Arctic Cruise ULTIMATE. Polar Bears, Ice, Landscapes PHOTO EXPEDITION. July, Celebrating 29 years of incredible photo adventures!

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1 Celebrating 29 years of incredible photo adventures! ULTIMATE Arctic Cruise Polar Bears, Ice, Landscapes PHOTO EXPEDITION DATES FOR JULY 2018 AND PRICES ARE TO BE CONFIRMED... AT THIS EARLY STAGE, A FULLY REFUNDABLE $500 SHOW OF INTEREST DEPOSIT WILL HOLD YOU A PLACE... E: julia@worldadventures.com.au W:

2 Arctic Cruise ARCTIC - the adventure... This expedition suits the novice photographer, through to a seasoned professional. Non photographic partners will love it as well! And we offer amazing linked tours! This is the third time we have chosen this 13 day Spitsbergen Explorer. The key reason is due to the amount of time offered to you for landing and exploring - AMAZING! This is not a standard Arctic tour! Our goal is to bring together a small group of similar minded travellers and partners. Yes non photographic partners love this adventure! We include a world class photo guide. This is not a holiday for him! He will maximise your photo interest and help you in the field. More time in the region means more locations visited and more photo s and experiences for you. Our ship is from the fantastic Quark Expedition fleet. It is very comfortable and offers state of the art stabilisation. Our local supplier is Peregrine Adventures, representatives of Quark. Combined, we will work hard to make this a special life experience for you! (Note, all bookings and correspondence are to be made with World Photo Adventures.) We guarantee stunning photo opportunities from beautiful blue ice, to the magic of puffin encounters, perhaps whales, seals and a key target - polar bears. The babies are so cute...the landscape opportunities are outstanding! FANTASTIC VALUE FOR MONEY... * We include a complete ship package from excellent accommodation on a stable ship, to all meals, all drinks including standard alcoholic beverages, and some of the best guides in the world. * We target polar bears, stunning glaciers, icebergs, arctic birds, nature, history and top creative subjects. * Photo workshops that help everyone from beginners to advanced. We split you up at times and for other topics, include the entire group. * Our ship is customised to the Arctic conditions. * Non photographic partners love our events. * Small photo group size. * Expert professional photo guides who work hard to optimise your photo interests. * This is our 29th year of offer amazing World Photo Adventures! WPA LINKED TOUR TO ICELAND AND... Are you wanting more adventures? Amazing waterfalls, stunning nature and landscapes. Why not join our fantastic linked tour of Iceland? Our 2014 & 2016 Iceland tours were a great success with stunning landscapes, ice on the beach, puffins, horses and so much more! Ask for the itinerary. AND we are looking at adding another linked adventure... PAGE 2

3 Arctic Cruise ITINERARY - to adventure... This is not a standard Arctic cruise, rather an ultimate 13 day Arctic adventure! Our aim on this expedition is to undertake a complete circumnavigation of the major islands of the group, making frequent shore stops to hike or simply admire the spectacular scenery. We also enjoy zodiac cruises that take us in close proximity of sea cliffs and abundant wildlife. Our exact course will be dependant on the prevailing sea ice conditions, although we are hopeful of smooth sailing along the west coast of Spitsbergen as a result of the comparatively warm North Atlantic current. Here, amongst these fjords, we witness wonderful scenery and often prolific wildlife. DAY 1: Longyearbyen - August Accommodation is included from tonight on the ship. We include a meeting/workshop this morning to help you maximise your photo interests for the adventures ahead. We depart this afternoon to the ship and set sail after discovering your cabins and after a ship briefing. DAYs 2/12: Spitsbergen Circumnavigation - August Expect a new adventure every day, as you journey around the island of Spitsbergen and explore smaller, outlying islands. The variety of incredible wildlife and geological formations found here is astounding! Every expedition will be unique, but a few of our favorite landing sites include the 14th of July Glacier, Ny London, Phippsoya, Aklefjellet and the seldom visited Kvttøya. The names may seem strange to you, but they each have their own unique appeal. For birders, the 14th of July Glacier is home to purple sandpipers, common eiders, barnacle geese and Arctic terns; while Alkefjellet is home to nesting brünich guillermots (thick-billed murres). If you want to prove that reindeer are real, then you ll want to have your camera ready for visits to sites like Ny London, Sundneset and Alkhornet. As for the largest land carnivore in the world searching for polar bears is a constant activity, with Phippsoya and Isbukta being two of their preferred places for hunting meaning great potential for you to capture them in action. Day 13: Longyearbyen - August Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here we ll transfer you to the airport for your flight home. OR, join our other linked adventures - ask Julia... PRE TOUR Please note that you should arrive in Longyearbyen, at least one day before departure. Two days is even better to help with jet lag. Longyearbyen and the surrounding area, is a lovely village. We will recommend group accommodation to suit. Accommodation is not included until DAY 1 of the itinerary. NON PHOTOGRAPHIC PARTNERS Are welcome as we offer the same opportunities and they can sit in on lectures that interest them. PLUS the seasoned ship crew offer fantastic lectures and information during the voyage. PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS These will be run as time allows (key facet is we help you to shoot great images in the field) and cover topics from fantastic shooting techniques, to creative processing. For the novice, you will be specially assisted throughout the journey and inspired to awesome results. For the more serious photographer, we will push you to be more creative. FINAL ITINERARY Note that a final itinerary will be sent to you about one month before departure. PAGE 3

