Frozen lakes, dark green pines, and white-and-red Scandinavian farmhouses flank both sides of the railway as we swoosh through the white snow on our modern-day polar express. We’re climbing higher and higher into the mountains and the slopes are plunging into the endless depth. As I peer down and look beneath the tracks, my head spins slightly. It’s easy to get [...]
At the start of December, we set off on an epic train journey around the coldest reaches of Europe with Eurail.Com. This journey – which we aptly named the Ice Run – was all about the ice, the powdery snow, the raw wilderness and the chilly cold. To mush in the sugar-coated winter land, we tried our hands at all sort of [...]
Extending for hundreds of miles above the Arctic Circle, Lapland is one of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe. For many, this northern extreme is a mystery – where the midnight sun shines endlessly in summer and the stunning Aurora Borealis dances in the sky during the long, polar winter nights. Stretching across four countries and bounded by three different [...]
Of all the places we visited on the Ice Run, Trondheim has got to be the biggest surprise for us. Surrounded by fjords, the city is a charming Nordic enclave rich in history and traditional flair. The town itself is tastefully built around a hill, studded with narrow cobble stoned alleys, classic Norwegian houses and [...]
“Are we going on these cool trucks?” We were standing in front of three restored military tanks that looked like they were taken straight out of a James Bond movie. “Yes, we normally use these to bring guests up the ski slopes when it’s too windy to run the cable car”. Our guide Svein explained. [...]
As the year comes to an end, we have reached the first half of our Ice Run journey through the coldest parts of Europe. Over the past few weeks, we have ridden a reindeer sleigh and met Santa Claus in Finland, caught the Northern Lights and visited Sweden’s original ICEHOTEL as well as tried our [...]
Winter has quickly crept upon us in the northern hemisphere as we gear up for the cold weather. With Nellie and Alberto having just finished the Ice Run, it’s all about fun in ice and snow this winter here at WildJunket. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, winter offers up many chances to try your hand at something [...]
To end the year with a bang, we’re off again – this time heading into the coldest reaches of Europe on an epic train journey. Perhaps it’s because Antarctica got me hooked to the cold, or perhaps a white Christmas sounds all too tempting, the sub-zero temperatures are calling! We’ve teamed up with Eurail.Com to explore Northern Europe on [...]
Crackling glaciers, roaming reindeers and polar bears – the Arctic might be at the edge of the world, but it sure is bursting with life. By Nellie Huang | Originally published in WildJunket Magazine February/March 2012. olar bear on starboard!” I’d been so transfixed by the dazzling white ice field that I hadn’t noticed a [...]
“Run!” My expedition leader shouts. There’s no turning back. Despite the heavy snow, I’ve peeled off my parka, fleece, gore-tex, hat, socks and boots. Within seconds, my feet is numb and my hair is standing. In nothing more than my bikini, I race my fellow expedition mates towards the freezing waters. In …
“Roaw roaw..” Our expedition guide Frank Todd called. The resident biologist who’d spent decades working with marine mammals, obviously had some tricks up his sleeves. It wasn’t long before an inquisitive group of over 25 walruses swam up to him, snotting and whistling as they waddled their way onshore. One of them came …
// There’s something haunting about the Arctic landscapes: aqua blue icebergs floating on crystal water, massive glaciers crackling in the background towered by snow mountains. Few places boast such striking physical appeal and raw wilderness as the polar regions. Since returning from the Arctic, I’ve found it hard to get the images of sparkling glaciers [...]
A walrus and its calf lounging on a floating ice sheet near Nordaustlandet in the Arctic.
I’ve just returned from an Arctic expedition with Gap Adventures, onboard their formidable MS Expedition cruise. While circumnavigating the island of Spitsbergen in the Norwegian Arctic, we saw over 15 polar bears, came across a herd of over 100 walruses, climbed a massive glacier and even swam in the freezing Arctic waters. The Arctic conditions might be [...]
“There it is!” A fellow passenger pointed out to a vanilla-colored fur ball in the midst of the dazzling white ice field. The Arctic can play tricks on your eyes – under the glaring midnight sun and the reflective ice, it was easy to let your imagination run wild. I …
Receive updates in your inbox
Annette: What beautiful wildlife, though having the marbled...
panetes: Thank you very much for your kind words! We'r...
tiger resorts india: awesome, will try it soon. ...
Jam @icoSnap: Awesome! Can't wait to see the beautiful pho...
