Activities & things to see in the Arctic

Step into the set of the BBC's Frozen Planet during an Arctic wildlife cruise. You won’t be sure if you’re the hunter or the hunted, as whales bob beneath your ship, surprisingly large walruses wield their tusks beside your kayak – and the threat of a polar bear encounter looms around every icy corner. Onboard experts can help you spot – and photograph – the whitest of foxes against the whitest of backgrounds, and you’ll learn about Arctic ecosystems in the world’s largest classroom.

Top sights include polar bear cubs reaching the edge of the ice with their mothers; walruses hauling themselves onto the ice with their tusks; and shaggy musk oxen, like a creature from a strange fairytale, grazing their way across the tundra.

The type of activities available to you depend on the vacation you go for, but most involve heading out in the small fleet of Zodiac rigid hull boats that most ships carry with them. The restriction on Antarctica cruises, with only 100 passengers allowed ashore at a time, does not apply in the Arctic, but given that daily excursions involve ferrying large numbers of people back and forth, they need to be, and always are, extremely well organised.

Specialist expedition crew accompany you on excursions and the ratios are excellent, sometimes as low as 1:8, allowing you to learn a great deal from experts with years of experience in this environment and wildlife. Other crew members act as well-trained bear-spotters, armed with flares and guns and positioned on high ground. If a polar bear does appear in the close vicinity and can’t be scared off, groups will return to the ship as soon as possible.

All activities are of course entirely optional, and once everyone is on land they may be divided up into smaller groups, for instance with some heading off on two-hour hikes, the more adventurous going further and steeper, and others preferring to stick around on the beach instead. Arctic cruise itineraries are purposefully made as flexible as possible and daily schedules can easily be torn up depending on the weather or wildlife sightings. When choosing a cruise one factor you should take into account is your own fitness level, so that you can make the most of your time in the Arctic.

Hiking in the Arctic is invigorating and sensory, as you cross tundra strewn with beautiful wildflowers, climb summits such as the 400m Plateau Mountain on Spitsbergen, and listen to the loud groans of glaciers in the long process of calving icebergs. You might also strap on a pair of snowshoes (bring your own foldable poles) to traverse fields of snow and ice, explore historic mining, whaling and trapping communities, and of course there will be innumerable opportunities for photography.

Weirdly enough, taking the ‘polar plunge’ is one of the most popular activities on an Arctic cruise. It’s exactly what it sounds like: you’ll either jump from the ship (wearing a safety harness) or run from the beach into water that in summer is usually around 0°C. And no wetsuit. Most people manage only few seconds, but the bravest stay in for several minutes.

When you sign up for an outdoor adventure in a wild landscape, lecture programmes may sound rather dull. But the ships’ biologists, geographers, photographers, historians and geologists share fascinating insights about the land and creatures around you. You’ll learn to identify species, the best angle to photograph a polar bear and a little knowledge means you’ll be even more amazed by the world around you.

The Inuit have lived in some of the earth's most stunning locations and wild conditions for centuries. Yet not only do they manage to survive out here between ice and Arctic water, they have a warm, rich culture, with ancient folklore and a thriving art scene. Soapstone sculptures have today replaced the traditional bone and ivory, but the hand carving technique remains the same. Cruise to Canada's Baffin Island and the shores and islands of Greenland to meet the Inuit, see their finely woven textiles and hear their eerie throat singing. Be prepared for evidence of hunting, though – this is a subsistence culture and every part of the animal will be used. Nearby visitors' centers reveal more about the history of the Arctic peoples, and showcase their clothing and crafts.

Historically, the Thule people lived around the shores of Greenland and Arctic Canada – the remains of some of their settlements give fascinating insights into their lost culture. Eastern Siberia’s Wrangel Island reveals older culture still – with a 3,400 year old Paleo Eskimo camp.