Kamchatka & Chukotka Cruise
Why Join This Cruise:
-
An epic 18 day expeditionary voyage arcing all the way from Alaska's west coast across the Bering Sea and down the length of Russia's little known far east coast, almost to the northern tip of Japan
-
A journey of great diversity and variety, with ample opportunity to encounter this remote corner's abundant wildlife en route, including brown bears, arctic fox, seals and walrus, copious birdlife and a wide range of different whales
-
In true expeditionary spirit you will have the luxury of a flexible daily itinerary allowing you to be influenced by local weather and make the most of the wildlife you encounter
-
Small, highly manoeuvrable with a very experienced crew, the 'Spirit of Enderby' is the ideal ship for this type of adventure
Trip Overview
From Nome (Alaska) in the north to Sakhalin Island (Russia) just off the north tip of Japan in the south, this journey gives the unique opportunity to experience the entire coast of the Russian Far East. Explore a land and people 'off limits' or 'closed' to western visitors until very recently. It is a journey of extremes, a myriad of diverse environments. It begins with the uninhabited islands off Chukotka and the vast, barren north Russian tundra, inhabited by the Chukchi people, who survive predominantly by reindeer herding in this extremely harsh environment, much of which lies north of the Arctic Circle.
Edging southwards are the forests and snow capped volcanoes of Kamchatka, with its abundant wildlife, including Kamchatka Brown Bears, arctic foxes and a great variety of marine mammals. There will be chance to interactions with local people in genuine situations, enabling you to better understand their unique history and lifestyle. Sailing ever south, you will then enter the volcanic islands of the Kuril Chain, which have the highest density of seabirds in northern Asia and are a well known migratory path for species breeding in the Arctic. This expedition is timed to coincide with the autumn colours, when the wildlife is still abundant and the weather generally settled. This expedition captures the very essence and takes you to the heart of one of the last great wildernesses on the planet.