Why the Diomede Islands Belong on Every Adventurer’s Radar

The Diomede Islands, two windswept volcanic outcrops in the Bering Strait, are emerging as one of Alaska’s most unforgettable getaways. Just 2.4 miles apart yet separated by both an international border and the International Date Line Big Diomede in Russia and Little Diomede in the U.S. offer travelerstravelers a chance to stand in two worlds at once.

Here’s what makes the Diomedes irresistible:

• A Living Ice Bridge In late winter and early spring, a natural ice corridor forms between the islands. Guided snowmobile and dog-sled tours let you follow in the footsteps of Siberian traders and Iñupiat hunters, tracing a route that’s remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
• Two Time Zones, One Moment Step from Little to Big Diomede and you slip almost a full day ahead. Photographers and social-media enthusiasts share jaw-dropping sunrise-and-sunset shots that occur almost simultaneously on the two shores, creating surreal “yesterday and tomorrow” moments.
• Rich Indigenous and Russian Heritage On Little Diomede, meet residents who still speak stories passed down by Iñupiat elders. A short helicopter hop to Big Diomede reveals onion-domed Orthodox chapels and Russian-style wooden homes living reminders of an era when Alaska was Russia’s eastern outpost.
• Arctic Wildlife and Midnight Sun From migrating walrus herds along the ice edge to the dance of the northern lights against endless summer evenings, wildlife enthusiasts and stargazers find a pristine stage here. Seasonal bird colonies and occasional polar bear sightings add to the thrill.
• Genuine Community Hospitality With fewer than 100 year-round inhabitants on Little Diomede, visitors are welcomed into tight-knit gatherings around communal feasts, storytelling circles, and handicraft workshops experiences you won’t find in any city.

Reaching the Diomede Islands takes some planning chartered boat or helicopter rides depart from Nome or Nome-area lodges during summer, while winter expeditions use ice-strengthened crafts. But for those seeking a journey beyond postcards where geography, culture and time themselves blur the Diomede Islands deliver an Arctic adventure like no other.