2016 SPITSBERGEN & FRANZ JOSEF LAND

Transcription

1 2016 SPITSBERGEN & FRANZ JOSEF LAND Step onto the pages of an explorer s journal on a unique expedition to one of the most remote, most authentic, and most historically significant places in the High Arctic. Franz Josef Land is far away and far from ordinary. ITINERARY Day 1. Longyearbyen (West Spitsbergen, Svalbard), embarkation. A small town Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of the Spitsbergen archipelago, is a starting point of our expedition. You may visit Polar Museum, it will be a good start of your great arctic adventure. Embark the Sea Spirit in the afternoon and keep an eye for our possible first whales as we sail out of Isfjorden. Day 2-3. At sea Days at sea don t mean idleness and bore. Visit lectures and presentations of our expedition team and invited speakers. Socialize with new friends in the cozy lounge of the ship. Or be on the open decks to watch seabirds and probably whales that escort our ship. Day 4-9. Franz Josef Land Archipelago. We start our visit of the Franz Josef Land Archipelago with a stop at Alexandra Land for border control procedures. The duration of these required procedure depends on the authorities, but we will always try to keep this to a minimum.

2 Over the next several days, our Expedition Leader and the Captain will do their best to maximize opportunities for both wildlife sightings and landings, keeping in mind that weather and sea ice sometime limit our ability to travel to intended destinations. Our goal always is to provide a good variety of scenery, landings and Zodiac cruises in these fascinating, remote and often hard-to-reach islands of the Russian High Arctic. This is the spirit of adventure that is a hallmark of polar expedition cruising there may be things that are not possible, but equal opportunities for new and unexpected discoveries that make your voyage unique. Flexibility is the key requirement for expedition cruising in the Franz Josef Land Archipelago, and this is dictated by our first priority of safety for the passengers and the vessel. Weather can change dramatically during the course of the day. The list of our possible landings includes: Bell Island is named after the bell-shaped mountain, which dominates the island and is a symbol of the whole archipelago. The name was given by the British Leigh Smith Expedition. We may visit the well-preserved house built by the members of the Expedition in We hope to go on discovering the history of Arctic Exploration at Cape Flora, Northbrook Island. Here Leigh Smith and his crew had to spend 10 months after their steam yacht Eira had been crushed by ice and sunk near the coast. For 3 years from 1894 to 1897 the base of Frederick George Jackson British Expedition was placed at the area. The members of this expedition had made a great contribution to the exploration of the archipelago. Cape Flora is also the place where the memorable encounter of Jackson and Nansen took place. Several monuments and crosses bear witness of these historical events. Apart from the historic sites Cape Flora is famous for its thick carpets of mosses of deep red, green and yellow. The towering cliffs at the southern part of Cape Flora are home for the huge sea birds colony. Arctic foxes are also frequent guests here. We may visit an abandoned polar station at Tikhaya Bay on Hooker Island. The station was in function from 1929 to It was the first soviet research base and the northernmost one in the world. The site is well preserved. Tikhaya Bay is also famous for its huge cliff Rubini Rock which is a shelter for thousands of sea birds. If we are successful at Alger Island we go on discovering the history of Arctic Exploration. We plan to visit a wintering place of the American Arctic Expedition headed by A. Baldwin. If weather permits we cruise aboard our zodiacs among drifting icebergs. Here we also have good chances for polar bears encounters. Cape Tegetthoff at Hall Island is a favourite site for photographers: huge cliffs resembling a shark s dorsal fins submerge in the sea. We plan a landing at the cape to watch the remains of the wooden structures built by the American Wellman Expedition of aimed to reach the North Pole. We often meet polar bears at this area. At the southern tip of Wilczek Island there is a lonely grave of the machinist Otto Krisch, who was a member of the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition of Payer and Weyprecht. The expedition had failed in conquering the Pole but accidentally discovered the unknown land, which they named Franz Josef Land. At Cape Heller on Wilczek Land there are the remains of the Wellman Expedition s supply base. In 1898 two members of the expedition stayed here to secure the base. In 1899 one of them died here and was buried at the cape. As everywhere on Franz Josef Land we are very likely to witness polar bears and sea mammals during our landing. If we succeed in reaching the Cape Fligely on Rudolf Island we will get to the northernmost point of our expedition and of the Eastern Hemisphere. There are some historic crosses at the area. Enjoy glacial landscapes and ivory gulls sites. At Stolichki and Appolonova isles we hope to observe walrus grounds. The site counted more than 600 of Atlantic walruses is unique. We patrol the coasts aboard our zodiacs and the animals often come close to our boats. Here we also may watch ivory gulls. Cape Norway at Jackson Island is a place where the famous Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen wintered in after failing to reach the North Pole. Their hut still remains here. Polar bears often roam nearby. Near the coasts we often encounter narwhals and beluga whales. Champ most say is the most beautiful island of the archipelago. The landscape of Champ is awesome: on the ice-capped cliffs, which are the highest on Franz Josef Land, thousands of birds find their shelter. Red, yellow and green mosses contrast dramatically with white and blue of the nearby glaciers. At Champ we discover the unique nature phenomenon: the stones of regular spherical shape from 3 mm to 3 m in diameter. Day On the way back to Longyearbyen. The lectures of our invited speakers prepare us for meeting with the unique Arctic wildlife and awesome landscapes of Spitsbergen. Day Exploring Spitsbergen. For the next two days, our Expedition Leader and Captain will coordinate their efforts to provide the best expedition possible along the islands and coastline of Spitsbergen. Our daily activities e.g. landings, Zodiac expeditions or simply cruising along the ice edge looking for wildlife strongly depend on ice and weather conditions. Among the places we might visit during your Spitsbergen expedition cruise include: Ny Ålesund, Krossfjorden, Glacier of 14th of July, Signehamna, Lillehoekbreen, St. Jonsfjorden and Alkehornet. Day 14. Disembarkation in Longyearbyen (West Spitsbergen, Svalbard). Our adventures finish in the port of Longyearbyen. Disembarkation in the morning is followed by the transfer to the airport and the flight to Oslo and home. Please Note:

