North Pole Tours - Arctic & Antarctic Expeditions

08 nights / 09 days aboard Professor Multanovskiy
Embarkation: May 24, 2006 Keflavik Disembarkation: Jun 01, 2006 Keflavik

Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Day 1
Late in the afternoon we board ship in the port of Keflavik, just a short way from the international airport, to begin the circumnavigation of Iceland. The largest of the North Atlantic islands, Iceland’s volcanoes, icecaps, rugged glaciated mountains, fjords and coastal cliffs and beaches together form one of the most inspiring landscapes on earth. We sail north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which is crowned by a beautiful snow-capped volcanic cone, 1442m high Snaefellsjokull. In the mellow evening light (at this time of year it is light all night) it is worth staying on deck to watch for whales in this often very productive location.

Day 2
We arrive in the broad and shallow bay of Breidafjordur, which is peppered with thousands of islands and skerries. If we are very lucky, we may glimpse the White-tailed Eagle among these historic islands, from where Erik the Red set sail to discover Greenland. We land on Flatey and explore its delightful fishing village, strolling among the many well-preserved traditional timber buildings and visiting the church, with its paintings by the Spanish-Icelandic artist Baltasar Samper, and restored library. On and around Flatey, Black Guillemots, Puffins, Common Eiders and Red-necked Phalaropes can be seen. Later we land on Klofningur a basalt island with breeding Shags, Fulmars and Great Black-backed Gulls. Sailing to the north side of the bay, we use the Zodiacs to cruise the cliffs and sea caves of Látrabjarg, at the westernmost point of Iceland. Home to the world´s largest Razorbill colony, Iceland’s most extensive bird cliffs are 14km long and rise to over 400m in height. Our expedition naturalists will point out the other bird species that nest on the cliffs and also the seals on the rocks.

Day 3
Today we explore the Isafjordur Peninsula, geologically the oldest region in Iceland, its imposing basalt mountains scoured out by Ice Age glaciers. We sail into Adalvik in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Once farmed, this beautiful, sheltered fjord has been deserted for 50 years. As sheep no longer graze here and the human impacts are minimal, fauna and flora thrive on a scale unknown in other parts of Iceland. We continue our voyage by sailing along the Hornstrandir Peninsula, spotting the remains of other farmsteads along the coastline of golden sand beaches set between sheer basalt cliffs. We aim to land at Hornvik , where we can follow an old path, used by fowlers, to reach the top of 300m high Hornbjarg. From the dizzy heights of this cliff we can marvel at one of the biggest seabird colonies in Iceland, with tens of thousands of Brünnich´s Guillemots and Kittiwakes.

Day 4
If the East Greenland pack- ice, will be less than 100 nautical miles north of Iceland, and the weather will be good, we will sail towards the edge and spend some time in and near the ice. During our 24 hours at sea, there will be plenty of time to watch for the spout of large whales, and to observe the northern migration of skuas and other Arctic birds. When we sail along the pack ice edge, we may also see Harp Seals. If the pack-ice will be more than 100 nautical miles north of Iceland we will land at the east side of the Isafjordur Peninsula in Furufjördur, Tharalátursfjördur and Reykjafjördur, from where we will have a good and near view on the northern side of the glacier Drangajökull. Walkers can make a hike of a view hours from one fjord to the next on an old trail with cairns. In Furufjördur we will find bogs and lakes, and in Reykjafjördur hot pools, in which we can take a bath. Harbour Seals and Grey Seals are common in this fjord.

Day 5
In the early morning, if the weather allows, we sail past Kolbeinsey, a tiny island north of Grimsey, formed from a submarine eruption. Later we land on Grimsey, an island off the north coast and the only part of Iceland which lies within the Arctic Circle (the Circle crosses the island). The island is home to huge colonies of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Puffins, Fulmars and Arctic Terns, who far outnumber the human inhabitants, numbering just 100. A zodiac cruise along the western cliffs will afford us the opportunity to also admire the seabirds from the water. Later we may sail along the bird cliffs of Raudinupur.

Day 6
If weather allows, we go ashore on the wild and windswept volcanic sands of Heradssandur, formed from debris washed down by mighty glacier rivers. On the marshlands of its braided channels, Whooper Swans, Greylag Geese, and several species of ducks and skuas breed. The see near the mouth of the river is teeming with Harbour Seals. In the afternoon we call at Borgarfjördur. A friendly small village, where people work on Jasper, a precious stone only found in this part of Iceland. We will try to visit a farm with a Common Eider breeding colony, where the birds are protected for down collection in this time of the year. If the conditions at Heradssansur are adverse we will not land there, but land after Borgarfjördur, at Alftavik, in the natural harbour Lotna, where people lived until 1904.

