Arctic Docuseries Set in Norway

There are so many incredible documentary film series about the wildlife and landscape in Norway’s Arctic that will help you get your fix while you wait for your take-off date. Here are a few we love.

Norway’s state-owned NRK recently aired this 13,319-minute broadcast. The documentary followed the entire nine-day and five-hour journey of the expedition vessel, MS Spitsbergen, as it sailed around its namesake island, Spitsbergen, the largest island of Svalbard.

The series celebrates the signing of the Svalbard treaty which gave Norway sovereignty over the Norwegian archipelago but granted access rights to the other signatories. The docuseries is meant to give viewers a first-hand look at the devastating impact climate change has had on the Svalbard region.

It’s clear that Svalbard, located about 4 hours north of Tromsø, is of special interest to documentary filmmakers all over the world. The island, on which the polar bears outnumber the humans, was also featured in BBC One’s Frozen Planet series. The series was co-produced by BBC and The Open University and leveraged the production team responsible for the Planet Earth and Blue Earth docu-series.

Frozen Planet looks at the spring, summer, autumn, and winter months and explores the survival techniques used by various Arctic animals including, of course, the polar bears on Svalbard. The final episode of the series outlines the damaging impact climate change and the melting of the ice caps has had on both the human and wildlife inhabitants of the Northernmost regions across the planet.

The first-hand look at the impact of global warming on the landscapes and wildlife of Norway’s Arctic region certainly inspires action. If you’re looking for ways to make your Arctic travels more eco-friendly, reach out to our team at Fjord Tours to learn more about your available options or check out this article on eco-friendly travel!

BBC produces some spectacular nature documentaries. But, their Human Planet documentary shifts focus to put a closer lens on the interaction between the human species and the natural world in this 8-episode docuseries.

The Norway-related portion of the episode highlights the reindeer herding season in Arnøya. The Sami people of Norway’s arctic have practiced reindeer herding since the 17th century.

For the Sami people, reindeer herding is both a profession and a way of life. If you’re interested in experiencing the Sami culture first-hand and learning more about reindeer herding you can join in on a Reindeer sledding in Tromsø. With this activity, you’ll have an opportunity to interact with these beautiful animals, experience the Northern Lights, and enjoy a hot meal around an open fire in a reindeer herder’s tent. You’ll also have an opportunity to hear stories and learn more about the Sami culture and how they have been able to survive for so many centuries in the harsh arctic climate.

We hope that these gorgeous documentary series will help give you a taste of Norway’s Arctic region while you wait for your chance to visit it yourself. Check our tours here.