Arctic Holidays

The discovery of these islands spanned eight centuries; from Greenland by the Vikings in the 11th Century, to the Dutch explorers who put Svalbard on the map in the 16th Century, culminating in the pinpointing of Franz Josef land a mere 135 or so years ago. The Kapitan Khlebnikov makes it possible for intrepid explorers to visit these Arctic Islands in just 17 days.

JOURNEY OBJECTIVES

Enjoy an overnight in Helsinki, Finland’s capital city, before your charter flight the next day to the Russian city of Murmansk, where the Kapitan Khlebnikov awaits. Set sail through the Barents Sea, inhabited by a variety of whales and dolphins, towards the remote islands of Franz Josef Land. Turn westward towards Spitsbergen and the glacier-draped islands of the Svalbard archipelago – a haven for birdlife and polar mammals. As the ship forges ahead along Greenland’s ice edged northeast coast, keep watch for polar bears, walrus and seals, all the while marvelling at the ease with which the icebreaker slices through the ice.

This area is also home to the largest national park in the world; Northeast Greenland National Park, which has been designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. An incredible 40 per cent of the world’s musk oxen are believed to live near the park’s coastline. Sailing south towards Iceland take in east Greenland’s breathtaking King Oscar Fjord and Scoresby Sund, the longest fjord in the world. Sail across the Denmark Strait to Reykjavik, Iceland, before the flight home.

ITINERARY SUMMARY

Day 1 arrive Helsinki, Finland
Day 2 fly to Murmansk, Russia for embarkation
Days 3-4 Barents Sea
Days 5-7 Franz Josef Land
Days 8- 10 Svalbard Days 11-12 ice edge
Days 13-15 Northeast Greenland
Days 16-17 Denmark Strait to Reykjavik

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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