Day 7
Heading down Iceland’s east coast we reach Skrudur, a bird island ( Gannets ) of 160 m high, where we can not land, but where we will cruise around in zodiacs and enter a huge cave. Later we sail to Papey, where Irish monks made a living in the 9th century. This beautiful, now uninhabited island, is home to thousands of Puffins and other seabirds.

Day 8
We land on Heimaey, an important fishing port and the Westman Islands only permanent community. A short walk allows us to see the results of the surprise 1973 eruption, which destroyed one third of the town and almost sealed off its vital harbour. A highlight of our time ashore will be the multitude of Puffins that breed along the grassy cliff tops and are still harvested annually by the locals. When we have left Heimaey we use the Zodiacs to cruise among the other Westman Islands. We will circumnavigate Surtsey, an island born in 1964 from volcanic activity, and Sulnasker and Hellisey, which have large breeding populations of Northern Gannets.

Day 9
After breakfast we disembark in Keflavik.

Tour Rate

Triple non private	2,110	US$
Twin non private	2,500	US$
Twin private	2,950	US$
Superior	3,310	US$
Suite	3,720	US$

Fares include:

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
Transfers and baggage handling between the hotels, airports and ship only for those passengers on the group flights in Longyearbyen - Spitsbergen
Transfers and baggage handling between ship and airport after arrival of the ship in the morning in Keflavik – Iceland ( not v.v. between airport and ship )
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
Comprehensive pre-departure material

Not included:

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
pre- and post land arrangements
transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen
passport and visa expenses
Government arrival and departure taxes
meals ashore
baggage, cancellation and personal insurance ( which is strongly recommended)
excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges
and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard ( guidelines will be provided)
Please note: due to the increasing fuel prices, a non-commissionable fuel surcharge will apply of 14 US $ per passenger / per cruise night for the coming Arctic and North Atlantic Islands season 2006.

Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 30 participants (motor vessels) .

10 nights / 11 days aboard Professor Molchanov
Embarkation: Jul 27, 2006 Longyearbyen Disembarkation: Aug 06, 2006 Longyearbyen

Day 1
Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the surrounds of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Day 2
Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we take to the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly green slopes near the glacier, a colourful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich’s Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, who patrol the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord. In the afternoon we sail to Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement. Once a mining village - served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a research centre. Close to the village is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Arctic Terns. Visitors interested in the history of Arctic exploration will want to walk to the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge in 1926 and Nobile in the airship Italia in 1928 before their flights to the North Pole.

Day 3
At Smeerenburg on Amsterdamøya, we visit the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station, the blubber pots now surrounded by hundreds of tree trunks washed ashore after floating from Siberia. Our voyage continues around the north coast of West Spitsbergen as we head for the Hinlopen Strait.

Day 4
Before turning south into Hinlopen Strait (if the pack-ice allows us) we will have reached our most northerly position. On and around the ice at the entrance to the strait, which divides West Spitsbergen from ice-clad Nordaustlandet, there is a good chance of seeing Bearded and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls. On the eastern side of Lomfjordshalvøya we take a Zodiac cruise through the ice floes to the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, where thousands of Brünnich’s Guillemots nest in a spectacular setting. The basalt pillars, rising hundreds of meters, and the overhanging ice cap with its waterfall are an awe-inspiring sight. Finally, on the eastern side of Hinlopen Strait we intend to make an evening landing in Augustabukta on the island of Nordaustlandet, the most northerly of the major Spitsbergen islands. Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the sparse vegetation of this largely ice-covered island, where Pink-footed Geese, Walrus and a rare Ivory Gull colony are also found.

Day 5
Today we go ashore at Svartknausflya, a ´polar desert´, an area of Nordaustlandet that gets so little precipitation that not even hardy tundra plants can survive. The bare, sandy hills are a strong contrast to the world’s third largest ice cap, which plunges into the sea not far away.

Day 6
Cruising south-east we pass just north of Svenskøya, the westernmost island in the totally protected Kong Karls Land, which is the most important denning area of Polar Bear in the Arctic. There may be patches of pack-ice and, if so, there is a good chances we will see Polar Bears, Harp and Ringed Seals, Ivory Gulls and Pomarine Skuas. Sailing south-west through Olgastreet, we may encounter the magnificent, but rare, Greenland Whale, which was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century.

