Arctic Icebreaker Expedition: Ultimate Northwest Passage

Transcription

1 Arctic Icebreaker Expedition: Ultimate Northwest Passage This is a voyage of discovery to a remote and stunning world beyond the reach of all but the most powerful icebreakers. The mighty Kapitan Khlebnikov is one of the few icebreakers powerful enough to tackle these ice-choked waters. The Khlebnikov (pronounced KLEB-nik-off) was the first ship ever to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in 1997 and since 1992, has taken adventurers to extremely remote corners of the globe. On this special icebreaker expedition of the Northwest Passage, you ll witness first-hand the haunting beauty of the northern wilderness, wildlife and culture. Be prepared to encounter every type of arctic wildlife, including whales, seals, polar bears, and sea birds and have a chance to immerse yourself in northern culture with visits to Canadian Inuit and Russian Yupik and Chukchi communities. In addition to awe-inspiring scenery, you ll see memorials and artifacts from the early voyages of exploration, including the Franklin graves at Beechey Island. EXPEDITION IN BRIEF: Voyage aboard one of the world s most powerful icebreakers and power through Arctic pack ice Encounter traditional cultures of remote Canadian and Russian Arctic communities Explore important archaeological sites as well as historic sites of early arctic exploration Aerial sightseeing and landings DID YOU KNOW? The Northwest Passage, a historical sea passage of the North American continent, represents centuries of efforts to find a route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through the Arctic archipelago of what became Canada. To reach the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic requires a challenging voyage through a stream of about 50,000 giant icebergs, up to 300 feet (90 m) in height, constantly drifting between Greenland and Baffin Island. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 1

2 Included Activities HIKING Hiking is a great way to appreciate the immense windswept landscapes of the Arctic. The tundra comes alive during the brief arctic summer, with bursts of color from shrubs and plants that eke out a living in this polar environment. You ll find each hike is different - exploring communities, shorelines or glaciated landscapes, often on the lookout for wildlife. Hiking participation is optional and your Expedition Team will advise you of what levels of activity you can expect prior to each excursion. HELICOPTER The Kapitan Khlebnikov is one the few vessels offering aerial sightseeing flights and landings by expertly-piloted helicopters an essential feature of icebreaker operations offering a unique perspective of the Arctic. You ll witness astounding aerial views of pristine polar landscapes and the mighty Kapitan Khlebnikov as it crushes through pack ice. All helicopter flights are weather dependent and are included in the cost of your voyage. If time and conditions permit, consider booking additional private flightseeing for exclusive views (extra charge applies). ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 2

3 Itinerary DAY 1 SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 Arrive Ottawa, Canada Canada s national capital and home to the Canadian Parliament, Ottawa sits along the beautiful Rideau Canal and has a vibrant downtown with a thriving market scene and plenty of world-class museums to explore. Plan to arrive and make your way to the hotel in time for our pre-departure briefing at about 6pm. DAY 2 SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 Embark in Resolute, Nunavut, Canada During the morning charter flight from Ottawa to Resolute, you should be able to see glimpses of boreal forest changing to tundra and then to ice. By evening you ll be above the Arctic Circle and aboard the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov. DAY 3 SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 Radstock Bay and Beechey Island Radstock Bay has an impressive archaeological site and is beside Caswell Towers, used as a polar bear observation point. Here we ll also find one of the best Thule sites in the Arctic which gives us insight into how the pre- Inuit people survived and lived. Just offshore at the western end of Devon Island is Beechey Island. There, on a stony beach, stand three grave markers; solemn reminders of the lives ANADYR, RUSSIA Bering Strait Alaska (U.S.) ANCHORAGE Wrangel Island Chukchi Sea lost during Sir John Franklin s search for the Northwest Passage. Upon approach to Beechey Island, we will be treated to presentations about Franklin and his expedition. DAY 4 SEPTEMBER 9, 2016 Prince Leopold Island Bird Sanctuary and McClure Strait Prince Leopold Island is located within Lancaster Sound and is home to an impressive migratory bird sanctuary classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. We ll use Zodiacs to explore along the cliffs Beaufort Sea Canada Arctic Ocean Victoria Island North Pole 4 RESOLUTE FROM OTTAWA, CANADA Actual itinerary may vary based on weather conditions. of sandstone and limestone that rise up 800 feet (244 m) above sea level surrounding the island to spot some of the 375,000 migratory birds here. These include thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes and snow buntings, to name but a few. This is also a good environment to sight polar bears. DAYS 5-7 SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2016 At Sea During these sea days we ll be icebreaking, taking to the helicopters for sightseeing flights and looking for EXTEND YOUR STAY Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via , live chat or phone ( ) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 3

