VOYAGES - RUSSIAN FAR EAST, 2008

Kamchatka & Kuril Islands

Commander Islands

Wrangel Island

Voyages with Heritage Expeditions

Embarking at Kholmsk on Sakhalin Island this voyage follows the chain of islands running from northern Japan to Kamchatka in a region closed to outsiders until fifteen years ago. Many of the volcanic islands are protected nature reserves and their wildlife includes 20 species of whale, 200 species of birds, including Steller's Sea Eagle, as well as sea otters, sea lions and bears. Our route takes us past isolated communities, remains of aboriginal Ainu, thermal pools and volcanoes rising to 2200 metres. The voyage ends in Petropavlovsk for a return flight to Moscow.

Commander Islands

Wildlife at Commander Islands. Photo: Nikolay Pavlov

Embark in Petropavlovsk to sail along the edge of the world through a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve. The Commander Islands, on the largest of which Vitus Bering is buried, are home to a wide variety of sea mammals, seabirds and a remarkable plant life where the mushrooms grow taller than the trees. This voyage follows the coast of Kamchatka past spectacular volcanoes before making the short crossing to the Commander Islands for the opportunity to see Stellar's Sea Lions, fur seals and Stejneger's Beaked Whale. After 5 days the ship returns to the coast of Kamchatka with zodiac excursions to the mouths of rivers, where bears come to hunt, and the habitat of Stellar's Sea Eagle. The final leg of the voyage passes The Koryak region and Anastasia Bay where there is a good chance of seeing brown bears. Disembarkation is at Anadyr for flight back to UK via Moscow.

For many years Wrangel Island, scene of Steffanson's disastrous Karluk expedition, was closed to outsiders; now a nature reserve, it is the main breeding area of polar bears in the Russian Arctic and home to several species isolated in the last ice age. This voyage offers one of the few opportunities to visit the remotest and biologically richest part of the Arctic. Embark in Anadyr after a flight from UK via Moscow then sail along the Chukotka Peninsula landing at bird colonies, archaeological sites and Chukchi villages. After passing Cape Dezhnev, visit the abandoned weather station on Kolyuchin Island then pass into the pack ice to Wrangel Island. Spend two days on Wrangel visiting prehistoric and more recent archaeological remains while viewing polar bears, musk oxen, walrus and Russia's only population of snow geese. Return to Anadyr via walrus rookeries and local settlements while observing seabirds as the pack ice clears.

We are able to offer a limited number of places on Spirit of Enderby with Heritage Expeditions. This small and exclusive ship will undertake two voyages in the Russian Far East - first to the Kuril and Commander Islands and then to Wrangel Island.

Please telephone or email us to request an illustrated brochure for these voyages.