Arctic Icebreaker Expedition: Epic Northeast Passage

Transcription

1 Arctic Icebreaker Expedition: Epic Northeast Passage Exclusive and unparalleled. As a polar pioneer, the mighty Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker has taken adventurers to some of the most inaccessible corners of the globe since 1992, and was the first ship in the world to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in On this expedition, Khlebnikov (pronounced KLEB-nik-off) will take you to some of the most remote and remarkable regions of the world. On the fabled Northeast Passage, travelers will encounter thick pack ice, unique geological formations and the fascinating cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic. On-board helicopters and the Khlebnikov s sheer icebreaking force combine to take you to some of the most magnificent regions of the world others dare not sail. EXPEDITION IN BRIEF: Travel on the extraordinary, one-of-a-kind Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker Take in magnificent aerial sightseeing on one of two helicopters Witness the sights and sounds of the crushing of pack ice as you power through ice-choked waters DID YOU KNOW? Because of the large amount of impenetrable sea ice for all but periods in the summer, it took many attempts before the Northeast Passage was first fully traversed. This took place in on an expedition led by the Swedish explorer Baron Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 1

2 Included Activities HIKING Hiking is a great way to appreciate the immense windswept landscapes of the Arctic. The tundra comes alive during the brief arctic summer, with bursts of color from shrubs and plants that eke out a living in this polar environment. You ll find each hike is different - exploring communities, shorelines or glaciated landscapes, often on the lookout for wildlife. Hiking participation is optional and your Expedition Team will advise you of what levels of activity you can expect prior to each excursion. HELICOPTER The Kapitan Khlebnikov is one the few vessels offering aerial sightseeing flights and landings by expertly-piloted helicopters an essential feature of icebreaker operations offering a unique perspective of the Arctic. You ll witness astounding aerial views of pristine polar landscapes and the mighty Kapitan Khlebnikov as it crushes through pack ice. All helicopter flights are weather dependent and are included in the cost of your voyage. If time and conditions permit, consider booking additional private flightseeing for exclusive views (extra charge applies). ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 2

3 Itinerary LONGYEARBYEN Norway Franz Josef Land Severnaya Zemlya North Pole Arctic Ocean East Siberian Sea New Siberian Islands Chukchi Sea Wrangel Island 1 ANADYR Bering Strait FROM ANCHORAGE, ALASKA Barents Sea Novaya Zemlya Russia Actual itinerary may vary based on weather conditions. DAY 1 JULY 10, 2016 Arrive Anchorage, United States Your unforgettable journey will begin in Anchorage, a unique urban environment in the heart of great wilderness. Spend the day taking in the glorious scenery populous wildlife, spectacular mountain vistas, fascinating culture and icy blue glaciers await your discovery. Plan to arrive and make your way to the hotel in time for our pre-departure briefing at about 6 pm. DAY 2 JULY 11-12, 2016 Fly to Anadyr, Russia The charter flight from Anchorage to Anadyr crosses the International Date Line. You will begin your flight on the morning of July 11 and end it early in the afternoon on July 12, losing a day en route, even though the flight is only 3 hours. Travelers are transferred to the magnificent Kapitan Khlebnikov after clearing Russian customs, where the excitement of boarding the renowned Russian icebreaker begins as you travel northward through the Bering Strait. DAYS 3-4 JULY 13-14, 2016 Chukotka Peninsula Educational program to commemorate the icebreaker s voyage through the Arctic will occur when the ship reaches Russia s Far East the Chukotka Peninsula and guests will be treated to cultural presentations on the indigenous people of the Russian Arctic. You will visit the tiny village of Uelen, known for its talented carvers who work in walrus ivory. At Cape Dezhnev, the most easterly point of the Asian continent, building architecture is distinctively Russian. You ll cruise in Zodiacs to Puffin Island where two species of the comical bird cohabit. On the shores of Ittygran Island, the ribs of whales, planted in the tundra by people long ago, still stand on lowland known as whalebone alley. The final shore landing is a visit to Novoye Chaplino, where locals dressed in traditional attire will demonstrate their skills as reindeer wrestlers and ropers. DAY 5 JULY 15, 2016 Bering Strait The Bering Strait connects the Pacific Ocean to the Chukchi Sea a portion of the Arctic Ocean. Sailing north, the ship will cross the Arctic Circle entering the land of the midnight sun. Daylight will be continuous for 37 days! EXTEND YOUR STAY Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via , live chat or phone ( ) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 3