4 opportunistic landing possibilities on the top of Prince of Wales Island and Victoria Island. Witnessing this powerful icebreaker navigating the ice pack and feeling the vibration is a spectator sport in itself. DAY 8 SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 Mercy Falls, Aulavik National Park Mercy Falls is part of Aulavik National Park, a polar desert located on Banks Island in the Northwest Territories. Known for its access to the Thomsen River, one of the most northerly navigable rivers in North America, this park is one of the most remote and least visited in all of Canada and protects approximately 4,630 square miles (12,000 sq. km) of Arctic Lowlands at the northern end of the island. DAY 9 SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 Sachs Harbour, Banks Island At Sachs Harbour, the most northerly permanent settlement in the Northwest Territories, we ll go ashore to visit the people of this very small community. The community was named after the ship Mary Sachs of the Canadian Arctic Expedition of In 1929, a permanent settlement was established when three Inuit families settled here to trap. In 1953, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police set up a detachment post and people lived a very traditional lifestyle hunting musk ox, caribou and polar bear. Today the community s economy is based primarily on hunting and trapping and to a lesser degree on tourism. DAY 10 SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 Smoking Hills The western end of the Canadian portion of the Northwest Passage is the focus of today s activities. Located close to the Beaufort Sea, near the mouth of the Amundsen Gulf, the Smoking Hills are quite a sight to behold; a vast deposit of lignite (carbon-rich shale and sulfur-rich pyrite), which ignites spontaneously when the minerals are exposed to air through erosion. The hills have been smoking for centuries. In 1850, Robert McClure, searching for Franklin, sent a shore party to investigate the smoke. Could it be from fires built by Franklin or his men? The shore party discovered smoke rising from vents in the ground. They returned to the ship with a sample of the smoldering rock, which, when placed on McClure s desk, burned a hole through it. DAY 11 SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 Mackenzie Delta and Franklin Bay We ll be on the lookout for snow and brant geese, tundra swans and beluga whales while in the vicinity of the Mackenzie Delta. The estuary, formed at the mouth of the Mackenzie River where it empties into the Beaufort Sea, is classified as a delta. For 7,000 years sediment brought down river has built up to create a vast surface area where wildlife congregates. DAY 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 Herschel Island We will explore this unique island situated between land and sea. Its dry polar climate is home to a unique collection of arctic plants, animals and sea life, including the largest colony of black guillemots in the western Arctic. More than 1,000 years ago, Herschel Island was occupied by the Thule people, ancestors of today s Inuit. DAY 13 SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 Cruise Beaufort Sea into Russia As Kapitan Khlebnikov steams westward across the Beaufort Sea, we ll be on the watch for marine mammals in the water below and seabirds swirling about the ship. Should we encounter pack ice, the on-board helicopters will take you aloft to watch as the powerful ship crushes through to open water. DAY 14 SEPTEMBER 19/20, 2016 Pass Point Barrow, Alaska, Arctic Circle and Chukchi Sea Today we continue past Point Barrow, an important geographical landmark, marking the limit between the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The waters off Point Barrow are on the bowhead whale migration route, which attracted attention in the late 1980s when three grey whales were trapped in the pack ice here. We ll cross the International Date Line, and leap one day into the future, as we continue along the Chukchi coast. EXTEND YOUR STAY Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via , live chat or phone ( ) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 4