Day 7
In Freemansundet we plan to land at Sundneset on the island of Barentsøya to visit an old trapper´s hut and then take a brisk walk across the tundra in search of Spitsbergen Reindeer and Barnacle Geese. Later we cruise south to Diskobukta on the west side of Edgeøya. After a Zodiac cruise through the shallow bay, we land on a beach littered with tree trunks, which have drifted here from Siberia, and whale bones. We can also climb to the rim of a narrow gully which is inhabited by thousands of Kitttiwakes, together with Black Guillemots and piratical Glaucous Gulls. During the breeding season, the base of the cliffs is patrolled by Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears, especially females with young cubs, searching for young birds that have fallen from the nesting ledges.

Day 8
In the morning we land on the attractive island of Bölscheøya, in the archipelago of Tusenøyane, to the south of Edgeøya. Here too we see the remains of Walrus and Greenland Whales, but on a happier note we may also spot a variety of interesting birds, among them Grey Phalaropes, Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Divers and, if we are lucky, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a sub-species found only on Spitsbergen, Franz Josef and, occasionally, in Greenland. In the afternoon we hope to land on Aekongen where there is a complete Greenland Whale skeleton. There are also spectacular basalt rock-columns here, and we may also see Common Eiders with chicks. At night we sail to Sørkap, the southern tip of Spitsbergen.

Day 9
We start the day quietly cruising the side fjords of the spectacular Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, enjoying the scenery of towering mountain peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch explorers gave the name ‘Spitsbergen’ - pointed mountains - to the island. There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area and very good chances of encounters with seals and Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research projects. Behind the station the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of nesting Little Auks.

Day 10
Today we land on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjorden. Here piles of Beluga skeletons (the Beluga is a small white whale), the remains of 19th century slaughter, are yet another reminder of the consequences of thoughtless exploitation. Fortunately, Belugas were not hunted to the edge of extinction and may still be seen locally. Indeed, there is a good chance that we will come across a pod. Cruising into Recherchefjorden during the afternoon we can explore an area of tundra at the head of the fjord where many Reindeer feed.

Day 11
Return to Longyearbyen and disembark for the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home.

Triple non private	3,160	US$
Twin non private	3,720	US$
Twin private	4,380	US$
Superior	4,940	US$
Suite	5,530	US$

Fares include:

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
Transfers and baggage handling between the hotels, airports and ship only for those passengers on the group flights in Longyearbyen - Spitsbergen
Transfers and baggage handling between ship and airport after arrival of the ship in the morning in Keflavik – Iceland ( not v.v. between airport and ship )
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
Comprehensive pre-departure material

Not included:

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
pre- and post land arrangements
transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen
passport and visa expenses
Government arrival and departure taxes
meals ashore
baggage, cancellation and personal insurance ( which is strongly recommended)
excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges
and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard ( guidelines will be provided)
Please note: due to the increasing fuel prices, a non-commissionable fuel surcharge will apply of 14 US $ per passenger / per cruise night for the coming Arctic and North Atlantic Islands season 2006.

Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 30 participants (motor vessels) .

14 nights / 15 days aboard Aleksey Maryshev
Embarkation: Jul 13, 2006 Kangerlussuaq Disembarkation: Jul 27, 2006 Ilulissat

Day 1
After flying in to Kangerlussuaq we embark the ship.

Day 2
The island groups of Hunde Ejland and Kronprinsens Ejland, in the mouth of the Disko bay, are surrounded by rich waters which attract both seabirds and whales. We intend to call at the small settlement on Hunde Eijland where old dwellings of Greenlands,’s Thule culture (dating from the 11th century) and graves from 18th century whalers can be seen. Later we will make our first zodiac excursions in the beautiful narrows of the Kronprinsens Ejland archipelago.

Day 3
On Disko Island we will ask permission to visit the Arctic Station near Godhavn, where scientists will introduce us into their work in Greenland. An interesting area is Engelskmandens Havn, where there are hot springs. Along the south-facing cliffs of Qeqertaq Island (Diskofjord), home to thousands of Fulmars, we make an excursion along the shore.

Day 4
We reach Svartenhuk Halvø, where we land at Svartenhavn. We will walk on an extensive tundra, dotted with lakes, where we will encounter ducks and geese and Muskoxen. Later we land at Lille Fladø, where a big colony of Arctic Terns and small colonies of Puffins, Black Guillemots and Little Auks survive.

