The Russian Arctic is a remote part of uncharted

Dreaming of an unparalleled adventure of epic proportions? A Russian Arctic & North Pole expedition may be just the ticket to the wild north you’ve been looking for. A colossal passage of the world’s harshest seas, a spectacular glimpse into magnificent and pristine wilderness and encounters with the stoic people who live on the roof of our world.

Plus…there are always the polar bears. These are just some

of the Highlights of a Russian Arctic Expedition.

The Russian Arctic is a remote part of uncharted land that’s

only recently opened up to commercial tourism. People come here in search of

the impossible, the remote, the harsh and the utterly mesmerizing.

From the wilds of the Siberian coastline to pristine arctic

islands like Wrangel, encounters with the hardy folks who call the remote Chukotka Region home, sea voyages across the wildlife-enriched Barents Sea and even fly-in adventures to the North Pole base camp: the chances for unforgettable adventures here are abundant and phenomenal.

Here are the most incredible highlights of a Russian Arctic & North

Pole Expedition:

Svalbard, Norway – The most well-known destination in the

Arctic region, Svalbard is the world’s northernmost populated land and a cluster of supremely pristine islands floating about half way between the Scandinavian mainland and the North Pole.

One of the best Northern Lights viewing platforms on earth,

Svalbard boasts a swath of frozen tundra home to Arctic Foxes, Polar Bears and endemic reindeer. Of all the destinations on Russian Arctic Expeditions, Svalbard is by far the most renowned, the easiest to reach and the one with the best infrastructure.

Tourism popularity notwithstanding – because all things are relative, after all – Svalbard is that hauntingly harsh frozen wonderland you dream of when you think of an Arctic adventure. Vertiginous glaciers, snow-capped mountains, endless horizons of rock and ice and a place where Polar Bears reign and humans survive. The most pristine and remote corner of Europe offers husky-led overland adventures, snowmobile excursions and boat trips by icebreakers. Svalbard is one of the most popular and convenient springboards for Russian Arctic & North Pole expeditions.

Crossing of the Barents Sea

With ocean waters shared by Norway and Russian, the Barents

was a hotly contested chunk of Arctic Sea for many years, all the way up until 2011 when a treaty between the two nations was finally signed. Arguably the most prolific breeding seabird sanctuary on our planet, the Barents Sea is a phenomenal confluence of freezing cold Arctic waters and warmer Atlantic waters, spawning a plethora of unique marine wildlife.

A crossing of the Barents Sea is an awe-inspiring experience. As summer creeps, more and more of the sea defrosts, attracting nearly 20 million sea birds in search of food and optimal breeding grounds. The world’s largest cold water reef is a magnet for large colonies of seals and

whales on hunting missions.

Franz Josef Land, Russia

A cluster of high Russian Arctic islands inhabited only by

local army personnel, a Franz Josef Land expedition can be your first taste of a ‘totally out there’ Russian Arctic & North Pole experience. Once you

leave the comforts of Svalbard and sail across the Barents Sea, you’ll reach the northernmost archipelago on earth, a collection of 192 islets that’s about as remote as one could get. These islands are currently under scientific

scrutiny and seem to hold many answers as to the consequences of global warming on our planet. Endless harsh plains of basalt inhabited by walruses, foxes and Polar Bears.

Harsh frigid seas that are playgrounds for bowhead, beluga

and humpback whales. Up here, you are 800 nautical miles north of the Arctic Circle, where permafrost and arctic winds prevent all but the hardiest of flora and fauna from thriving. In summer, when the sun never sets, the landscapes of Franz Josef Land are spectacularly breathtaking.