Arctic Holidays

Russia’s Northeast Passage was closed to foreign travellers for more than half a century. Even now, extreme ice and weather conditions render the route impassable to most vessels save for the Kapitan Khlebnikov - the only polar-class icebreaker offering this impressive journey.

Since the 16th Century, explorers have attempted to transit the Northeast Passage, which follows the Arctic coast of Russia from the Barents Sea to the Bering Strait. This sought-after northern trading route shortens the sea voyage to Asia by almost 4,200 miles and 13 days.

In 1878, Swedish explorer Nils Nordenskjöld sailed from Gothenburg, Sweden, arriving a year later in Yokohama, Japan, and completed the first successful transit of the Northeast Passage - something not repeated for another 35 years. 2008 marks the 130th anniversary of that first successful transit and it is truly fitting that this itinerary should be offered for the season.

JOURNEY OBJECTIVES

The adventure starts with an overnight in Anchorage, Alaska (before the charter flight north to meet the Khlebnikov). Board the icebreaker in Anadyr, Russia and set off on the 4000 mile journey. Sail through the Bering Strait and past the most easterly point of Asia. Visit small villages and uninhabited islands along the way; zodiacs and helicopter excursions are also planned for Wrangel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the least accessible group of islands in the Arctic, Severmaya Zemlya. Travel through the pack ice of the East Siberia Sea to the New Siberian Islands and high above the Arctic Circle to the most northerly islands in Eurasia - Franz Josef Land. Finally sail the Barents Sea to Murmansk to disembark before flying home via Helsinki.

ITINERARY SUMMARY

KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV • JUN • 25 DAYS
Day 1 arrive Anchorage, Alaska
Day 2 fly to Anadyr, Russia for embarkation
Days 3-5 Chukotka Peninsula
Days 6-7 Wrangel Island
Days 8-14 New Siberian Islands
Days 15-19 Severnaya Zemlya
Days 20-21 Franz Josef Land
Days 22-23 Barents Sea Day 24 fly Murmansk to Helsinki
Day 25 flight home

Please note these are expeditions into a little-travelled region and the actual programme and route will depend on local ice and weather conditions. This itinerary should be used as a guideline only.

Further Information

Please select links from the left-hand panel for further information about the tour itinerary, prices and departure dates. Alternatively please contact our expert team who will be delighted to hear from you.

Phone: 01737 218800
Email: arctic@discovertheworld.co.uk

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Voyages » Icebreakers » North East Passage