Arctic Island Odyssey – Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland

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.

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 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.

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.

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.