TRIP DOSSIER, VOYAGE 1332

ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD

TO WRANGEL & HERALD ISLANDS ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD TO WRANGEL AND HERALD ISLANDS

“Near the top of the world in one of the most remote and inhospitable parts of the planet, lie two wild and undeveloped islands of great significance to the conservation of life on earth.”

This unique journey not only Untouched by glaciers during the includes the isolated Wrangel and last ice age, this is a treasure trove Herald Islands but also a significant of biodiversity and is perhaps section of the wild North Eastern best known for the multitude of Siberian coastline. Polar Bears that breed on the island. We hope to catch many glimpses It is a journey made possible only of this beautiful animal as well as in recent years by the thawing in , Reindeer, Snow Geese the politics of the region and the and other migratory species retreat of the summer pack ice that nest here annually. in the . Right on the border between Soviet and Of equal importance is the the USA, the area was known as ‘mammoth steppe’ vegetation the Ice Curtain and today remains complex, a rich and diverse relic one of the last undiscovered from the Pleistocene epoch, Our vessel, the Spirit of Enderby wonders of the world. nurturing over 400 plant species. (Professor Khromov) is perfect for The islands’ human histories are expedition travel. We sail through the not without interest either and west along the north Siberian our expert Expedition Team will The real focus and emphasis coastline before crossing the take time to give lectures and of every expedition is getting you De Long Strait to background to the landscape ashore as often as possible for as and there spend four to five days we move through and the long as possible with maximum under the guidance of local encounters we enjoy. safety and comfort. It carries just Rangers on the . 50 passengers in very comfortable We will undertake numerous accommodation. She measures 72 landings during our voyage, look metres in length and is fully ice- for whales, visit huge bird colonies, strengthened. Walrus haul-outs and native villages and will take every opportunity to discover the region’s rich biodiversity.

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ITINERARY Depending on your arrival time Day 4: Dezhnev / NOTE: You can join this expedition you may have the opportunity to Village either in , Russia or in Nome, explore Anadyr, the administrative Sea conditions permitting, we will . Those starting in Nome will centre of the Chukotka region, land at early this fly by a Heritage Expeditions charter before getting to know your fellow morning. The north-eastern most flight to Anadyr and will join the ship voyagers and crew on board the point of the Eurasian continent, it is and the expedition members who Spirit of Enderby. sometimes possible to see the coast have travelled direct to Anadyr. of America from this remote and Day 2: Anadyrskiy Bay lonely outpost. It is also a historic Day 0: Nome We will depart Anadyr Harbour landmark named after the Siberian Those departing from Nome, Alaska, early morning and you are invited Cossack , who in should arrive in Nome before midday to join the Captain, officers and the 1648 became the first European to and preferably the previous night. expedition staff on the bridge. sail from the Arctic to the Pacific. The Anadyr estuary is renowned On arrival, you should check in with for its Beluga Whales. Bering Air at the Nome Airport who will have details of our charter flight. Today as we sail across During this flight you will cross the Anadyrskiy Bay towards the , arriving into Bering Strait there will be briefings, Anadyr on Day 1 of the expedition. introductory lectures and a chance You will clear Russian Customs and to relax or enjoy some “birding” Immigration. with our naturalists.

Day 1: Anadyr Day 3: Yttygran, Nuneangan and All expedition members will arrive Arakamchechen Islands in Anadyr. If you are travelling Yttygran Island is home to the direct to Anadyr and require pre monumental ancient aboriginal or post cruise accommodation or site known as Whale Bone Alley. excursions, please contact us. Whalebones stretch along the A steep scramble from the beach beach for nearly half a kilometre. brings you to an abandoned There are many meat pits used for Border Guard base, a monument storage and other remains of a busy to Dezhnev and another to all the whaling camp that united several sailors who have sailed these seas. aboriginal villages at a time. In one location, immense in Alaska lies jawbones and 89 kilometres across Bering Strait. ribs are placed together in a A few nautical miles to the west stunning arch formation. of Cape Dezhnev we visit Uelen Village; the most north-eastern Grey Whales are frequently seen village in Russia. Archaeological around the Island. After landing work has revealed that walrus, at Whale Bone Alley we will take seal and whale hunters have lived the Zodiacs on a whale watching here for over 2000 years. Today excursion. We will also cruise close the population is predominantly inshore of neighbouring Nuneangan Chukchi, with some Russians and Island (Bird Island) where a large Inuit. Hunting is still very important number of seabirds nest. but the village is also one of the largest centres for traditional On nearby Arakamchechen Island Chukchi and Inuit art in the world. there is a prominent walrus haul out; if the animals are present we will We will be entertained by villagers land and walk across the tundra and visit the bone-carving workshop to view them from the cliffs. during our visit. Sculptures from the bone-carving workshop in Uelen

