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  4. Russian High Arctic Odyssey
Days
22
Price from
49460CAD
Map of Russian High Arctic Odyssey including Finland, Russian Federation and Arctic

Polar deserts, shimmering glaciers and unique wildlife on land and sea

From visiting active Arctic research stations to tracing the paths of polar explorers on foot, the Russian Arctic is full of epic polar experiences and wildlife. Starting and ending in Helsinki, this 22-day voyage will take you to unspoiled areas like Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land. Polar bear encounters are a real possibility and there will be plenty of opportunities to spot walrus, seals, whales and wide variety of seabirds – both nesting on the icy cliffs and soaring above your ship. Discover the stunning ecology, geology and wildlife of this icy tip of the earth, with an expert expedition crew joining you to further enhance your adventure.

Up to 15% OFF 2021 Arctic Cruises

Book now to take advantage of up to 15% OFF* 2021 Arctic Cruises departing between May 1st and October 31st, 2021.

Terms & Conditions
Start
Helsinki, Finland
Finish
Helsinki, Finland
Destinations
Finland, Russia
Style
Peregrine
Theme
Polar
Code
PPRHA
Physical rating
Ages
Min 8
Group size
Min 1, Max 132

Peregrine trips are now operated by Intrepid Travel

Why you'll love this trip

  • Discover the immense polar deserts of Severnaya Zemlya – a Russian archipelago sandwiched between the Barents and Kara seas.

  • Get up close to the stunning glacier of Inostrantseva Bay, perhaps catching sight of calving ice plummeting into the waters below on a Zodiac excursion.

  • Learn more about the biology, geography, history and glaciology of the Russian High Arctic with a number of onboard lectures presented by your expert expedition crew while at sea.

  • After days of spotting wildlife on deck and cruising the seas in search of rugged Arctic wilderness, relax on your polar vessel with comfortable staterooms, multiple lounging areas and a polar library.

  • Explore the extraordinary mix of architectural influences and cultural sights in Finland’s capital, Helsinki, with included pre- and post-expedition accommodation.

Is this trip right for you?

  • As you’d expect, temperatures in the Arctic are very cold. A warm parka will be provided along with waterproof boots and unlimited hot drinks, but you should also bring base layers and lots of warm clothing. Please see the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information for further important details about what to bring.

  • Weather depending, you will be making regular excursions in a Zodiac boat to explore the local area and look for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac, so make sure you are dressed appropriately and that you keep your camera safe and dry. Sturdy sea legs are needed as you make wet and dry landings from the boat, and on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces. Some ships also have a lot of stairs.

  • The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area.

  • This trip takes places during the time of year that Spitsbergen often enjoys 24-hour daylight. Just one of the benefits of this is that incredible wildlife can be seen at any time of the day – be prepared to be woken at any time so as to not miss out on exciting animal sightings.

  • Polar bears are one of the most incredible and appealing animals on the planet, but they are also powerful predators with little fear of humans. Therefore, it’s necessary to be aware of the guidelines surrounding any contact with Polar bears. Follow your leader’s instructions and do not stray from your group.

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The Ocean Adventurer in Svalbard, Arctic
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The Ocean Adventurer in Svalbard, Arctic

Boats

Ocean Adventurer boat on adventure cruising tours

Ocean Adventurer

This sturdy expedition ship was built in 1975 and underwent an $8 million refurbishment in 2017 which included new engines and refurbished cabins...

Boat type
Expedition Ship
Passengers
128
Learn more

Itinerary
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Your Arctic adventure begins in Helsinki, renowned for its extraordinary architecture and intriguing mix of eastern and western influences. If you arrive early, explore the many museums, galleries and restaurants, relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District before retiring at your included hotel for the night.
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board your private charter flight to Murmansk, Russia. This is where you’ll board the ship that will be your home for the next two weeks. Once aboard, get acquainted with the ship, your fellow travellers and the crew and settle in for your voyage north.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Over the next two days, sail through the Barents Sea and your expedition team will prepare you for the adventures that await. The sea is named after the great Dutch explorer Willem Barents, who led two expeditions to Novaya Zemlya in the 1590s. Learn about the storied history and politics of the region, its fascinating wildlife, geology, ecology and climate, and the incredible sights you will soon be exploring. Your crew will keep a lookout for seabirds, such as kittiwakes, skuas and fulmars soaring above your ship to point out to you. Whale and seal sightings may also be possible in this biologically diverse sea, so keep a close eye out.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (2)
  • Lunch (2)
  • Dinner (2)

