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NORTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS
The North Atlantic islands and coastlines offer some of the finest
scenery and wildlife experiences in the world. From the Scottish Isles to the
High Arctic, visitors to the region can witness enormous colonies of seabirds
thronging the cliffs and shores, and enjoy the thrilling antics of whales and
dolphins and seals at sea. Scottish Islands
May 12 - May 19, 2007 (
Aberdeen – Oban) aboard
Grigoriy Mikheev Day
1 Arrive in
Aberdeen, famed as the granite city and many times a winner of the Britain in
Bloom competition, and embark for our trip. The lighthouse on Girdle Ness, to
the south as the North Sea is reached, was designed by the grandfather of Robert
Louis Stevenson. Day
4 We visit Lewis
to see the prehistoric stone circle of Callanish, one of the finest in Britain
with stones over 3m tall. There are several smaller stone circles and chambered
cairns on the moorland near Callanish. Later
there will be great opportunities to watch and photograph Guillemots, Razorbills
and Puffins on the Flannan Islands, a group of small islands to the west of the
Outer Hebrides. Day 7 The small
islands of Mingulay, Berneray and Pabay, to the south of South Uist, are a
nature reserve with important breeding populations of razorbills, guillemots,
black guillemots, puffins, fulmars and shags. There are also five species of
gull, all the seabirds being attracted by the cliffs and caves, which offer safe
nesting sites. The islands also have significant historical sites, including the
old village on Mingulay which the last islanders left in 1912. The islanders
were fishermen and collected the seabirds and eggs for food. They also traded
the feathers. Day
8 The channels
between the Scottish islands offer excellent possibilities to spot Minke Whales
(a small baleen whale), White-beaked Dolphins and Harbor Porpoises. Several
other cetaceans, including Orcas (Killer Whales), are also native to these
waters. Scottish Islands
May 25 - June 03, 2007
( Edinburgh - Oban) aboard
Professor Molchanov Day 1 We embark in Edinburgh. It is probably the most attractive of all
capital cities in the world arranged around the gardens in the centre and
with the two great hills of the Castle at one end and Arthur's Seat at the
other. The famous Princes St is wonderful for strolling. Day 2
Today
we call at Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkneys. From there we travel by bus on
the main island and visit the Brough of Birsay, with impressive remains of a
Viking settlement with the typical long houses. From there we get to the burial
mound of Maes Howe, megalith graves from before the Viking period. Other stops
on this tour include the world famous Skara Brae a village from the Stone Age
preserved by having been buried by sand dunes. We continue to the Ring of
Brodgar. In
the afternoon we will have the opportunity to visit
the Churchill – Barriers at Scapa Flow. Many shipwrecks bear testimony
to the German fleet which sank here in 1919 Day 3 On Papa Westray we find many breeding seabirds. At the
Knap of Howar we will investigate the oldest Stone Age houses of northern
Europe, which were built more than 5000 years ago.
We will also visit St Bridget’s Church. Day 4 To
the west of Shetland lies the small island of Foula, home to the largest colony
of Great Skuas in the northern hemisphere. There are small ponds with
Red-throated Divers and spectacular cliffs (The Noup) crowded with nesting
seabirds. We visit Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua colonies as well as calling on
the islanders who number only about 30. In
the afternoon we reach the main island of the Shetlands, where we will walk to
Jarlshof, an area with houses from Stone Age, Bronze Age and also the long
houses of the Vikings. Later,
on Mousa, one of the smaller Shetland Islands, we visit one of the
best-preserved brochs in Scotland. Brochs are circular stone towers probably
built by the Picts. During a night excursion we watch thousands of Storm Petrels
return to their burrows or crevices. By day we view Grey Seals, Black
Guillemots, Red-throated Divers, Arctic Skuas and a wonderful spring flora. Day 5 At
Fair Isle, in the Shetlands, we are welcomed by the 70 or so inhabitants (famed
for their knitwear, examples of which we will see) and walk to the bird
observatory, where more than 350 species of birds, including vagrants have been
observed In the afternoon we make a zodiac cruise along the cliffs and in the
fantastic maze of channels in the southwestern side of the island Day 6 Out in the Atlantic to the
north-west of Scotland lie the tiny islands of North Rona and Sula Sgeir. We
shall land on North Rona to see the seabird colonies and the Grey Seals. The
island was inhabited in the 18th century and some remains are still visible:
Leach's Petrels can be heard calling from their nesting burrows in the ruined
walls of a small church in the ‘village'. Sula Sgeir is the last island in
Britain on which Gannets are harvested annually. There will be spectacular views
of its cliffs as we sail around. In 2006 we saw a Black-browed Albatros at this
island. Day
7 We
visit Lewis to see the prehistoric stone circle of Callanish, one of the finest
in Britain with stones over 3m tall. There are several smaller stone circles and
chambered cairns on the moorland near Callanish. Later there will be great
opportunities to watch and photograph Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins on the
Flannan Islands, a group of small islands to the west of the Outer Hebrides.