3 Itinerary, landings and all other activities during the cruise depend strongly on ice and weather conditions and are subject to the decisions of the Expedition Leader and the Captain of the vessel. Encounters with any mentioned wildlife cannot be guaranteed.

4 YOUR SHIP: SEA SPIRIT YOUR SHIP: Sea Spirit VESSEL TYPE: Luxury Expedition LENGTH: 90 metres PASSENGER CAPACITY: 112 BUILT/REFURBISHED: 1992 / 2011 Sail aboard the remarkably comfortable Sea Spirit and experience the polar regions in grand style with spacious suites. Sea Spirit accommodates just 112 passengers, all in spacious suites with panoramic oceans views. Think king-size or twin beds, en suites, flat screen TVs and DVDs and internet satellite. Many suites have private balconies, lounge areas, dressing tables There is a lounge, bistro and bar, hot tub, gym, a state-of-the-art presentation room and stabilisers for smooth cruising. All-suite ship Smallest suite is a spacious 215 square feet. 15 suites have balconies. Owner's Suite is an outstanding 550 sq. feet. Flat Screen TVs and DVD players in every suite Gymnasium and Hot Tub with seating area and Bistro Library/Games Room Open bar Elevator Every suite has an exterior view Some cabin plans may vary depending on the cruise, please check for details.

5 INSIDE YOUR SHIP

6 PRICING Optional extras & upgrades Sea Kayaking 595 USD The islands and fjords of the High Arctic closely guard some of the world s most unique and magical sea kayaking opportunities. Experience calving glaciers in Svalbard, cathedral-like icebergs in Greenland, or labyrinthine expanses of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, all from our sturdy and stealthy sea kayaks. Join us for an unscripted kayaking adventure as we explore rugged coastlines and remote waters that very few people have ever paddled.