5 DAYS SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2016 Chukotka Peninsula, Russia We clear into Russia in Provideniya. Later today we ll be treated to cultural presentations when we visit the tiny village of Uelen, known for its talented carvers who work in walrus ivory. At Cape Dezhnev, the most easterly point of the Asian continent, the architecture of the buildings that remain is distinctively Russian. We ll take to the Zodiacs to Puffin Island where two species of the comical bird cohabit. On the shores of Ittygran Island, the ribs of whales, planted in the tundra by people long ago, still stand on lowland known as whalebone alley. The final shore landing planned is a visit to Novoye Chaplino, where the locals, dressed in traditional attire, will demonstrate their skills as wrestlers and ropers of reindeer, if the herd is nearby. DAY 18 SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 Depart Anchorage, United States After breakfast, you are free to depart for home, or stay longer in Anchorage. Spend the day taking in the glorious scenery populous wildlife, spectacular mountain vistas, fascinating culture and icy blue glaciers await your discovery. Relax, stroll through this last frontier, take a hike in the Chugach State Park wilderness, or try your hand at king salmon fishing. IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy and excitement of expedition travel. Our actual icebreaker program will vary according to ice and weather conditions, unexpected opportunities and wildlife sightings. The captain and expedition leader will determine our exact route based on reconnaissance flights and ice reports. The ice conditions in the Arctic vary dramatically from season to season and no specific itinerary can be guaranteed in advance. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you ll experience on this voyage. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a polar expedition. DAY 17 SEPTEMBER 23/22, 2016 Disembark in Anadyr, Russia Today, we will disembark Kapitan Khlebnikov in Anadyr, Russia. You will be transferred one last time from the ship to the airport for the charter flight to Anchorage, Alaska, where you will spend the night. We cross back over the International Date Line during this flight, so when we turn in for the night in Alaska, the date will be September 22 again! EXTEND YOUR STAY Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via , live chat or phone ( ) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 5

6 Inclusions THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on board All beverages on board, including a selection of house wines, beer and spirits All shore landings per the daily program Group scheduled helicopter flightseeing and excursions Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team Downloadable photographic journal documenting the expedition Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program All luggage handling aboard ship Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$100,000 per person Russian invitation letter for visa application provided after final payment THIS EXPEDITION EXCLUDES Mandatory transfer package* International airfare Passport and visa expenses Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above Meals ashore unless otherwise specified Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and mandatory medical travel insurance Excess baggage charges Waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned Laundry and other personal charges unless specified Phone and internet charges Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew Additional overnight accommodation Helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group *MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES: One night hotel accommodation in Ottawa with breakfast Group transfer hotel to Ottawa airport Flight from Ottawa to Resolute Transfers to and from ship Flight from Anadyr to Anchorage Group transfer Anchorage airport to hotel One night hotel accommodation in Anchorage with breakfast Package cost: $2,650 Note: Baggage allowance on charter flight is 33 lbs (15 kg) checked and 11 lbs (5 kg) carry-on. IMPORTANT Russian visas are required for tourists of most countries. This voyage requires single-entry Russian visas. See your country s Russian consulate or embassy for details. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 6

7 Dates & Rates ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Ultimate Northwest Passage Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Sep 6 - Sep 23, Ottawa/ Anchorage Mandatory Transfer Package $2,650 All rates per person in USD. $20,695 $27,795 $31,595 $35,495 WANT MORE ICEBREAKING? Check out 3 more voyages on the next page. Ask your Polar Travel Adviser about savings on 2 or more voyages! HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONS To book your cabin or inquire about the availability of Adventure Options, contact a Polar Travel Adviser ( ) ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 7

8 Additional Dates & Rates ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Epic Northeast Passage Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Jul 10 - Aug 4, Anchorage/ Longyearbyen Mandatory Transfer Package $1,950 All rates per person in USD. $29,995 $39,995 $45,995 $51,995 ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Extreme Greenland Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Aug 4 - Aug 24, Longyearbyen/ Ottawa Mandatory Transfer Package $1,650 All rates per person in USD. $23,495 $32,995 $37,595 $41,995 ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION Best of the Canadian High Arctic Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV Dates Days Start/End Triple Twin Suite Corner Suite Aug 22 - Sep 8, 2016 Mandatory Transfer Package $2,150 All rates per person in USD. 18 Ottawa $19,795 $26,395 $29,995 $33,995 HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONS To book your cabin or inquire about the availability of Adventure Options, contact a Polar Travel Adviser ( ) ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 8

