The polar regions contain some of the most spectacular wilderness on Earth. From the vast ice sheets and frozen seas of the Arctic to Antarctica’s immense glaciers, mountains and wildlife-rich Southern Ocean, these are landscapes shaped by extremes. Yet, despite their apparent harshness, the polar regions support a remarkable abundance of wildlife, much of it superbly adapted to life in a world of ice, snow and cold seas. In the Arctic, wildlife holidays offer opportunities to search for Polar Bears, Walruses, Arctic Foxes and Reindeer, alongside vast seabird colonies and an impressive variety of whales and dolphins. Svalbard is one of the region’s great wildlife destinations, where our expedition cruise explores dramatic coastlines of glaciers, fjords and tundra in search of Polar Bears and other high arctic wildlife.
At the opposite end of the planet, Antarctica offers a very different wildlife experience. Enormous colonies of penguins gather along its coasts and islands, including Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and Emperor Penguins, while Leopard, Weddell and Crabeater Seals inhabit the surrounding seas. Humpback, Minke and Orca are among the cetaceans that may be encountered, and albatrosses and petrels accompany ships across the Southern Ocean. The sub-Antarctic islands add another dimension. South Georgia, in particular, supports wildlife on an extraordinary scale, with beaches crowded by hundreds of thousands of King Penguins and breeding Southern Elephant Seals and Antarctic Fur Seals. Whether exploring by expedition ship, zodiac or on foot, a journey to the polar regions offers the chance to experience wildlife against a backdrop of glaciers, sea ice, towering mountains and some of the planet’s last great wildernesses.