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can be found in most of the major Days 6 to 10: Wrangel and Herald of the Karluk which was crushed by museums in Russia. Islands ice in 1914 scrambled ashore and Ice and weather conditions lived until they were rescued. permitting, we will spend the If ice conditions permit, we will next few days on Wrangel Island explore to the east and we will also include a visit to of Wrangel Island. nearby Herald Island. Day 11: North Siberian Coast Wrangel Island is one of those Although well mapped and Islands that you have to visit to charted, there have been very appreciate. The earliest human few expedition cruises and occupation is dated 3,200 years consequently there is a lot of scope BC and it has been established for expedition landings. Depending they were seasonal hunters from on weather and sea conditions we Siberia. The island’s presence was will attempt a landing today. speculated about and marked There are several choices, on maps by early Russian explorers at Cape there is but it wasn’t until 1849 that it was reputedly a large Walrus haul ‘rediscovered’ by the British. A out that we would like to check Canadian expedition attempted out. The area around the Cape is to establish a settlement and claim bounded by narrow sand ridges the Island for Canada, they were with numerous coastal lagoons evicted by the Russians who and inlets; nearby there is a small claimed the island. Chukchi village whose residents still make their living hunting Walrus, Today it is a Russian Federal Nature Seals and Whales. There is another Reserve of international significance smaller Chukchi village called and importance. A lot of its Nutepelmen which is situated on a significance lies in the fact that it spit at the entrance to Pyngopikhin Day 5: is a major Polar Bear denning area. Lagoon, further west of Cape This small island was once an In fact it is sometimes referred to Vankarem. important Russian Polar Research as a Polar Bear maternity ward on Station and one of a number account of the large numbers of Day 12: Kolyuchin Inlet dotted across the Arctic. Sadly pups born there. It is also the last So huge that it is visible from with the collapse of the USSR there landfall for migratory species flying satellite photos, this inlet contains was no money to maintain them north. Each summer thousands vast numbers of waterfowl and and they were abandoned; the of birds migrate here to breed, migratory waders. We concentrate buildings are derelict but the wildlife including Snow Geese, Snowy Owls, our visit on the spit near the mouth the men studied are still there. skuas, Arctic Terns, Ross’s, Sabine’s of the Inlet. Near the abandoned station at and Ivory Gulls. the north-western end of the island are some of the most amazing bird There are many landings that we cliffs in the Arctic; puffins, guillemots, can make to search out wildlife, gulls and cormorants can be wildflowers and Arctic landscapes. observed and photographed Polar Bears will be high on our list from just meters away. of animals to see and with a little patience we should be rewarded At the south-eastern end of the with a number of encounters. island there is a prominent Walrus Musk Oxen and Reindeer were haul out, if the animals are present introduced to the Island in 1975 it is one of the easiest places to and 1948 respectively, though observe them and get some good Reindeer numbers are low. photographs. We also have a chance to visit Dragi Harbour where the survivors

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It is a wild, desolate landscape . This makes that is strangely beautiful. We Island Russia’s search the dunes and tidal areas eastern-most possession. The island Dates: for birdlife including Emperor Geese was originally inhabited by Yupik and Spoon-billed Sandpipers. Eskimos but after World War II the Nome to Nome Grey Whales frequent the area native population were relocated #1332 6th - 20th Aug 2013 and are sometimes spotted to the mainland. Today there are feeding only meters offshore. no permanent residents but the Anadyr to Anadyr Russians maintain a Border Guard #1332 7th – 21st Aug 2013 station there. It is an important island for birdlife with good numbers of Blacklegged Kittiwakes, Common Prices: and Brunnich’s Guillemot and Horned and Tufted Puffin. Heritage Suite $13,100 pp

Later this afternoon we make an Mini Suite $12,600 pp expedition landing on the Chukotka coast our last chance to enjoy the Superior Plus $12,000 pp wildlife and tundra landscape. Superior $11,600 pp Day 14: At Sea Join the staff for an expedition Main Deck $10,900 pp recap and a disembarkation briefing, and then simply relax as Main Deck Triple $9,800 pp we sail across Anadyrskiy Bay towards Anadyr. Additional charges: Day 15: Anadyr After breakfast it will be time to Private charter flight say our farewells. There will be Nome to Anadyr a complimentary transfer to the to Nome $2,000 pp airport or to a hotel of your choice. Landing Fees/ Those returning to Nome will Local Payment $500 pp join a Charter flight that will depart Anadyr around midday (All prices are per person in USD) Day 13: Bering Strait and and, because of the dateline, Chukotka Coast arrive back in Nome on the evening Early morning we will pass the of the previous day. However, we Price Includes: Diomede Islands, sometimes called strongly advise that you do not Tomorrow Island and Yesterday book any onward travel from All on board ship accommodation Isle because they straddle the Nome until the following day to and meals and all shore International Date Line. Here Russia allow for possible delays in the excursions. and America are separated by only charter flight. Those returning to 2.3 nautical miles of ocean. We will Moscow can either be transferred remain in Russian territory as we to the airport or hotel in Anadyr, Price Excludes: cruise south past the islands. depending on their flight times. All items of a personal nature, In 1867 when the USA purchased laundry, drinks, gratuities. Alaska from Russia the new International/domestic flights, boundary was drawn between visas and travel insurance. Big (Russian) and Little (USA)

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