To the Edge of the Map
Lifetime Adventure:
My Trip to the Arctic

Some places don’t fit into typical travel plans. In July 2025, I set off to one of these places—beyond the Arctic Circle. I want to share this journey with you—not just the route and the photos, but the emotions, the discoveries, and those unforgettable moments. On this page you are reading my travel journal.
1
Overview of the Trip
My journey began in Larnaca and it will take me through some of the most breathtaking and remote parts of the northern hemisphere. I’ll take you with me — step by step — as I move from city streets to icy fjords and polar silence.
My route starts with a flight from Larnaca to Oslo, where I’ll spend four days discovering Norway’s vibrant capital — a city where Scandinavian design meets Viking heritage, and fjords are just a tram ride away.
From Oslo, I’ll head even further north to Tromsø, the so-called gateway to the Arctic. I’ll have just one day to explore this Arctic city — enough time to catch a breath before setting sail on the true highlight of the trip: an expedition cruise with Swan Hellenic.
For ten days, we will journey deep into the polar region on a ship designed for exploration and comfort. The cruise, titled Roundtrip cruise to the edge of the Arctic, circles around Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. We’ll navigate ice-filled waters, pass glaciers and dramatic cliffs, and — if we’re lucky — encounter walruses, Arctic foxes, and even polar bears. Each day promises landings, lectures, and scenes that feel almost unreal.
On the way home, the journey doesn’t end abruptly. After returning to Tromsø, I’ll fly to Copenhagen for one final Nordic morning walk before making my way back to Cyprus — with memories from the edge of the map.
This journal is not just about destinations — it’s about moments of wonder, stillness, and discovery. I hope you’ll join me in reliving this unforgettable experience.
«In the ice of the polar seas lies a world untouched, a realm of silence and light where nature still reigns in its purest form.»
Roald Amundsen
one of the most respected polar explorers in European history
1872–1928
«The difficult is what takes a little time. The impossible is what takes a little longer.»
Fridtjof Nansen
legendary Norwegian polar explorer and scientist
1861-1930