Hiking Excursions in the Arctic and Antarctica

Hiking excursions are a fundamental part of polar expedition cruises, offering an intimate, up-close experience of the landscapes and wildlife. All operators offer landings with hiking excursions in remote parts of the Arctic and Antarctica.

Nature of the Excursions
You can actively explore the polar regions through hiking, which is often enhanced by additional activities like kayaking, zodiac cruising, and camping. These daily adventures are led by an experienced, English-speaking Expedition Team.

While ashore, you hike over various surfaces. In Antarctica, expeditions visit landing sites that offer breathtaking scenery, including rookeries of penguins and seals on ice floes. Arctic destinations like Svalbard offer opportunities for traversing a glacier, exploring ghost towns of early whaling stations, remote mining towns, and spectacular fjords. A dedicated camping and hiking option is even available on the Greenlandic icecap, which involves hiking with crampons and poles.

Provided Gear and Equipment
To support the hiking and other landing activities, many operators provide complimentary gear to enhance the experience, including:

• Rubber boots and use of knee boots

• Hiking sticks or trekking poles

• Waterproof pants

• Waterproof mittens

• Waterproof backpack

• Expedition jackets or parkas

• Equipment needed for other included and optional activities

Connecting with fellow explorers through these unique experiences is common, and many travelers report making life-long friendships with like-minded individuals met on expedition cruises.

Contact Cruise Norway to learn more about excursions offered by expedition cruise lines.