I’m going to let you in on a secret: you don’t need a 70-metre Ice Class explorer with all the trappings to venture beyond the Arctic Circle. It helps, of course. But you don’t need it. Photo: Northern StarArctic exploration, famed for being reserved for the rugged, intrepid type that have the keen ability to fend off packs of polar bears, scurvy, frostbite and hunger with nothing but a swiss army knife (you know the stories), has become more accessible. Ice-punching tall ships are no longer a necessity for the journey, just good planning can get you there.

Around 75 percent more pleasure vessels are making the most of this too, with close to 2,000 yachts and cruise ships now making the trip annually. The Arctic Ocean might be the smallest of the world’s five, but it still boasts 14.06 million km² of area that spans eight countries, so don’t expect the region to be thriving with fellow explorers – they’ll be few and far between.Photo: We Follow Heroes // Pelorus Safety is paramount when looking into high latitude cruising and it goes without saying that you want a trustworthy vessel that can withstand the harsh temperatures and pressures of the Arctic Ocean. An Ice Class vessel would definitely be favourable, but not owning one doesn’t make the region inaccessible  – it just…