Arctic Bound

MV Ortelius – Whale and Bear Safari – North Spitsbergen

simon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:44:41 +0000

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 surrounding area of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plants have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

We visit Sallyhamna in Holmiabukta where in the last two years a Fin Whale carcass has attracted Polar Bears. Later we sail to Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord dominated by spectacular glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seals. The cliffs and shoreline of the fjord also support thriving seabird colonies and a surprisingly rich vegetation, which flourishes in sheltered spots.

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Kapitan Dranitsyn – Franz Josef and Novaya Zemlya

simon — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:13:33 +0000

Explore rugged icy landscapes in Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya in the Russian Arctic

From the remote, icy islands of Franz Josef Land to the isolated mountain ranges of Novaya Zemlya, this Arctic adventure visits some of the largest walrus rookeries and seabird nesting areas in the Arctic.

This journey is an expedition of extremes to a challenging land that has intrigued explorers for 200 years.

Departure Date: 27th July 2012
Duration:13 days
Price: £9000 | Book by 31 January 2012 and receive 10% discount

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Kapitan Dranitsyn – Franz Josef Land- Arctic Wildlife Quest

simon — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:01:03 +0000

Explore the remote landscapes of the rarely visited Franz Josef Land in search of wildlife.

In the far north of Russia is Franz Josef Land, one of the most remote and raw Arctic landscapes in the world.

Discovered less than 150 years ago, this icy realm is home to a variety of wildlife including walrus, Polar bears, seals, Arctic fox and Beluga whales.

This is an archipelago visited by few people, where the foreboding landscapes of the islands are dotted with relics from famous explorers of the past.

Departure Date: 17th July 2012
Duration:13 days
Price: £7308 | Book by 31 January 2012 and receive 10% discount

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m/v Ortelius – Franz Josef Land

simon — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:45:16 +0000

A Rare opportunity to visit a land remote Arctic region seldom visited. Rich in marine and wildlife including Polar Bear and a chance to see Greenland Whales, Narwhal and Ross Gull. There are two sailings planned for 2012 and a very special time is install for just over 100 fortunate passengers on each trip.

The ice-strengthened vessel “Ortelius” is an excellent vessel for Polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and offers a comfortable hotel standard, with two restaurants, a bar/lecture room and a sauna. Our voyages are primarily developed to offer our passengers a quality exploratory wildlife program, trying to spend as much time ashore as possible. As the number of passengers is limited to approximately 100 on the “Ortelius”, flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities.

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MS Expedition – Norwegian Fjords and Polar Bears

simon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:05:57 +0000

Highlights
Leith, The Orkneys, the Shetland Islands, the Lofoten Islands, Tromsø, Bear Island (Bjørnøya), Svalbard and Longyearbyen.
Description

Take part in a mystical north Atlantic journey and explore the various medieval towns of the Norwegian coast before heading north to the island of Spitsbergen. This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ply the Norwegian Sea, keeping your eyes open for unique wildlife while searching for the elusive polar bear.

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m/v Plancius – North Spitsbergen, Basecamp

simon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:41:35 +0000

Spitsbergen is home to a wide variety of wildlife including seabirds, walruses, whales and Polar Bears as well as beautiful landscapes.

Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we get on the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. On the surprisingly fertile slopes near the glacier, a colourful variety of flowers bloom, while large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich’s Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. 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.

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m/v Plancius – North Spitsbergen

simon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:34:50 +0000

Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen. 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 surrounding area of Longyearbyen, more than 100 species of plants have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Heading north along the west coast, we arrive by morning in Krossfjorden, where we get on the Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. There is also a good chance of spotting opportunistic Arctic Foxes, patrolling the base of the cliffs in case a hapless chick falls from its nest, and Bearded Seals, who cruise this scenic fjord.
Trip Options:
Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Snowshoeing

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s/v Noorderlicht – North Spitsbergen

simon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:31:24 +0000

The ‘Noorderlicht’ was originally built in 1910 in Flensburg, Germany as a three-masted schooner. For most of her existence she served as a light-vessel on the Baltic. In 1991 the present owners purchased the hull and re-rigged and refitted her thoroughly, under the rules of “Register Holland”.
This early season exploration of Spitsbergen has the potential to fulfill all one could hope for from a high Arctic journey. The mountainous landscapes of Spitsbergen are now steeped in snow, the air carries a distinct chill and the first hints of spring bring an enormous amount of wildlife activity. More than 2000 polar bears live on this archipelago and now mothers and their polar bear cubs begin searching for food in earnest on the ice after a long dark winter.

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m/v Plancius – Fair Isle-Jan Mayen-Spitsbergen, Whale Safari, 2012

simon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:27:01 +0000

The Scottish waters offer excellent possibilities to spot Minke Whales, White-beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. Several other cetaceans, including Orcas (Killer Whales), are also native to these waters.
M/v “Plancius” is comfortable and nicely decorated. Our voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel programme, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel will fully meet our demands to achieve this.

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MS Expedition – Arctic Highlights and Polar Bears

simon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:23:06 +0000

Sailing from Spitsbergen to Greenland, follow the ice’s edge—always on the lookout for wildlife. Navigating south, explore this remote landscape not only by ship but also on foot and by Zodiac. This journey highlights the contrast and change in the Arctic as you move south, finally ending in the ‘land of fire and ice’, Iceland. Inuit villages, unique wildlife and remote destinations are some of the highlights on this truly unforgettable voyage through the Arctic.
Highlights
Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen, the Greenland Sea, East Greenland, the Scoresbysund Fjord, Reykjavik, Zodiac cruises, tundra, unique wildlife, and local communities

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