Snowshoeing

In the polar regions, some of the most memorable moments happen after the Zodiac has landed on the shore, whether that be ice or rock. 

The expedition team will first establish a safe perimeter, and the ship is now a distant silhouette on the horizon. Ahead lies a landscape of untouched snow stretching towards glaciers, mountain ridges and frozen valleys.

This is where snowshoeing transforms an expedition cruise from a sightseeing journey into something far more immersive.

Unlike traditional cruising, expedition voyages are designed to get passengers off the ship and into the landscape. In destinations such as Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, snowshoeing allows travellers to move beyond the immediate landing site and explore terrain that would otherwise be difficult to access on foot.

Whether crossing a frozen glacial plain, climbing a snow-covered ridge or quietly approaching a wildlife observation point, snowshoeing offers one of the most rewarding ways to experience the polar wilderness.

Every snowshoeing excursion starts the same way: in a Zodiac.

These inflatable expedition boats are the workhorses of polar exploration, ferrying passengers from ship to shore through ice-strewn waters and remote fjords. Landings often take place on rocky beaches, snow-covered shorelines, sea ice or alongside glacier fronts where no permanent infrastructure exists.

The transition can feel very dramatic. One moment you are aboard a modern expedition vessel; the next, you are stepping directly into one of the most remote landscapes on Earth.

After landing, guides assess snow conditions and distribute snowshoes where required. Routes are planned according to weather, terrain and wildlife activity, with expedition leaders carefully balancing exploration opportunities against environmental and safety considerations.

Snowshoes are deceptively simple to use and fit.

Their purpose is to spread body weight over a larger surface area, preventing hikers from sinking deeply into soft snow. In polar environments, this can mean the difference between effortless progress and exhausting post-holing through waist-deep drifts.

For first-time users, the learning curve is surprisingly short. Modern snowshoes are lightweight, secure and designed for stability across varied terrain.

What surprises many travellers is how quickly movement becomes natural. Instead of struggling against the snow, hikers glide across it, reaching places that would otherwise remain inaccessible.

The result is a rare sensation of freedom in landscapes that often appear hostile from a distance.

Perhaps the greatest appeal of snowshoeing is the opportunity to experience wildlife at ground level and not be sea.

While strict regulations govern wildlife interactions, travelling quietly on foot often allows visitors to observe animals behaving naturally within their environment.

In Antarctica, snowshoe groups may encounter penguin colonies from designated viewing distances, watching birds commute between nesting sites and the sea.

In Svalbard, Arctic foxes occasionally appear along snow-covered slopes, while reindeer can sometimes be observed grazing on exposed tundra. One of the ExplorEarth team recently encountered a Svalbard reindeer on a snowshoeing hike, pictured below, which was a magical experience. 

Greenland offers opportunities to encounter musk oxen in certain regions, while birdlife frequently gathers around cliffs and coastal areas.

Importantly, the emphasis is always on observation rather than approach. Expedition guides are trained to minimise disturbance and ensure wildlife remains the focus of the experience rather than an attraction to be pursued.

The result is often more meaningful than a close encounter. Watching an Arctic fox cross a distant snowfield or seeing a penguin colony from a windswept ridge creates a sense of being part of the landscape rather than simply visiting it.