Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen to Reykjavík

Longyearbyen, the northernmost permanent settlement in the world, is a unique port in the Svalbard archipelago, rich in history and breathtaking Arctic landscapes. Must-do experiences include savoring local delicacies like reindeer stew and exploring the stunning fjords of Raudfjord and Liefdefjorden. The best time to visit is during the summer months, when the midnight sun illuminates the stunning scenery.

Ny-Ålesund, one of the world's northernmost settlements on Svalbard's Spitsbergen island, is a former coal-mining town turned elite international research station, renowned as the departure point for Amundsen's historic 1926 North Pole flight. Visitors should not miss a Zodiac excursion beneath the calving face of Kronebreen glacier and the extraordinary wildlife encounters — polar bears, Arctic foxes, and seabird colonies — found throughout Kongsfjorden and neighbouring Raudfjord. The optimal visiting window is July through August, when the midnight sun illuminates the tundra in perpetual golden light and sea ice conditions allow the fullest access to surrounding fjords.

Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a thousand kilometres from the North Pole, where polar bears outnumber humans, glaciers calve into pristine fjords, and the midnight sun illuminates an Arctic wilderness of extraordinary beauty. Must-do experiences include Zodiac cruises along glacier fronts, wildlife watching for polar bears and walruses, and visiting the Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen. June through September is the expedition season.

Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a thousand kilometres from the North Pole, where polar bears outnumber humans, glaciers calve into pristine fjords, and the midnight sun illuminates an Arctic wilderness of extraordinary beauty. Must-do experiences include Zodiac cruises along glacier fronts, wildlife watching for polar bears and walruses, and visiting the Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen. June through September is the expedition season.

Ittoqqortoormiit is one of Earth's most isolated settlements, a 350-person Inuit community at the mouth of the world's longest fjord system on Greenland's remote east coast. Must-dos include Zodiac exploration of the monumental Scoresby Sund fjords, watching for musk oxen on the tundra, and visiting the colorful Arctic community. Mid-July through September offers the narrow window when sea ice permits access.

Ittoqqortoormiit is one of Earth's most isolated settlements, a community of 350 on the shores of the world's largest fjord system in East Greenland, surrounded by cathedral-sized icebergs, muskox herds, and polar bears. Visitors should cruise Scoresby Sund's dramatic ice-filled arms, experience Inuit dog-sledding culture, and watch for polar bears on the sea ice. The brief visiting window of July through September depends entirely on ice conditions.

Húsavík, Europe's whale-watching capital on northern Iceland's Skjálfandi Bay, offers over ninety-five percent sighting rates of humpbacks, blue whales, and minke whales in nutrient-rich Arctic waters. A world-class whale museum and proximity to Dettifoss waterfall, Ásbyrgi canyon, and Mývatn's geothermal wonders extend the experience. HX Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, and Seabourn bring expedition travelers to this colorful fishing town where Arctic cuisine and cetacean encounters converge with quiet Icelandic authority.

Grundarfjörður is a fishing town at the base of Kirkjufell, Iceland's most photographed mountain, and the gateway to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula—dubbed "Iceland in miniature" for its concentrated geological diversity. Must-dos include photographing Kirkjufell with its companion waterfall and exploring Snæfellsjökull, the glacier volcano from Jules Verne's novel. June and July offer midnight sun and the most reliable weather for peninsula exploration.

Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital, distils the entire improbable beauty of Iceland into one compact, creatively charged city. The soaring basalt columns of Hallgrímskirkja dominate a skyline of primary-coloured rooftops, while the Harpa Concert Hall shimmers beside the harbour like a captured aurora. Day trips from the city unlock the Golden Circle's geysers and Geysir hot spring, the black sand beaches of Vík, and the ethereal glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón. Geothermal pools — from the legendary Blue Lagoon to intimate neighbourhood hot pots — offer warmth year-round. June and July bring the bewitching midnight sun.