VJ Yudi, host of National Geographic Channel’s Mission Arctic, on an island in the Arctic Ocean

Will the Arctic be next summer’s destination for travel-hungry Calcuttans to see the midnight sun? “It is worth the trouble of changing four flights,” says Alamjit Singh Sekhon, a Gurgaon resident who won a contest called Mission Arctic on National Geographic Channel (NGC). Alamjit’s flight path was Delhi to Doha to Stockholm to Oslo to Tromso. With Qatar Airways still operating in Calcutta, we too can fly direct to Doha.

Alamjit and the other finalist Chirayu Sood qualified for the Arctic trip by acing the prelims that took place in Kunzum Pass, the gateway to Spiti Valley. “The tasks we were given like climbing a waterfall or crossing a rapid of a river prepared us for the more severe Arctic climes,” he says.

Tromso is the last city in the far north of Norway. “From there, a ferry took us to an island called Senja in the Arctic Ocean, where the finals took place.” Senja, according to channel sources, is about 2,500km from the North Pole.

The tasks were typical of the region. “First, we had to build a shelter out of snow to protect us from blizzards. Knee-deep in the snow, we were only too thankful for the gaiters which covered our feet over the shoes till the knees. Otherwise, if the snowflakes penetrated inside our snowboots frostbite was inevitable,” says Singh. Another task was kayaking to a lighthouse through dancing waves.

But what challenged their management skills was racing sleds drawn by huskies. “The trick was to figure out which dog was comfortable in which position,” says the 32-year-old.

For tourists, the Arctic zone has unparalleled attraction. VJ-turned-anchor Yudi, who hosted Mission Arctic, recalls the thrill of being in a land where the sun never sets in summer. “It was the same, be it 10am or 10pm. I would wake up at odd hours and exclaim, “Subah ho gayi (It’s already morning)?” Young members of the local Sami tribe which migrates following their pet reindeer gave them insights into their fascinating way of life.

Despite the sunshine, it was freezing cold. “The wind is very strong and it rains and snows together. There are lovely fjords surrounded by snowy mountains,” Yudi adds.

Senja might be too severe for tourists, but two Calcuttans have made it to Tromso, which is also north of the Arctic Circle. “It is a sparsely inhabited city where the only tourists seemed to be scientists. The blue of the sky and the light are different from anywhere else in the world,” says Malabika Sarkar, now the vice-chancellor of Presidency University. The Sarkars are avid travellers.

Calcuttans would do well do check out the Arctic views when NGC beams the Mission Arctic final tonight at 9pm before planning a trip.