European Arctic

Arctic Animals: Herbivores on the tundra include the Arctic hare, lemming, muskox, and caribou. They are preyed on by the Arctic fox and wolf. The polar bear is also a predator, though it prefers to hunt for marine life from the ice. There are also many birds and marine species endemic to the colder regions. Other land animals include wolverines, ermines, and Arctic ground squirrels. Marine mammals include seals, walrus, and several species of cetacean—baleen whales and also narwhals, killer whales and belugas.

Ensuring that you touch, see, hear, smell and taste the last great wilderness of our planet and the proud people who live there drives everything they do. All of the trips have a strong Arctic wildlife and Inuit culture component to them, we are the best in the world at optimizing our clients probability of seeing Arctic animals in their natural habitat. The Inuit guides and elders have been travelling and living on the land all of their lives. They are constantly in search of hidden treasures; their knowledge and secrets are built into every one of our trips.

Arctic Kingdom operates trips throughout the entire Polar region including: Greenland, Russia, Svalbard and the North Pole.

In a world crowded by people and cars, concrete and ever increasing trivial matters, there is one company that offers an experience that transcends mere travel – a company that offers you a chance to immerse yourself in the last great wilderness – to experience up close the world above the Arctic Circle.

Arctic Kingdom know the Arctic like no other company and love to share it. Upscale and exclusive, we offer both scheduled trips available to anyone and custom expeditions for clients such as Disney, National Geographic, the occasional world-renowned polar explorer and of course, discerning travellers.

Ensuring that you touch, see, hear, smell and taste ‘the last great wilderness of our planet’ and the proud people who live there drives everything we do.

We’ve done away with the hotel walls and permanently parked the tundra buggy. With no cruise ship railings, no trail markers, and no clip-boarded pre-programmed, pre-packaged schedules we put as little as humanly possible between you and the Arctic you’ve come to experience.

We intentionally guide you comfortably out of your comfort zone where your pulse will quicken and your senses will sharpen – a sure ticket to revitalized awareness.

And while our trips are very carefully planned on the one hand, they are at the heart, an emotional experience guaranteed to elicit life-long memories that will remain keen and vibrant long after you’ve returned home.

One of the most captivating places on earth, the Arctic boasts vast stretches of treeless tundra, icebergs, abundant wildlife, rich Inuit culture and a remarkably invigorating isolation from the rest of the world. To truly experience the Arctic is to understand the essential Inuit belief that everything in nature is infused with the spirit of life.

Gaze into the wild eyes of a snow-white polar bear that no other human being has ever seen. Hear the sound of whales (before you see them). Touch the aqua blue surface of a millennium old iceberg. Listen to the riveting yet humbly told stories of someone who was born in an Igloo and has never lived below the Arctic Circle.

Wildlife Mecca. Likened to the Serengeti, the Arctic is a wildlife enthusiast’s haven. Ivory-tusked Narwhal, grinning belugas, majestic bowhead whales, thousands of migratory birds, to name a few – the Arctic is teeming with animals. You just need to know when and where to go. That’s where we come in.

In Spring (May/June) the Arctic reawakens with blooming exotic purple saxifrage flowers and massive migrations of birds and whales. Summer brings fine days where t-shirt clas travellers bask on sun-kissed ice. It might drop below freezing that night, but Arctic Kingdom tours enjoy the Arctic summer days when they can get them!

Best time to see:-
Polar Bears: July/August Polar Bear Mothers & newborn cubs: March
Polar Bear Migration: Oct, Nov
Narwhal, Ring Seals, Migratory Birds: Late May, June, July
Walrus: Late Jun, July
Bowhead Whales: Late May, June, July
Belugas: June, July
Caribou Migration Autumn: Early September
Caribou Migration Spring: May
Northern Lights: March, Early April

Currency
Norway: Norwegian krone
Sweden: Swedish krona
Finland: Euro
Iceland: Icelandic króna

Language
Norway: Norwegian, Sami, Kven, Tavringer, Romani
Sweden: Swedish
Finland: Finnish, Swedish, Sami
Iceland: Icelandic

Why we love it
Comprising of northern Scandinavia and Iceland, the European Arctic is full of magical experiences. From enchanting Finnish Lapland, to Tromsø – Norway’s “gateway to the Arctic”, to breathtaking and sparsely populated Iceland and all the wonderful bits in between, there’s no shortage of sights to see in the European Arctic. Here you can get an amazing view of the northern lights, see a variety of wildlife, and have a true Nordic experience.

Weather
The European Arctic consists of Subarctic and Tundra climates. Temperatures in Tromsø, Norway average -5ºC in winter and 12ºC in summer; northern Sweden averages -14ºC in winter and 14ºC in summer; Finnish Lapland averages -15ºC in winter and 14ºC in summer; and Iceland averages -4ºC in winter and 14ºC in summer. These temperatures are likely to vary across the day, and you will likely encounter more extreme temperatures the further into the Arctic Circle you travel.

Social customs & quirks
Nordic people are generally very egalitarian, practical, progressive, and modest. Personal space is valued, and they tend to be quite direct in conversation, for the most part avoiding pleasantries and “small talk”. If you are invited into someone’s home, it is good etiquette to bring a small gift for the host.

English is widely spoken in Nordic countries, but learning a greeting in the language of the country you are visiting is always recommended. Don’t assume that everyone will converse with you in English straight away.

The people of Iceland are proud of their language and their Viking heritage, and remnants of traditional Viking beliefs remain today. This includes the surprisingly popular belief in “huldufólk” or elves, with some road and building plans being altered to avoid disturbing rocks where they may dwell.

Festivals & events
In nordic countries, Christmas is anticipated and festivities begin on December 13th. Christmas Eve is celebrated with families gathering together for a feast.

Midsummer, the longest day of the year, is a very popular celebration in Scandinavian countries. Swedish people call the festival “Midsommar” and celebrations include dancing around a flower-adorned maypole. Norwegians, Finnish people, and Danes gather together for evening bonfires and processions.

The arrival of spring and Easter are celebrated across Scandinavia with good company and good food, as the short nights of the harsh winter are fading away. Icelanders celebrate “Sumardagurinn fyrsti” – the first day of summer – on the first Thursday after April 18th with parades and various other events.

Travel to the European Arctic from Australia may require a visa – to check current requirements go to https://visalink.com.au/visa-quick-check

Health*
There are currently no health requirements for entering Norway, Sweden, Finland, or Iceland, however there is a risk of hypothermia and frostbite in more extreme climates. Proper preparation will reduce the risks.