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5 Arctic Cruise FLIGHTS We do not include your international flights. (Or any other flights, unless included in the itinerary.) We are happy to help you! We can book a complete package for you - land, air and transfers. IMPORTANT To make sure you book the correct dates and times, we would request the following: 1. Don t purchase any air tickets, until our guides flights have been booked, which we will do approximately 8-9 months prior to the tour departure. We will advise you when the guides flights are booked and you can then use this itinerary, to help you use points or similar. This will also coincide with confirming the tour departure, making sure we have met minimum passenger numbers for the tour and the logistics of the tour have not changed. 2. We suggest you arrive a minimum of 24 hours prior to the tour departure - even 48 hours - to help with jet lag and in case of airline delays. THE COST INCLUDES All ship costs as per itinerary Accommodation - cabins are limited. All drinks and meals as detailed in the itinerary. This includes standard alcoholic beverages. Transfer to and from the ship in Spitsbergen Local English-speaking expert guides Professional photo guides Photo workshops and field assistance throughout the tour NOT INCLUDED International Air tickets & taxes Personal expenses Items not specified in the itinerary Tips Travel insurance PAGE 5

6 OCEAN NOVA Arctic Cruise TRIPLE CABIN UPPER DECK TWIN CABIN BRIDGE DECK TWIN CABIN UPPER (LOWER BERTH) CABIN QUAD CABIN YOUR FLOATING HOME... ZODIAC DECK BAR AUDITORIUM OBSERVATION DECK TOP DECK OCEAN NOVA Is a modern (Stabilised) and comfortable vessel. She was built in Denmark in 1992 to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland, and her ice-strengthened hull is ideally suited for expedition travel in Arctic. Ocean Nova has capacity for 83 passengers accommodated in comfortable cabins, all with private facilities, including dedicated single, twin, triple and quad cabins. (Limited cabins available!) LOUNGE LIBRARY CAPTAIN BRIDGE BRIDGE DECK In addition to a glass-enclosed observation lounge and presentation room, she also has a spacious dining room, a bar, a library and an infirmary. The ship has Zodiac boats that are well suited for disembarking and wildlife watching. EXPEDITION STAFF & CREW: 38 PASSENGERS: 83 LIFEBOATS: 2, fully enclosed, capacity of 90 LENGTH: 73.0 m BREADTH: 11.0 m DRAFT: 3.7 m PROPULSION: Diesel engines - 2,000-horsepower ICE CLASS: 1B, EO (Hull Ice 1A) CRUISING SPEED: 12 knots in open water BOOT ROOM OFFICE BUFFET ZODIAC ACCESS DINING ROOM OFFICERS CABINS CLINIC CHIEF ENGINEER OFFICERS CABINS SHOP UPPER DECK MAIN DECK Once you have booked your voyage to the Polar region, you will be required to complete a series of online forms. You will be sent a link via (my polar forms) which will take you to an enrolment form, cruise contract, medical form, arrival/departure information form and expedition parka size order form. These forms must be completed. STERN BOW LOWER DECK PAGE 6

7 Arctic Cruise GENERAL INFORMATION SEA KAYAKING: BOOK EARLY - Please note that this option must be booked prior to your departure from home and it cannot be booked on the ship. Some prior base experience is helpful. IMPORTANT Note: Kayaking can detract from your photography interests. MOTION SICKNESS: Although our vessels are among the most stable ships in their class, (Stabilised) we will still inevitably encounter motion. Unless you are certain you are impervious to the problem, you should take precautions against seasickness. Your doctor can advise you as to the best methods for avoiding this uncomfortable condition. GRATUITIES: (ARE NOT INCLUDED) We suggest you allow the equivalent of US$11-13 a day for gratuities for the crew and expedition staff. This is usually collected just prior to the end of the cruise. If you wish, the amount can be paid by Visa or MasterCard. PAGE 7

