Immerse yourself in winter this week on NatGeo Wild

The coldest parts of our planet will always fascinate us. They are the ultimate lands of extremes, where winter darkness is total and summer daylight perpetual, and where animals fight to survive on sometimes the leanest of means. And as the weather cools down here in the UK, it's always good to remember that no matter how cold it gets... we have it easy compared to some.

From Alaska's Arctic Summer to The Big Freeze, and frozen Scandinavia to the chilliest moments of the ground-breaking Hostile Planet: this week on NatGeo Wild we are celebrating the coldest season with a week of winter immersion. Here at ground-level – and every other angle you can imagine – viewers will see what it takes to survive in some of the most brutal places on Earth through the eyes of the animals that do, and the intrepid filmmakers that brave all conditions to seek them out.

Here are some of the highlights coming to NatGeo Wild TV this week.

WILD ARCTIC 16 December, 8pm

At the very top of our planet lies one of the natural world's most unique habitats, inhabited by some of its deadliest – and most iconic – species. 

WILD NORDIC 17 & 18 December, 9pm

Stretching across four million square kilometres, the Nordic countries are amongst the most sparsely populated areas on earth. This four part series documents their incredible wealth of wildlife and breath-taking scenery.

WILD ALASKA: ARCTIC SUMMER 19 December, 8pm 

The rugged coast of North America's biggest state harbours the most incredible wildlife in America. This is the story of the creatures that endure this harsh reality along the shoreline – Alaska’s life on the edge.

HOSTILE PLANET: MASTERS OF THE FREEZE 20 December, 8pm

Even in the most forgiving climates of the wild, life can be a constant struggle. But the animals who make their homes in the world’s coldest habitats have honed their bodies and behaviour to survive against the odds, and each other. They live brutally and die brutally, but the ones that come out on top are the Masters of the Freeze.

WILD_LIFE: THE BIG FREEZE 22 December, 6pm

Wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory travels to the edge of the Canadian Arctic, where a unique group of hard-core animals have figured out how to thrive against all odds. As they wait for the ice to freeze over, rare behaviour unfolds including a never-before-filmed encounter between polar bears and wolves that tests the limits of these predators. Bertie braves freezing temperatures for close encounters with Arctic wildlife – even a harp seal pup on its first swim.

Wild Winter is on NatGeo Wild all week. Click here for scheduling information.