Your journey begins in Yakutsk. Same as the Kara Sea, the Leptev Sea journey begins in a major city and is followed by a smaller plane which takes you to the seacoast. Yakutsk is even larger than Norilsk. With over 300,000 people Yakutsk is a major city with architectural destinations that include the Yakutsk Orthodox Cathedral. Polar Air will bring you to the Leptev Sea port town of Tiksi. Population: just over 5,000. Much larger than Dikson, Tiksi has more accommodations and does not necessarily require expert-guided expeditions like the Kara Sea journey to Dikson. But don’t get the idea that your visit to Tiksi will be like staying in your average, run of the mill town. Tiksi is one of the northernmost cities in the world with a population above 5,000. Your activities here will include being there in June or July, to enjoy the warm 30 degree weather - yes, Fahrenheit. Local hikes, excursions and viewing the spectacular midnight sun will provide for a journey that is unforgettable and like no other. There are few places on earth where you can have such an intimate view of the Arctic sky at such a northern latitude, and return home to a city of 5,000 people with hotels and cafes. Although more isolated and distant than the Norwegian Sea with less major cities, this journey to Tiksi on the Leptev via Yakutsk is highly accessible, easy to do, a bit pricy when you add up total airfare but allows you to access the Arctic sea of Leptev without having to worry much about hiring expert polar guides to enjoy your visit. Consider this a more relaxed alternative to visiting the Kara Sea at Dikson, which requires much more specialized guides, planning, permits and equipment. The Leptev offers an easy connection to a truly out of the way, sort of unheard of destination.

Your journey begins in Novosibirsk. You can fly from Moscow, or you can take the Trans-Siberian Railway. I say definitely take the train in this case. No question. Like the Kara Sea and Leptev Sea journeys, your journey to the East Siberian Sea coast follows a similar formula - depart from Moscow to a major city in the interior, and then take a smaller flight to the northern Arctic coast. In the Barents Sea you could arrive at your coastal destination at Murmansk by train from St. Petersburg. But for Kara and Leptev Seas you have to fly from Moscow to the cities of Norilsk and Yukutsk, respectively. For the Siberian Sea, your journey further east will actually take you to one of the largest cities on this entire list, even larger than the western cities of the Norwegian Sea. And you don’t have to fly there - it’s on the Trans-Siberian Railway!

Novosibirsk may be the largest, most uniquely positioned location on this list, or any list in Mama Plum’s collection. Not only is it one of the largest cities on any Arctic sea travel itinerary, it is also not far from the borders of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and even northernmost China! Novosibirsk is a city of well over 1.5 million people; it’s the third largest city in Russia and deserves at least a few days, if not an entire week or two, especially if you plan on making excursions to explore this fascinating region of central Asia. To the south there are several national parks near the Altai mountainous region unlike any in the world. The best part about your trip to Novosibirsk is hands-down the fact that you don’t have to fly - it is on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Once you’re here, you can fly to the northern coast of the Siberian Sea at Pevek on Alrosa Airlines. Pevek is another small port of around 5,000 inhabitants. Once there you will have the opportunity to experience midnight sun in July and August, as well as incredible Arctic excursions. Planning accommodations in Pevek can be difficult, but expert guides are not necessary unless you plan on an extensive hike, then expert guides are a must. You should focus most of your time on Novosibirsk, and think of the flight to Pevek as a quick trip up to the Arctic coast, to get a view of the Siberian Sea and the northern skies.

Your journey begins in Nome, Alaska. Believe it or not, one of the best ways to explore the Chukchi Sea is not out of Moscow. You can access Nome, Alaska various ways, although I recommend flying from Anchorage for most itineraries and travelers. Unless you have access to or are familiar with western Alaskan roadways, flying is the way to go here. Once in Nome, you can board an Adventure Life Far East Cruise. This cruise lasts 20 days and more info is on their website. This cruise will take you straight across to Asia and directly through the Chukchi Sea. Of all itineraries on this list, this is the best opportunity to spend a ton of time at sea in a truly remote corner of the remotest ocean on earth. The cruise comes back to Nome, where you can continue exploring Alaska’s western coast, or maybe even head up north to our next Arctic sea journey: The Beaufort Sea.

Your journey begins in Prudhoe Bay. This Alaska town is over 2,000 in population and is best accessed by plane. It is a great place to view the midnight sun, enjoy sprawling views of roaming caribou, or to enjoy an inside look at the local trucking culture captured in Ice Road Truckers, a well-known US reality television series. The Beaufort Sea also extends east into Canada’s Yukon Territory. In between is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. On the Canadian side you will find Ivvavik National Park, visited by only 100 people per year. Whitefish Station, a smaller settlement, though also accessible by chartered plane is also on Beaufort Sea coast. Transportation to and from Prudhoe Bay out of Fairbanks is available through the Dalton Highway Express, a two-day journey including a shuttle from Prudhoe Bay to Arctic Ocean coast. Prudhoe Bay does have hotel and lodging options year-round.

Your journey begins in Reykjavik. Only a four hour flight from Boston, the capital of Iceland is actually the best way to begin and end this journey. The Greenland Sea brings us full circle to the first trip on this list: The Norwegian Sea. That trip also incorporated Iceland, but on its easternmost point. This time, you will head west out of Reykjavik toward the westernmost point of Iceland. This is not a terribly far drive, and you can continue northwest all the way to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, which boasts ample coastline looking out over the Greenland Sea to the west. Accessing the Greenland Sea from Greenland itself can be difficult. Greenland’s northeastern coast is less populated, but it is home to one of the world’s largest National Parks. To access it you have to fly into Greenland and reserve a chartered or private expedition, available in any number of travel and excursion packages via Travel Greenland, although this would take much more technical outdoors activities than the trip to Iceland, which is much easier to rent a car and drive straight to the coast. Your last option to see a piece of Greenland Sea is to visit the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard or Jan Meyen Island, also mentioned in the Norwegian Sea itinerary. These are good options if you are connecting this journey with the Norwegian Sea or anywhere in northern Europe.