8 MEET THE WPA TEAM WHO ARE WE? At World Photo Adventures, creating marvellous and memorable journeys is our mission. Our tours give you impressions and experiences you ll cherish for a lifetime. We re more than travel and tour specialists we re your complete photography adventure solution. We take you straight to the photographic heartlands of your chosen tour region. As a family business, personalised service is close to our hearts. STAND-OUT SERVICE Stunning Norfolk Island set the stage for our first photo tour in (In fact Darran and Julia met on this very first photo adventure!) Since then our tours have gone from strength to strength and continent to continent. Wherever you travel with World Photo Adventures, our superior service levels are a mainstay. Claim the ultimate tour experience for you and your lens. From our friendly helpful staff, you ll enjoy the peace of mind and exceptional experience that only comes from working with one of the world s most experienced photo travel companies. DARRAN LEAL Professional photographer/guide With over 400 successful photo tours/workshop and seminars worldwide and counting, Australian-born Darran s lifetime loves are travel and outdoor photography. He combines these with vast experience in delivering global photo tours, workshops and seminars. Darran is one of the world s few full-time professional photo guides. He leads photographers of all levels to many of the world s most captivating locations. As a natural born photographer, educator and adventurer, Darran s career inevitably led him to help others explore and capture their world. Now Darran spends his time up to his arm pits in crocodiles, cuddling gorillas or herding photographers. Check out Darran s work first-hand at: PEARCE LEAL Professional photographer/guide No photographer could wish for a better guide to getting remarkable destination shots than a fellow photographer. Pearce is the man to get you weaving incredible lens magic, with over 30 tours and workshops under his belt, Pearce has traversed incredible image opportunities in Africa, the USA, South America, Asia and Australia. In addition, his own photographic work has been featured in magazines and media around the globe. He has won several awards in the AIPP, to finalist in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the year. His teaching skills and his dedication to help those on tour is outstanding. Check out Pearce s work first-hand at: JULIA LEAL Professional travel consultant Exploring new territory is an adventure Julia has been savoring since childhood. Julia was born in Liverpool, England yet soon migrated to New Zealand with her family. She launched her travel career in 1979 in tropical Noosa, Queensland where she managed one of the first resorts in the region. Then it was back to Auckland, New Zealand to take up the role of travel consultant. Before long, Go International snapped Julia up as a travel rep. While leading an educational tour on Norfolk Island in 1989, Julia met Darran. Though her career remained trans-tasman for several years after, Julia is now in her element as a travel consultant extraordinaire for World Photo Adventures. When it comes to securing an extraordinary photographic adventure tour founded on unrivalled service, Julia has it covered. FRAZER LEAL IT Wizard At a very young age Frazer pulled apart computers to see how they worked and started to fix all sorts of technology. He first became serious with a camera when he borrowed his dad s camera while on a workshop on Fraser Island. He went on to win best photo with over 100 adult photographers. Frazer is our IT and Social Media manager. He designs and manages our website and helps to keep you up to date with our great adventures. PAGE 8

9 Arctic Cruise WHO BOOKS OUR PHOTO HOLIDAYS? From animated point and shoot amateur photographers to seasoned photographic veterans, we get a broad cross-section of photo enthusiasts on every tour. Not super keen on snapping? No problem. You are still guaranteed a great time. Whether your finger never leaves, or never hits a camera during a tour, you will have an unforgettable experience. Our unique locations, top guides and small travel groups make sure of it. While our clients vary in age and experience, all attend with the same goal to have a fantastic holiday. We ensure every client gets exactly that. WE OFFER YOU... Fantastic land package... That s right, we include everything from hand picked 3/4 star accommodation, plus meals as per itinerary, transport, entrance fees. Great guidance every step of the way... A vibrant travel itinerary that never misses a beat. Local knowledge to fully immerse you in the richest offerings of the region. Professional photographic support is provided to ensure you secure superlative images. You will have it all thanks to our professional photographer and local guide. Both are with you throughout your tour. Small group sizes for big personal advantage... You want to maximise your photographic and experiential opportunities. We want you to as well. So we keep tour groups small with a maximum of six travellers per guide. You will benefit from utmost flexibility and personal attention, with an experienced guide on-hand too. Fantastic accommodation... Comfort is an important part of all travel. So we ensure a high standard of accommodation throughout your tour. That means you will always be well rested to make the most of every tour day. Marvellous meals... Eating on the job can only be planned to a certain extent. After all you would not want to miss incredible photographic and travel opportunities because you were busy dining. So we provide a selection of meals as detailed in your itinerary. Your guides will arrange all other meals to ensure you never miss a chance to enrich your tour memories and books or albums. LIBERATE YOUR LENS AND YOUR SENSES Our end-to-end tour takes you on a journey of incredible discovery. So put yourself in the big picture with prime travel information and inspiration... GET TO KNOW THE DESTINATION You can begin your exploration of the tour destination without leaving home. Visit www. maps.google.com.au. Simply type in the locations on your itinerary and explore to your heart s content. It s a great idea to embark upon your adventure well informed on this rich natural wonderland. WEATHER Please google temperatures for that time of the year at the destination. We will offer more information in our - Final Itinerary. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR TOUR PRICE We aim to provide a convenient price for almost all your travel and tour arrangements. Yet some additional costs do fall outside our tour prices. Your airfares are an extra cost unless your itinerary specifies otherwise. All transfers, laundry and sundries not listed in the itinerary also fall outside our tour price. PLEASE NOTE: it is vital that you do not book any flights or other travel services for your tour before speaking to our office first. No tour is ever guaranteed until minimum numbers and other key logistics are confirmed. ITINERARY AND PRICE CHANGES Tour prices are correct at the time of printing, but these are subject to change. Please use your itinerary and associated pricing as a guide only. KITTING OUT YOUR CAMERA COLLATERAL No matter what your photographic level or style, World Photo Adventures maximises your image interest. Our clients use everything from top line D-SLRs with pro lenses to mid-range kits. We even have a wealth of non-photographically inclined partners come along with basic compact cameras. Your equipment is personal to you. What matters is that you know how to use it and how to get the most out of your tour. That is why we offer a workshop at the start of all tours. Plus you ll have a professional photographer on-hand to give you personal assistance while you re in the field. You can even benefit from mini photography workshops during the course of your tour. In short, we give you everything possible to help you capture lasting images of the world s most breathtaking location in a way that matches your style, desires and photographic equipment. Itinerary, price and details are subject to change. PAGE 9