4 DAYS 6-7 JULY 16-17, 2016 Wrangel Island Crossing the Delon Strait, you may start to see thick pack ice. Your Expedition Leader will ask the Captain to deploy the helicopter to enjoy an aerial view of the Khlebnikov crushing ice up to a yard (one meter) thick. Landings are planned on Wrangel Island, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its diverse flora and habitat for migratory birds. Don t be surprised to see copious musk oxen, who thrive there. DAYS 8-10 JULY 18-20, 2016 East Siberian Sea The Kapitan Khlebnikov will make its way through the pack ice of the East Siberian Sea to the New Siberian Islands. Enroute, we ll pass by Medvezh i Island, known as bear island, and enjoy countless scenic views along the way. DAYS JULY 21-23, 2016 New Siberian Islands Ancient camping grounds will be explored on these remote islands. If conditions permit, travelers will see the northernmost point of the European continent. Be on the lookout for polar bears, often spotted in the archipelago. DAYS JULY 24-27, 2016 Severnaya Zemlya Landings on these least accessible islands of the Arctic will be one of the highlights of this circumnavigation. The archipelago thwarted many attempts to sail around the Arctic Ocean until the development of engine-driven surface vessels. Zodiacs and helicopters will be deployed during our exploration. There are two indigenous peoples in the Russian Arctic who depend on reindeer to exist the Chukchi and the Tundra Nenets. The Chukchi people live on the Chukotka Peninsula. The Tundra Nenets live in the region from the Tamyr Peninsula to the White Sea, east of Severnaya Zemlya. We will attempt to visit a camp of these nomadic peoples, who move from place to place following their herds. DAYS JULY 28-30, 2016 Novaya Zemlya Meaning new land, the Novaya Zemlya is an arctic archipelago consisting of two main islands and a number of smaller ones located off the coast of northeastern Europe. Of interest here is the longestoperating scientific station in the Russian Arctic. You ll also want to be on the lookout for arctic fox, polar bear and lemming as well as a variety of birds. DAYS JULY 31 - AUG. 1, 2016 Franz Josef Land Well above the Arctic Circle, only 10 degrees from the North Pole, lie the most northerly islands in Eurasia Franz Josef Land. They are the habitat of polar bear and walrus. We plan to visit Cape Flora, where the remains of three historic expeditions are found. If conditions permit, Zodiacs will cruise the base of towering cliffs where seabirds nest. We expect to use the helicopter for aerial sightseeing, and for transfers to otherwise inaccessible landing sites. DAYS AUGUST 2-3, 2016 At Sea We will cruise through these scenic waters, a wonderland of glaciated landscapes and icescapes. DAY 25 AUGUST 4, 2016 Depart Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway In the morning you will arrive in Longyearbyen and disembark. Say goodbye to the Expedition Team before transferring to the airport for your homeward bound flight, or spend time discovering the unique sights and sounds of Longyearbyen. If you plan to fly out today, be sure to book flights any time after 12 noon. IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy and excitement of expedition travel. Our actual icebreaker program will vary according to ice and weather conditions, unexpected opportunities and wildlife sightings. The captain and expedition leader will determine our exact route based on reconnaissance flights and ice reports. The ice conditions in the Arctic vary dramatically from season to season and no specific itinerary can be guaranteed in advance. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you ll experience on this voyage. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a polar expedition. EXTEND YOUR STAY Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via , live chat or phone ( ) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 4

5 Inclusions THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on board All beverages on board, including a selection of house wines, beer and spirits All shore landings per the daily program Group scheduled helicopter flightseeing and excursions Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team Downloadable photographic journal documenting the expedition Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program All luggage handling aboard ship Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$100,000 per person Russian invitation letter for visa application provided after final payment THIS EXPEDITION EXCLUDES Mandatory transfer package* International airfare Passport and visa expenses Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above Meals ashore unless otherwise specified Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and mandatory medical travel insurance Excess baggage charges Waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned Laundry and other personal charges unless specified Phone and internet charges Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew Additional overnight accommodation Helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group *MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES: One night hotel accommodation in Anchorage with breakfast Group transfer hotel to Anchorage airport Flight from Anchorage to Anadyr Transfers to and from ship Group transfer ship to Longyearbyen airport Package cost: $1,950 Note: Baggage allowance on charter flight is 33 lbs (15 kg) checked and 11 lbs (5 kg) carry-on. IMPORTANT Russian visas are required for tourists of most countries. This voyage requires single-entry Russian visas. See your country s Russian consulate or embassy for details. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 5

6 Dates & Rates ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Epic Northeast Passage Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Jul 10 - Aug 4, Anchorage/ Longyearbyen Mandatory Transfer Package $1,950 All rates per person in USD. $29,995 $39,995 $45,995 $51,995 WANT MORE ICEBREAKING? Check out 3 more voyages on the next page. Ask your Polar Travel Adviser about savings on 2 or more voyages! HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONS To book your cabin or inquire about the availability of Adventure Options, contact a Polar Travel Adviser ( ) ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 6