Day 5
At the southern end of Melville Bugt we land at Svartenhavn, the northernmost settlement of the Upernavik district. Later we land at Lille Renland, where Reindeer have been found. Here we can walk on the Greenland ice-cap. In this area we may encounter our first sea ice and, if so, there is a chance of spotting Polar Bears hunting seals at the ice edge. The shore here is dominated by the vast Greenland ice cap which reaches the sea as a series of enormous glacier fronts, the largest outside Antarctica.

Day 6
Today we sail to the western side of Melville Bugt, calling at Cape Melville and then continuing into Meteor Bugt where the shoreline mountains teem with Little Auks. On Meteor Island we land at Savigsivik, the southernmost Thule settlement. It was on this island that the famous York meteorite provided the Inuit with a source of iron - until Peary removed it and sold it to an American museum.

Day 7
At the west side of Saunders Island we will cruise below cliffs on which nest 150,000 Brünnich’s Guillemots, together with Kittiwakes and Fulmars, making it, perhaps, the largest seabird colony in Greenland. In Booth Sound we make a trip inland to visit an area of High Arctic tundra. There are many lakes here, with a breeding population of ducks and geese.

Day 8
If ice conditions allow, we sail past Cape Alexander into Smith Sound towards the Humbold Glacier. Here we have the best opportunities to meet sea-ice and Polar Bears.

Day 9
We land at Cape Chalon, where we visit old houses of the Thule culture. Then we sail to Siorapaluk, the northernmost Greenlandic village where the people still depend on the hunting of Polar Bear, Narwhal, seals, seabirds and wildfowl. Later we sail into Inglefield Bredning where there the icebergs are carved into fantastic shapes by the natural forces of wind and water.

Day 10
Today we call at Thule (Quaanaaq) the main settlement of the area. In the 1950s the inhabitants of Old Thule (Dundas) were forced to move to Quaanaaq when NATO created an air base at their village. We land on the southern coast of Northumberland Island to visit Upernavigssuak, a deserted village, then continue to Hakluyt Island to view a large colony of Brünnich’s Guillemots. At this time of year the young are jumping from the ledges into the sea to start their southward migration.

Day 11
Just east of Parker Snow Bugt we visit again some colonies with Brünnich’s Guillemots and cruise below the spectacular, ice-capped Crimson Cliffs to reach Cape York where, in 1818, the Inuit and White Men first met when Royal Navy ships under John Ross arrived. Today the small settlements on the eastern side of the Cape are deserted, though the mountains behind the shore are still home to thousands of Little Auks.

Day 12
We sail south through the immense Melville Bugt, admiring again the awesome Greenland ice cap to the east. We will sail as close to shore as we can and hope to land on Cape Seddon near the remains of a Thule culture village, and on Read Head, from where we will have a splendid view on the Greenland ice cap.

Day 13
Depending on the weather and ice conditions we will keeping watch for whales and try to land on Kingigtorssuaq, where the northernmost Rune inscriptions from the Norsemen were found in a cairn, built in the 13th century. Alternatively we land on Hvalø near an accessible colony of Puffins. Then we sail past Søndre Upernavik, where in the mouth of Suvdlua there is a good chance to see big whales.

Day 14
At the western tip of the Nuussuaq Peninsula we will try to land near the remains of a Norse settlement, called Björnefaelden.

Day 15
In the early morning we arrive at Ilulissat, famous for its Ice Fjord which is packed by large icebergs calved from the Jakobshavn Glacier to the east. We disembark in the morning ready to catch the flight home.

Twin non private	5,210	US$
Twin private	6,130	US$
Superior	6,920	US$

Fares include:

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
Transfers and baggage handling between the hotels, airports and ship only for those passengers on the group flights in Longyearbyen - Spitsbergen
Transfers and baggage handling between ship and airport after arrival of the ship in the morning in Keflavik – Iceland ( not v.v. between airport and ship )
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
Comprehensive pre-departure material

Not included:

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
pre- and post land arrangements
transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen
passport and visa expenses
Government arrival and departure taxes
meals ashore
baggage, cancellation and personal insurance ( which is strongly recommended)
excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges
and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard ( guidelines will be provided)
Please note: due to the increasing fuel prices, a non-commissionable fuel surcharge will apply of 14 US $ per passenger / per cruise night for the coming Arctic and North Atlantic Islands season 2006.

Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 30 participants (motor vessels) .