There’s something about an ice-covered landscape that never fails to move the soul. Vast, remote and untamed, our cold places seem to exist on another plane. Ice travel isn’t simply journeying to frozen climes, its adventuring into the deepest wild, to experience nature in its rawest and most powerful form.
The creaking of a glacier, the popping blue of ancient ice and the calls and conversations of the wildlife create an environment that touches timeless. Sea and land tell stories of endurance and adaptation, teasing and challenging visitors to step beyond their zones of comfort and to embrace their unknowns; to wonder at their limits and to see themselves there.
Perception of scale changes. Ice sheets seem to stretch the horizon, dwarfing human presence. Towering icebergs float silently, each a piece of natural history carved by time, wind and water.
Stillness pervades. One pauses to watch the dance of light on frozen water; one listens to the roaring silence in the tundra and, in doing so, one realises that to visit is not to conquer, but to submit, to bow to majesty, to witness space unbound by human intervention.
Ice holidays beckon those who seek more than just a destination or a box to tick, who want more than the easy, replicable rush of piste-based adrenaline. They call to those who want adventure, to see where few have seen and to feel how few have felt. Ice calls those who crave connection: to the past, the present and the future.
Cold, dear reader, is cool.
Let it snow; and let’s cooly consider some of hottest experiences out there…
Exploration of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica
For many, Antarctica serves up the greatest show on earth.
Make the rite of passage: cross Drakes Passage from Argentina to Antarctica and land, by zodiac craft, amongst thousands of king penguins. Listen to their gossipy chatter. Kayak or paddleboard between icebergs and hike across the white continent.
Sail the Scotia Sea, follow Shackleton’s route to South Georgia. Visit abandoned whaling stations and modern-day research stations. Expect exceptional wildlife sightings, including penguins, elephant seals, albatross and dolphin. Make far-flung friends, taking a tipple in a colourful English pub in the Falkland’s capital of Stanley.
Choose small, intimate vessels for your adventure such as the Greg Mortimer or the Sylvia Earle. Big isn’t beautiful when it comes to boats. Small gets you closer; you’ll see more, learn more, becoming shipmates instead of passengers whilst doing your bit to save the sights for who comes after.
East Greenland Expedition
Greenland, eye-wideningly vast and best explored by small expedition ships such as the M/S Balto, delivers a luxury of diverse experiences. Explore the remote fjords and Inuit communities in the east. Wander the towns of Tasiilaq and Kuummiut, hike to waterfalls, visit the abandoned WW II base. Sail to 55 mile long Sermilik Fjord and wonder as the huge icebergs calved from the Helheim glacier float gently by. You’ll see wildlife too. Look out for Arctic fox, seals and the whales who thrive in the abundant waters. For Northern Lights? August.
Walking with Polar Bears in Canada’s Hudson Bay
Want to go wilder? Why not spend a week in Canada’s Hudson Bay, the heart of polar bear country. Guided by experts, you’ll kayak alongside pods of beluga whales and, hiking on the tundra, see polar bears, moose and more. Finish the trip with a guided tour of Churchill before flying back to Winnipeg.
For prime polar bear sightings, stay at Seal River Heritage Lodge, with its panoramic views, delivering a real wilderness feel.
Polar bears, muskox and Inuit culture in Nunavik
Staying in Canada, venture beyond the 55th parallel where taiga forests meet wild tundra and polar bears outnumber people. Here, your expedition will combine meeting Inuit culture with the spectacular Arctic wildlife of the uninhabited Gyrfalcon Islands in northern Quebec’s Ungava Bay. You’ll use a heated shelter pod at the isolated Ungava Polar Camp as your base; but beware: it’s only accessible for one month of the year before the ice returns. Explore by bike, ATV or on foot to encounter polar bears, muskox, Arctic fox and Arctic tern. By boat go in search of minke and beluga whales, bearded seals and seabirds.
You’ll experience Nunavik food at its best and, on clear nights, inky skies illuminate with the Northern Lights. What a trip.
Snowmobiling in Svalbard
For those wishing to see civilisation at its very edge, Svalbard is your jam. From Longyearbyen, the world’s most northernmost settlement, navigate by snowmobile through the pristine landscape of glacial valleys and frozen fjords.
Stay at Nordenskiöld Lodge, an isolated hideaway with cozy log-burning fires, hearty home-cooked meals and a wood-fired sauna, only accessible by your means of transport. Visit the abandoned Russian coal settlement of Pyramiden, the ghost city of Svalbard; and, from there, by snowmobile and by snowshoe, explore the glaciers around Olav V land, deep in polar bear territory.
Glacier hiking in Argentinian Patagonia
Glacier hiking may sound a little ‘punchy’ for some but, with the right guides in the right places, experiences can be perfectly tailored to your skill level and pace, from meek to the extreme.
Argentinian Patagonia, for those keen to stretch their legs, offers spectacular in abundance. Traverse the Perito Moreno Glacier in the Glaciares National Park, navigating crevasses and ice sheets using crampons for greater grip. The glacier soars above Lake Argentino and is fed by the colossal Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which extends for approximately 220 miles. Such sights, such sounds, they beggar language. You’ll have no words, but many memories.
You’ll want to rest your legs, so return to your private dome at Morena Camp, complete with wood-burning stove and magnificent views. And, on another day, if you have the energy, return to the national park, but this time on horseback.
Ice caving in Alaska’s Denali National Park
Alaska, the largest state in the union; but how best to experience its multiple charms? Ice caving. With an expert guide, why not rappel down ice structures to explore the caverns at Ruth Glacier’s core, perched on North America’s tallest peak, Denali. Take a gourmet glacier picnic. Take a glacier pool plunge to liven you up, tour the backcountry on skis.
Arriving by helicopter, the informed traveller will stay at Sheldon Chalet, positioned at 6,000 feet, overlooking the Don Sheldon Amphitheatre.
Arctic Kayaking in Northern Norway
Norway never disappoints, its frosty bite unforgettable to visitors. Paddle the pristine waters around Jøkelfjord with guided insight into the glacial geology and ecosystems of the region, as well as Norway’s Arctic heritage and the Sami culture. Look out for seals, seabirds and porpoises, and, if the conditions are right, paddle up to the Øksfjordjøkelen glacier, one of the largest in the country.
You’ll have earned a good night’s sleep. Take it at Isbreen The Glacier in an igloo dome with a wood-burning stove and private hot tub.
Frostbitten?
Go cold. The ice will speak to you, it will melt your heart, it will warm you to the world. The silence. The noise. The splendour.
Button up, gloves on. Go. Lives will be changed.
Get in touch with one of our travel experts to create the perfect icy itinerary for you.