The New England saying, “You can't get there from here,” is often used by people being asked for directions to a place that can't easily be described. Although the Arctic is one of the remote wildernesses on the planet, there are actually many ways to get there, from wherever you are!
There are plenty of ways for you to get to the Arctic, depending on your home airport, preferred gateways, points of embarkation and debarkation. In this post, you'll learn which gateways are available to you, the difference between gateway and embarkation cities, and helpful tips for booking your Arctic flights.
Where is the Arctic?
The Arctic is a massive region at the top of the world consisting of everything north of the Arctic Circle, a line of latitude that spans the globe at approximately 66° 34′ N. Antarctica is a frozen continent surrounded by ocean, and the Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by continents.
The most popular Arctic destinations to visit on expedition are:
- Greenland, an enormous island belonging to Denmark
- Spitsbergen, part of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard
- Canadian High Arctic
- The North Pole, which technically doesn't belong to any single nation
- Remote Russian Arctic
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Arctic Expedition Starting Points & Embarkation Points
In some cases, your expedition starting point is also your point of embarkation. Other expeditions begin with a convenient charter flight from the starting point to a port city, where you'll meet your expedition ship. This is because some port cities that are fantastic for accommodating cruise ships aren't very accessible through commercial airlines. To identify where your voyage starts and which transfers you have to book on your own, always double-check with your Polar Travel Adviser.
Your Arctic expedition might begin in:
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Longyearbyen, Norway
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Helsinki, Finland
- Resolute, Nunavut, Canada
- or even Aberdeen, Scotland, for journeys that include the Faroe Islands
Tip: Talk to your Polar Travel Adviser about whether a charter flight is needed to reach your point of embarkation and clarify whether that cost is included in your expedition package.
Here are a few Arctic gateways you may visit en route to your point of embarkation:
- Murmansk, Russia
- Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
- Iqaluit, Nunavut
These fascinating far north cities can be worth exploring, if you choose to stay on or travel onward after your expedition. Ask a Polar Travel Adviser about your options for extending your trip or coordinating onward travel with an agent.
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North American Gateways to the Arctic
If you're traveling through Canada:
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and the Ottawa International Airport (YOW) is accessible from many international destinations. Some Canadian High Arctic voyages require passengers to fly through Toronto (YYZ).
Ottawa International Airport in the Canadian capital at night. Photo credit: YOW.ca
European Gateways to the Arctic
If you're traveling to Spitsbergen, the largest island in Norway's Svalbard archipelago
Svalbard Airport, Longyearbyen Airport (LYR), serves the island of Spitsbergen, located on the Arctic Svalbard archipelago of Norway. Just outside of the community of Longyearbyen, it is the northernmost airport in the world. To reach Longyearbyen, most travelers connect via Helsinki and Oslo.
Longyearbyen Airport serving the Arctic island of Spitsbergen. Image credit: Wikipedia
If you're traveling through Iceland:
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavik is the largest airport in Iceland, and direct flights from many international cities arrive here. For the intrepid traveler, the popular trip extension Beyond Reykjavik: Iceland Off the Beaten Path is available. This airport and the domestic airport REK are the jumping off points for a number of Quark Expedition adventures.
If you're traveling through Finland:
North Pole and other Arctic adventurers can take a direct flight to Helsinki Airport (also known as HELSINKI-VANTAA Airport), Finland (HEL) from most international cities. Here, you can spend an extra night to explore this amazing city.
Polar bears are among the wildlife sightings Quark Expeditions' guests enjoy on an Arctic expedition. Courtesy Quark Expeditions.
We can help arrange flights at your request, or provide information to help your travel agent find flights that work with your itinerary.
Remember these other important points around booking:
- Search engines and booking sites can be a convenient way to find flight deals. However, booking through a third party (rather than directly with the airline) can present unique challenges in the case of delays and cancellations. If you're booking your own flights online, make sure you understand who to contact and who is responsible for assisting you during transit. If you book flights through Quark, you can access our 24-hour Air Desk Helpline to assist you in the event of flight problems, delays or cancellations.
- You may be tempted to break your travel into separate tickets, but breaking up your fares rather than traveling on one ticket can increase the chances of delays and cancellations.
- Be sure to check your carrier's baggage limits for both carry-on and checked luggage before traveling. See our How to Pack for the Polar Regions resource for space saving packing tips.
- Protect your expedition with comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, missed connections, travel delays, accident and sickness, and medical evacuation. $100,000 in emergency evacuation insurance comes standard with every polar expedition booking. You can learn more about your insurance options here.
- Ottawa, Edmonton and Calgary are three connecting cities with direct flights to Yellowknife.
Want to learn more about planning your own epic journey to the Arctic?
- Read more Arctic adventure stories from expedition experts and travelers like you
- Check out our customized Arctic expedition brochure—which is yours to download free.