10 Itinerary Notes... Arctic Cruise POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS A big part of appreciating Spitsbergen comes from understanding the culture, not just how people live today, but how this land was first explored. Whaling was a key industry here and you will see blubber ovens and other whaling evidence at landing sites such as Smeerenburg. Add in the potential for spotting beluga whales and colourful tundra meadows displays complemented by immense glaciers, and you start to understand just how much there is to see in Spitsbergen. LONGYEARBYEN Eighteen hundred people inhabit the administrative capital of Svalbard, which is situated on the shore of Isfjorden. The settlement was founded in 1905 by John Munroe Longyear, the majority owner of the Arctic Coal Company of Boston. DISKOBUKTA This bay on the west shore of Edgeøya affords a landing site with a box canyon where blacklegged kittiwakes raise their young. Arctic foxes have been seen combing the canyon floor to feed on scraps that have fallen from the nests above. Watch for bones of ancient bowhead whales on the canyon floor, evidence that the shoreline has changed over millennia. KVITØYA The western part of this island is only 98 km from Victoria Island in Franz Josef Land, which is part of the Russian Arctic. This remote outpost is actually closer to the Russian Arctic than it is to Nordaustlandet (117 km) and is actually located on the same longitude as Cairo, Egypt! LILLIEHÖÖK GLACIER In 1906, His Serene Highness Prince Albert I of Monaco visited Lilliehöök Glacier to conduct scientific investigations. His great-great-grandson visited the glacier 100 years later. He, too, was part of a scientific investigation, this time to further our understanding of the Arctic clam, a species that lives for more than a century. The growth rings of a single clam s shell contain evidence of the chemicals encountered by the clam. Scientists can determine the variations of the water s temperature and pollutant content by studying the shell. MONACO GLACIER HSH Prince Albert I of Monaco, a pioneer of oceanography, led an expedition to Svalbard in His team used sophisticated photographic techniques to understand the shape and position of several glacier fronts. Monaco Glacier honors the expedition, the prince and the principality over which he reigned. PHIPPSØYA This small archipelago is the northernmost land in Svalbard. Englishmen left their mark during a survey of the islands in the 1780s. The party named the islands after themselves, with the smallest and least significant island being named Nelsonøya, after the lowly midshipman. SAMARINVÅGIN The Samarin Glacier dominates the landscape that surrounds the bay, where icebergs, kittiwakes and brünnich s guillemots (thick-billed murres) may be seen. KAPP LEE This is a well-known walrus haul out. The pink colour to a walrus hide as it lies in the sun is caused by blood pumped to the skin s surface to aid cooling, similar to that of a hippopotamus in Africa. ALKEFJELLET This cliff is a seabird center, where brünnich s guillemots (thick-billed murres) raise their young. An estimated 100,000 breeding pairs raise their young here in the basalt cliffs. The birds do not build nests, rather they lay an egg on the bare ledge. VIBEBUKTA This polar desert may seem barren, but traces of life can be found here, including fossils and whalebones that are 9,500 years old. The bones provide nutrients for microenvironments that leach from the ancient bones. WORSLEYNESET This is a beautiful and colourful tundra-covered island with moss campion (a small wildflower), saxifrage and Arctic mouse-eared chickweed. Fun names on an island that is a pleasure to explore. This information is subject to change and is a guide only. IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy and excitement of expedition travel. When travelling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. The above is a tentative outline of what you ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. Interested in more photo adventures? Ask about our other linked adventures... PAGE 10