Arctic : Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya

This voyage is an extended version of our ‘Wildlife of Franz Josef Land’ itinerary, and visits all the main highlights of this remote and rugged archipelago. Enjoy a wealth of wildlife and learn about the fascinating history of the early explorers who visited Franz Josef Land before continuing on to the remarkable Novaya Zemlya archipelago.

Once an important nuclear research site during the cold war, the islands of Novaya Zemyla are rugged Arctic beauty at its best - massive extinct volcanoes, jagged cliffs and the most isolated mountain range in the Baltic Sea.

For wildlife lovers, Novaya Zemlya boasts a great variety of animal and plant life, many of which are on the brink of extinction. You’ll have a chance to see the largest walrus rookery in Russian Harbor gulf, various species of whale, the Novaya Zemlya reindeer and many sea birds. Even the polar bears here are recognized as a genetically unique subspecies – this really is a unique adventure to be cherished forever.