The Arctic | Expert Panel: Stories from the Edge of the World
Release Date: 10/08/2025
Luxury Travel Insider
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info_outlineToday we’re venturing to one of the most remote and awe-inspiring places on Earth - the Arctic. Where ice meets ocean, wildlife roams freely, and every moment feels extraordinary. There’s a saying amongst explorers: “In the far north, every moment feels like a first.”
Joining me to inspire your first journey to the Arctic are Cindy Hopkins, a photographer who has spent over 30 years capturing the Arctic’s beauty, and Captain Ettiene Garcia, the first mariner to reach the North Pole of Inaccessibility - a point so remote even seasoned explorers dream about it.
Together we chat about luxury icebreakers, rare wildlife encounters, unforgettable itineraries, and the stories that make this part of the world so magical.
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