus or polar bear on Monumental Island, or immersed in tradition and culture in Cape Dorset, the world's Inuit Art Capital. Wildlife and adventure abound from tiny Kimmirut on Baffin Island to Akpatok Island in Baffin Bay.
Plan to spend a few days in 'Granite City' Aberdeen, Scotland, before setting sail for Norway via the Orkney Islands and Shetland. Scotland's third largest city is a cultural hub packed with museums, galleries, festivals, theaters and live music venues. In the Orkney Islands, an archipelago of about 70 islands in Northern Scotland, you'll experience the most remote uninhabited island in the UK.
Hiking in the polar regions differs from your typical trail experience. Here, in a tree-less terrain, you are the tallest figure on the landscape as you walk over spongy tundra, crusty snow or sandy beaches in remotes parts of the Arctic and Antarctica. Stepping ashore anywhere in the polar regions means you’re not a distant observer.
Located just below the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is Europe’s second largest island and owes its existence to numerous volcanoes which merged through various eruptions. Less than one-fifth of Iceland is covered in vegetation, and the majority is barren mountains, lava beds, glaciers and ice fields. Cruising coastal Iceland brings a unique perspective on this vibrant country and showcases the geological drama of the land.
Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, located halfway between Norway and the North Pole.