When most people think of a cruise holiday it is usually images of sun, sea and relaxation which are most likely to be conjured up. But increasingly travellers are edging away from the traditional boat trip and looking for more adventurous locations to visit. More and more environmental tourists in particular are choosing to visit places which are of great beauty, biodiversity and in some cases, at risk. Many of these adventurous travellers hope that by choosing such locations they may be able to help raise awareness of the threats they face and bring much needed money to the area.
Once such place which is growing ever-more popular with eco-tourists is the Arctic, which despite its ice cold weather conditions has one of the most spectacular landscapes on earth. Located at the top of the globe, this snowy world is also filled with fascinating sights including the northern lights as well as various rare animals. Tourists are attracted to this, one of the world's last true wilderness areas, where despite the climate, life continues to thrive. However, the influx of people to this remote part of the globe could have an impact on its ecology and many tourists are opting for an Arctic cruise which can be less harmful to the environment.
There are plenty of different tours available from various travel companies for those looking for a unique holiday experience. Many include a visit to Spitsbergen, the largest island Svalbard Archipelago – which is located 400 miles north of mainland Norway and just 600 miles from the North Pole itself. Here, visitors can observe the spectacular cliffs and unique landscape which is home to reindeer, seals, arctic foxes and polar bears. Travel writer for the Independent Simon Calder, who recently enjoyed an Arctic cruise said that the best time to visit is the second half of June through to the first half of August, when there is 24-hour daylight and the climate is at its warmest. He adds that it is not just nature which visitors to Spitsbergen enjoy but cross country skiing also.
Writing about travellers in Spitsbergen, Mr Calder said: "As with so many far-flung fragments of the planet, tourism has come to the economic rescue of the islands." He added that holidays to Antarctica, in the South Pole, have also spurred on its popularity: "Spitsbergen is the almost accidental beneficiary of a phenomenon taking place at the other end of the world."
As most environmental tourists are aware, concerns have been raised over the future of these lands as climate change is slowly causing its ice to melt. Research by climate scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association recently suggested that by the end of the summer of 2008 ice cover in the Arctic Ocean will almost definitely be below that of the year 2005 for the second year running.

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