Arctic Island Odyssey

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.

Alpefjord is a spectacular fjord within Northeast Greenland National Park — the world's largest national park — where Alpine-scale peaks rise over 2,000 metres above glaciated waters and muskoxen roam the tundra below. Must-dos include Zodiac cruising beneath towering cliff faces, watching for muskoxen on the fjord shores, and hiking through landscapes few humans have ever visited. The extremely brief season runs August through early September, with access dependent on ice conditions.

Rodefjord is a spectacularly colourful tributary of Greenland's Scoresby Sund system, where rust-red sandstone cliffs contrast with electric-blue icebergs in one of the Arctic's most visually striking landscapes. Must-dos include Zodiac cruising among icebergs beneath the coloured cliffs, watching for polar bears and muskoxen on the fjord shores, and hiking through ancient geological formations. The brief navigable window runs late July through early September, with access subject to unpredictable ice conditions.

Hurry Inlet is a remote fjord in eastern Greenland's King Christian X Land, offering access to internationally significant Mesozoic fossil beds and tundra landscapes grazed by muskoxen beneath dramatic basalt cliffs. Must-dos include Zodiac landings to explore fossil-rich formations, watching muskoxen herds on the tundra plateau, and spotting gyrfalcons on the fjord cliffs. Expedition ships visit late July through September, with access depending on pack ice conditions in the Denmark Strait.

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.