9 Canada POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS Please note that this list is a sampling of some of the possible sites visited during our expeditions to the Arctic. Your expedition may or may not include sites listed here. No expedition will include all the sites listed. BEECHEY ISLAND HERSCHEL ISLAND Franklin and his men spent the winter of on Beechey Island, where three of his crew died. The grave markers erected by Franklin s crew still stand. PRINCE LEOPOLD ISLAND BIRD SANCTUARY The perimeter of the island has cliffs that soar 800 to 870 feet (245 to 265 meters) into the air. Twenty percent of the Canadian northern fulmar population breeds on the cliffs. Northern fulmars are the only petrel whose range extends into the Arctic. RADSTOCK BAY The bay has been a popular research location for observing polar bears. Denning mothers favor this area and polar bears are frequently seen during summer months. A Thule site here provides insight into how the pre-inuit people survived and lived in the Arctic. SMOKING HILLS Not far from the Beaufort Sea, near the mouth of the Amundsen Gulf, is a vast deposit of lignite (carbon-rich shale and sulfur-rich pyrite), which ignites spontaneously when the minerals are exposed to air through erosion. The hills have been smoking for centuries. BANKS ISLAND Herschel Island is the Yukon s northernmost point. Once an important whaling harbour, it is also known as the site of the Arctic s first criminal trial. Held in 1924 in an old whalebone storehouse, the trial resulted in the conviction and hanging of two Inuvialuit men charged with murder. Today, there are no permanent residents, but polar bears, caribou, musk oxen, lemmings, arctic shrews, tundra voles, and sometimes even arctic foxes can be seen on land. Bowhead and beluga whales are also occasionally spotted in the waters surrounding the Island. MCCLURE STRAIT Only one passenger vessel has ever managed to sail through this ice-choked strait. That vessel was the Kapitan Khlebnikov. IVVAVIK NATIONAL PARK Only otherwise reachable by flight, Ivvavik National Park in the Yukon was the first Canadian national park to be created in partnership with its aboriginal community, the Inuvialuit people. Ivvavik itself means birthplace in the local language, and portions of the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou are protected within its borders. Moose are known to wander into the coastal plain, but more often are found foraging in the valleys of the British Mountains which loom in the distance. Musk oxen make regular appearances on the coastal plain, which is dotted with wetlands left behind by glaciers. Canada s fifth largest island is home to only one permanent settlement (Sachs Harbour), but also to Aulavik National Park. More musk oxen than any other place on earth make this park their home, as do polar bears, barren-ground caribou, and two-thirds of the world s lesser snow geese. The island grows no trees, and the tallest vegetation on the island is the Arctic willow, standing only 3.9 inches (10 cm) on average. ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 9

10 Russia POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS Please note that this list is a sampling of some of the possible sites visited during our expeditions to the Arctic. Your expedition may or may not include sites listed here. No expedition will include all the sites listed. ANADYR The town of Anadyr (pop. 11,038) is the administrative center of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Situated on the mouth of the Anadyr River, it was founded in PROVIDENIYA Sometimes referred to as the Doorway to the Arctic, Provideniya has benefited from the dissolution of the Soviet Union and its close proximity to Alaska. Once a military port, the town is building a tourism industry. IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy and excitement of expedition travel. Our actual icebreaker program will vary according to ice and weather conditions, unexpected opportunities and wildlife sightings. The captain and expedition leader will determine our exact route based on reconnaissance flights and ice reports. The ice conditions in the Arctic vary dramatically from season to season and no specific itinerary can be guaranteed in advance. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you ll experience on this voyage. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a polar expedition. OSTROV ITTYGRAN On the coast of the island of Ittygran is an area known as whalebone alley. The spot is marked by whale ribs, planted in the tundra like pickets. For thousands of years, the indigenous peoples of the region camped there to harvest the whales that used the channel when migrating from the Arctic to the Pacific Ocean. UELEN Some of the 1,000 people who inhabit the village are indigenous, who make their living hunting marine mammals. Uelen is built upon a flat gravel spit. The museum collection of walrus ivory carvings is especially fine. Last revised: April 1, 2015 ARCTIC ICEBREAKER EXPEDITION: ULTIMATE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 10