In August of this year, I traveled to the Arctic with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. We explored Iceland, Greenland, and the Canadian High Arctic, and it was the trip of a lifetime. The Arctic is an incredible place that can vary in both landscape and weather. As a result, you must be prepared for a variety of environments. For example, during our trip, temperatures ranged from the mid-30s to mid-60s, and it was rainy for two of the 14 days while the rest of the time was sunny and beautiful!
You will receive a full packing list from Travel Beyond before your adventure, but below are some of my must-have items.
Clothing: Think Layers, Layers, Layers!
As I mentioned earlier, the Arctic can vary in temperature, so it is important to have layers. It’s common for the ship to provide a waterproof and windproof jacket for your voyage, and you can often rent a pair of waterproof pants. On board, the atmosphere is casual. Some may choose to dress up a bit for dinner while others remain in their expedition clothing from the day.
In this photo, I am wearing the waterproof jacket and pants on a hike in Greenland. This day was a bit chilly, so I had on two layers underneath the outer layer!
Essential clothing items include:
- Comfortable athletic shirts such as long sleeves and t-shirts
- Pants such as joggers, hiking pants, and leggings
- Sweaters and fleeces for layering
- One or two nicer outfits for the welcome and captain’s dinners if you would like to dress up
Expedition Gear: Be Ready for Every Adventure
On an Arctic voyage, you spend your days hiking, exploring local towns, kayaking, zodiac cruising, and more. In addition to being able to rent waterproof pants, you can often rent waterproof boots as well, so you don’t need to worry about them taking up room in your suitcase!
Here, I’m wearing the backpack linked below. Inside the backpack, I stored my sunglasses, binoculars, another lens for my camera, my water bottle, and so much more!
I recommend packing the following expedition gear:
- Hiking boots for longer hikes and walks
- Comfortable walking shoes for easier walks and dry landings in local towns
- Sunglasses with UV protection (and a backup pair if you are prone to dropping or losing sunglasses)
- Binoculars to spot animals from the ship
- Warm hat and gloves
- Bug spray and a mosquito head net
- Although we lucked out and did not experience many bugs during our trip, our guides said there are usually more in the summer months. We packed both a mosquito head net and bug spray, and although we didn’t end up needing them, I would still recommend bringing both just in case.
- Waterproof bag to store your camera, binoculars, and other gear for hikes and zodiac rides
- I used this backpack, and it was perfect. It kept all of my gear dry, and it was comfortable to carry.
Technology and Accessories: Gadgets You’ll Be Glad You Packed
It’s easy to overpack, especially when you want to make sure you have all the best technology to capture the beauty of the Arctic. I kept it simple, only bringing a few necessary items.
I brought my Canon Rebel T7 camera and frequently used my 75-300mm lens. Since the camera and lens were smaller, they were easy to pack, and I was still able to get lots of great photos!
My recommendations are:
- Camera with a high-capacity memory card, charger, and SD card reader
- Phone lanyards (one waterproof and one regular)
- There were many instances when I was gripping my phone tightly to capture the perfect photo of whales or dolphins from the ship. I wish I had brought a lanyard like this one!
- I did bring this waterproof phone pouch and lanyard which I used almost every day. It was very useful for taking photos during zodiac rides, kayaking, and more.
- E-reader
- On an Arctic expedition, you often have downtime during days at sea. In between presentations and meals, there is plenty of time to explore the amenities on board and relax. I enjoyed reading during this time, so my Kindle was great to have with me.
Happy packing, and enjoy your trip to the Arctic!