Dog-Sledging | Skiing | Walking & Kayaking

ARCTIC WALKING: Greenland | Arctic Russia | Ellesmere Island & Svalbard

ARCTIC RUSSIA 2008

Arctic Russia covers a vast sweep of land from the Norwegian and Finnish borders eastwards across northern Siberia to the Chukotka and Kamchatka Peninsulas. Much of it is tundra dotted with countless lakes and pools through which vast north-flowing rivers wend their way to the Arctic Ocean. During its short intense summer these areas are the nesting sites for numerous birds and wild flowers brighten the ground. There are many indigenous people still living by herding reindeer or hunting.

Arcturus Expeditions has been organising expeditions to Arctic Russia since 1992. We shall return to the White Sea, an area rich in history, in June at the time of the "White Nights" - a period of almost continuous daylight. This is followed by two visits to Kamchatka, which was closed to both Russians and foreigners until 1990. It has scenery of towering snow-covered volcanoes of exquisite symmetry, lava fields, geysers, lush valleys and upland tundra, as well as amazing plant and animal life.

Russia - Solovetski Islands and the White Sea

Russia - Kamchatka in late summer - Bears, volcanoes, native people, reindeer herders, autumn colours.

Russia - Solovetski Islands and the White Sea

Solovetski Monastery: Arcturus Expeditions

The Solovetski Islands with their ancient monastery have been described as one of the jewels of Russia. The archipelago has six large and nearly 100 smaller islands situated in the White Sea 150 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. The islands abound with lakes, architectural and archaeological sites, wildflowers, nesting birds and in summer Beluga Whales gather to calve in the shallow waters around the archipelago. On the largest island stands the legendary 16th century Solovetski Monastery surrounded by stone walls. We visit several of the islands. En route to the White Sea by train from St Petersburg, we travel through Karelia with its tranquil and timeless quality and visit a site with Neolithic and Bronze Age rock drawings. From Petrozavodsk we sail to the island of Kizhi on Lake Onega to visit its open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture, the highlight of which is the fairytale 22-cupola Cathedral of the Transfiguration built in 1714 - the flower of Russian wooded architecture. Our accommodation throughout will be in small hotels and guest houses and there will be time for sightseeing in St Petersburg.

Price: £2290 (includes flights)

Russia - Kamchatka in late summer

Bears, volcanoes, native people, reindeer herders, autumn colours

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Our expedition will take place in late August - the best time to travel and appreciate the spectacular scenery showing the first signs of brilliant autumn colours. We plan to visit as many areas as possible, including the central valley with the River Kamchatka, Tolbachik, Ksudach, Mutnovsky and Vachkazhets volcanoes, the hot river Khodukta and Kurilskoe lake set in the southern tundra - one of the best places in the peninsula to see Brown Bears and Steller's Sea Eagles. We shall visit the small settlement of Esso and spend a night with the nomadic reindeer herders in their summer camp in the mountains. There will be plenty of time to savour the atmosphere of Kamchatka and follow our own interests whether they are ornithology, botany, geology, photography, vulcanology or walking. This will be Arcturus Expeditions's 23rd visit to Kamchatka.

Price (via Moscow): £3150 (includes flights)