7 Additional Dates & Rates ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Extreme Greenland Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Aug 4 - Aug 24, Longyearbyen/ Ottawa Mandatory Transfer Package $1,650 All rates per person in USD. $23,495 $32,995 $37,595 $41,995 ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Best of the Canadian High Arctic Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Aug 22 - Sep 8, 2016 Mandatory Transfer Package $2,150 All rates per person in USD. 18 Ottawa $19,795 $26,395 $29,995 $33,995 ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Ultimate Northwest Passage Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Sep 6 - Sep 23, Ottawa/ Anchorage Mandatory Transfer Package $2,650 All rates per person in USD. $20,695 $27,795 $31,595 $35,495 HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONS To book your cabin or inquire about the availability of Adventure Options, contact a Polar Travel Adviser ( ) ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 7

8 Russia POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS Please note that this list is a sampling of some of the possible sites visited during our expeditions to the Arctic. Your expedition may or may not include sites listed here. No expedition will include all the sites listed. ANADYR VILKITSKY ISLAND The town of Anadyr (pop. 11,038) is the administrative center of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Situated on the mouth of the Anadyr River, it was founded in CAPE DEZHNEV The easternmost point of the Eurasian mainland was discovered by Semen Ivanov Dezhnev, who traveled around the cape in He preceded Bering, the man for whom the Strait is named, by some 80 years. UELEN This island was charted less than a hundred years ago during a Russian Arctic Hydrographic Expedition of conducted in the icebreaker Taimyr. The island is 0.62 miles (less than a kilometer) across; the elevation is 236 feet (72m). BENNET ISLAND This island is an outpost in the northern East Siberian Sea. George Washington de Long led his men ashore after his ship Jeannette was lost. KOTELNY ISLAND Some of the 1,000 people who inhabit the village are indigenous, who make their living hunting marine mammals. Uelen is built upon a flat gravel spit. The museum collection of walrus ivory carvings is especially fine. KOLYUCHIN ISLAND The flat topped island with steep cliffs is an excellent habitat for nesting seabirds, tufted and horned puffins, kittiwakes and murres. WRANGEL ISLAND The island never experienced glaciation during the Quaternary Ice Age, as a result it is biologically diverse in comparison to other islands in the area. The world s largest population of Pacific walrus inhabit the waters around the island. Gray whales feed there during migration to Mexico. A hundred migratory bird species nest on the island. The self-contained ecosystem of the island earned it a UNESCO World Heritage designation. KOMSOMOLETS ISLAND Mammoth tusks were discovered buried in the muddy cliffs of the island. An old hunter s camp with numerous cunning fox traps built from driftwood may be visible. BELKOVSKIY ISLAND This tundra-covered island is one of the westernmost New Siberian Islands. Capstans are evident on cliff tops. They were used by hunters hauling walrus hides up from the beach below. If walrus are sighted in this area, they would be the rarely seen Laptev walrus, a subspecies of the Pacific walrus. Some scientists suggest they may be a separate species. SEVERNAYA ZEMLYA Charted in 1933, this archipelago was the last to be formally discovered on the planet. In December 2006, the local parliament voted to rename the islands to honor Tsar Nicholas II (arkhipelag Zemlya Imperatora Nikolai II) and a number of Saints. CHUKOTKA PENINSULA Sixty-five percent of the island is covered in glaciers and was not explored until a Russian expedition in the 1930s. The northeastern shore of the Asian continent is Russia s Far East. Cape Dezhnev is the most eastern point. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 8

9 Franz Josef Land and Longyearbyen POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS Please note that this list is a sampling of some of the possible sites visited during our expeditions to the Arctic. Your expedition may or may not include sites listed here. No expedition will include all the sites listed. CAPE TEGETTHOFF LONGYEARBYEN Spectacular scenery and the possibility of sighting polar bears and Atlantic walrus are the reasons to land on this island. AUSTRIA SUND 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. The icebreaker may cruise the water of the sound while the Expedition Team deploys the helicopters for aerial sightseeing. CAPE NORWAY The tundra is rich on Cape Norway. It was here that Nansen and Johansen wintered from 1895 to BUKTA TIKAYA The sea cliff of near vertical basalt rock is home to a vast seabird colony. The most abundant birds are kittiwakes and dovekies. IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy and excitement of expedition travel. Our actual icebreaker program will vary according to ice and weather conditions, unexpected opportunities and wildlife sightings. The captain and expedition leader will determine our exact route based on reconnaissance flights and ice reports. The ice conditions in the Arctic vary dramatically from season to season and no specific itinerary can be guaranteed in advance. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you ll experience on this voyage. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a polar expedition. CAPE FLORA Three expeditions, Benjamin Leigh-Smith, Jackson- Harmsworth, the Ziegler-Fiala, camped at Cape Flora. The remains can be explored. Last revised: April 1, 2015 ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: EPIC NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 9