Northeast Passage: Siberia & the Russia Arctic

Day 1 Anchorage, Alaska

You spend the first night of this 7,000 km (4,000 mile) expedition in Anchorage, Alaska, USA, this Alaskan town situated just south of the Arctic Circle. Daylight will linger into the wee hours, so plan to participate in the city's night life.

Days 2-3 Embarkation Day

We fly you from Anchorage to Anadyr, Russia, losing a day en route as you cross the International Dateline. You meet the Expedition Team, a well-informed group of specialists that delivers our shipboard education program, an engaging series of illustrated presentations on all things Arctic – political, biological and geological.

Days 4-6 Bering Strait

The transit of the Northeast Passage begins at the eastern edge of the Asian continent. As you sail north through the Beraing Strait, you will pass Cape Dezhnev, the most easterly point of land in Asia.

Days 7-8 Wrangel Island

Crossing the Delong Strait, you will witness from the air and deck Kapitan Khlebnikov crushing ice up to a meter thick. Landings are planned on Wrangel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated for its diverse flora and habitat for migratory birds. Musk oxen thrive there. Mammoth remains found on the island suggest the giant creatures grazed the island tundra as recently as 10,000 years ago. In 2008, the island was surrounded by fast ice. If the same conditions are met in 2011, excitement will ramp up, because transfers to the island will be possible only by helicopter, providing stunning aerial photographic opportunities.

Days 9-15 New Siberian Islands

Make your way through the pack ice of the East Siberia Sea to the New Siberian Islands, where, if conditions permit, hike the tundra, explore old hunting camps and see the northernmost point of the European continent. A wildlife watch will be mounted, as this is the habitat of the rarely seen Laptev walrus Odobenus rosmarus divergens. During the 2008 expedition, polar bears were sighted in the archipelago.

Days 16-20 Severnaya Zemlya and Novaya Zemlya

Landings on the least accessible group of islands in the Arctic, Severnaya Zemlya, are intended during this portion of the voyage. Our wildlife watch continues for Ross’ and Sabine Gulls, as well as beluga whales in the Kara Sea. The archipelago of Novaya Zemlya thwarted attempts to complete a transit of the Northeast Passage until the development of engine driven surface vessels. We plan landings and aerial flight-seeing.

In 2008, a visit was made to reindeer herders. There are two indigenous peoples in the Russian Arctic that herd reindeer - the Chuckchi and the Tundra Nenets. The Chuckchi people live on the Chukotka Peninsula. The Tundra Nenets live in the region that stretches from the Tamyr Peninsual to the White Sea, which lies to the east of Severnaya Zemlya. The visit was one of the highlights of the expedition. In 2011, we will attempt another visit to a camp of these nomadic peoples, who move from place to place following their herds.

Days 21-24 Franz Josef Land

Well above the Arctic Circle lie the most northerly islands in Eurasia Franz Josef Land. They are the habitat of polar bear, and Atlantic walrus. We plan to visit Cape Flora, where remains from three historic expeditions are found. If conditions permit, Zodiacs will cruise the base of towering cliffs where seabirds nest. We expect to use the helicopters for aerial flight-seeing and transfers to otherwise inaccessible landing sites.

Days 25-26 At Sea

We sail the Barents Sea to Murmansk. On deck you can identify the seabirds that accompany the ship as it steams westward.

Day 27 Murmansk, Russia

Disembark the ship. We transfer the group to the airport for the flight to Helsinki, where you spend the night in a centrally located hotel.

Day 28 Helsinki, Finland

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for home or extend your stay.