Traverse Herschel Island's rolling tundra plateau with a specialist Arctic naturalist, discovering an extraordinary carpet of wildflowers, permafrost landforms, and sweeping 360° views across the Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta. Utterly pristine, utterly remote.
What to expect
Setting out from Pauline Cove, your naturalist leads you up onto the open tundra plateau that crowns the island — a vast, low-growing garden of Arctic cotton grass, Lapland rosebay, and dwarf willows in riotous summer bloom. You'll examine active thermokarst formations — dramatic permafrost collapse features that speak directly to climate change happening in real time — while your guide contextualises the science in ways that are accessible and deeply moving. At the island's high point, the panorama stretches from the Richardson Mountains to open Beaufort pack ice on a clear day. Watch for Arctic fox, snowy owls, and caribou that swim across from the mainland.
Good to know
Wear sturdy waterproof hiking boots — tundra terrain is wet and uneven. Bring insect repellent (Arctic mosquitoes are legendary in July). Confirm the hike duration fits within your ship's port schedule, typically 6–8 hours in port. Sunscreen is essential; UV exposure is high despite low temperatures.