The next few days will be dedicated to exploring the largest of the Eurasian Arctic archipelagos, the rarely visited Novaya Zemlya, or New Land. It’s the third largest wilderness area in Europe and is actually made up of two main islands – Severny (northern) and Yuzhny (southern) – separated by the imposing Matochkin Strait. Each expedition will be unique, depending on the weather and ice, but a few landing sites you'll aim to visit are Inostrantseva Bay, the Oransky Islands, Cape Zhelaniya, Cape Spory Navalok and Russkaya Gavan. Boasting one of the most picturesque glaciers in the entire archipelago, Inostrantseva Bay provides breathtaking panoramic views of pristine arctic wilderness. If conditions allow, you may explore ashore, or Zodiac cruise along the face of the glacier. Encounters with Brunnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres) are likely, owing to a small colony in the coastal cliffs. To the northwest side of Severny Island are the Oransky Islands. Wildlife abounds here, with a variety of animal and plant life to be discovered. Walrus have been sighted here on many previous expeditions. These giant pinnipeds of the Arctic create a raucous as each walrus vies for a choice spot of coastline. Encounters with whales and seabirds are possible, as well as polar bears, a genetically distinct subpopulation here.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (3)
  • Lunch (3)
  • Dinner (3)

Say goodbye to Novaya Zemlya as you cruise east to explore the Kara Sea, the westernmost Asian sea off Siberia. Weather dependent, there are several sites and small archipelagos along the Siberian coast your expedition crew will consider, tracing the path of polar explorers searching for the Northeast Passage. Hopefully you can visit Russky Island, Troynoy Island and Cape Chelyuskin – both part of the Great Arctic State Nature Reserve. Russky Island is the site of a former polar station, established, in part, to monitor navigation along the Northern Sea Route, the Russian section of the Northeast Passage. Troynoy Island is the largest of the Izvesti Tsik Islands, about 150 km off the coast of the Taymyr Peninsula. The island is uninhabited except for researchers at the weather station. Home to an ivory gull colony, the island is also frequented by polar bears, so this may be an opportunity for a sighting. At the tip of the Taymyr Peninsula is Cape Chelyuskin, the northernmost point of the Russian and Eurasian mainland and the site of another active research station. Here you will hopefully get the chance to explore on foot. Among the possible shore landings, you’ll also aim to visit a number of glaciers, including the Vavilov Ice Cap and those at Marat Fjord. If conditions are favourable, you may cruise the Red Army Strait, flanked by the massive Academy of Sciences Glacier and the smaller Rusanov Glacier. As one of very few people to ever explore this remote area in depth,  have your camera ready to capture these amazing sights.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (6)
  • Lunch (6)
  • Dinner (6)

Today there are several activities on board the ship to keep you entertained while at sea. Attend one or more of the lectures presented by onboard polar experts, relax in the vessel's polar library or simply spend some time on deck, admiring the sea and keeping an eye out for wildlife.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Sail towards Franz Josef Land – a remote group of 191 islands, many covered in ice, lying entirely within the Arctic Circle and part of the Russian Arctic National Park. Weather and ice conditions will shape your exploration, but hopefully you’ll get to explore historical sites, remote seabird colonies and walrus haul-outs at some notable destinations, such as Cape Flora, Cape Norway, Bell Island and Tikhaya Bukta. Polar bear encounters are also a real possibility! On Jackson Island, Cape Norway is where Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen wintered from 1895 to 1896. The conditions were astonishingly difficult, but they survived until the summer and continued their journey south. The remains of their small hut are still here today, along with a memorial marking the event. Exploring Tikhaya Bukta (Calm Bay) – the site of an abandoned weather station on Hooker Island – will feel like stepping back in time. There is plenty to discover as you wander the ruins, immersed in Russian polar history, and you may even be able to send a postcard from the post office. Otherwise, the Stolichky and Appolonov Islands offer plentiful walrus encounters, as the lumbering giants can be found hauled out here. If ice and weather are in your favour, you will explore the area by Zodiac, at a safe distance, to view these pinnipeds of the Arctic in their natural habitat.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (4)
  • Lunch (4)
  • Dinner (4)

As your Arctic expedition winds down, spend a couple of days sailing through this wildlife-rich sea, where whales of various species are often seen. Take in a presentation from the expert crew, reminisce about your incredible journey with your shipmates, relax in the lounge while swapping stories and photos or enjoy the solitude of the sea. Expedition staff will be on hand to answer any remaining questions and spot wildlife while you voyage back to Murmansk.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (2)
  • Lunch (2)
  • Dinner (2)

Returning to Russia’s most northerly city, you’ll have time to bid farewell to your expedition crew before catching your group charter flight back to Helsinki, where you will have another night in this exquisite city. You may want to head out for a final dinner with your group, or simply appreciate being back on dry land by exploring the city further.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

With no activities planned for today, your journey ends today after breakfast. You may like to spend time exploring more of the Finnish capital, or instead organise an onward connection.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

21 breakfasts, 18 lunches, 19 dinners

Transport

Expedition cruise ship, Plane, Zodiac

Accommodation

Expedition Cruise ship 13 nights, Quality hotel 2 nights

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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