Further we find here cells of Irish hermits from the Middle Ages. To the west of
North Uist lie the St Kilda group of islands, built of volcanic rock and with
cliffs rising to over 400m, the highest in Britain and home to the largest
seabird colony in the country. St Kilda has its own sub-species of birds and
mice, and of sheep, the Soay, probably brought here by Stone Age man over 5,000
years ago. Until 1930 St Kilda was inhabited, but then the last of the islanders
left leaving a handful of windswept ruins, though there is also a military base,
which may be visited. Day 9 In
the morning we land on Iona, the island of the Holy Columba and vist the famous
monastery ruins. From Iona the Irish monks tried to christianise the Picts and
Scots in the 6th century. It is also a great place for seeing the elusive
Corncrake. On
the oldest Christian cemetery in Scotland more than 60 kings were buried in the
Middle Ages. By zodiac we will sail around Staffa Island and, by zodiac, into
Fingall’s Cave, which inspired Mendelssohn with regard to his Hebrides
Overture. Early
afternoon we make a zodiac cruise among the Tresnish Islands In
late afternoon we will sail to Canna, one of the 'Small Isles’ of the Inner
Hebrides. It has a tiny agricultural and cattle-rearing population. From a walk
along the cliff top we may see Golden Eagles, White-tailed Eagles and Peregrine
Falcons. At the cliff edge the rare Loose-flowered Orchids grow. Day
10 We disembark
at Oban, a small and cozy harbor town in west Scotland. From there we take the
train to Glasgow, a marvelous journey through one of the most scenic parts of
Scotland, to join our homeward flights. The channels
between the Scottish islands offer excellent possibilities to spot Minke Whales
(a small baleen whale), White-beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. Several
other cetaceans, including Orcas (Killer Whales), are also native to these
waters. Around Iceland May 27 – June 04, 2007 (Keflavik
– Keflavik) aboard Profesor
Multanovskiy
Day 1
Late in the
afternoon we board ship in the port of Keflavik, just a short way from the
international airport, to begin the circumnavigation of Iceland. The largest of
the North Atlantic islands, Iceland’s volcanoes, icecaps, rugged glaciated
mountains, fjords and coastal cliffs and beaches together form one of the most
inspiring landscapes on earth. We
sail north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which is crowned by a beautiful
snow-capped volcanic cone, 1442m high Snaefellsjokull.
In the mellow evening light (at this time of year it is light all night)
it is worth staying on deck to watch for whales in this often very productive
location. Day 2
We arrive in
the broad and shallow bay of Breidafjordur, which is peppered with thousands of
islands and skerries. If we are very lucky, we may glimpse the White-tailed
Eagle among these historic islands, from where Erik the Red set sail to discover
Greenland. We land on Flatey and explore its delightful fishing village,
strolling among the many well-preserved traditional timber buildings and
visiting the church, with its paintings by the Spanish-Icelandic artist Baltasar
Samper, and restored library. On and around Flatey, Black Guillemots, Puffins,
Common Eiders and Red-necked Phalaropes can be seen. Later we land on Klofningur
a basalt island with breeding Shags, Fulmars and Great
Black-backed Gulls. Sailing
to the north side of the bay, we use the Zodiacs to cruise the cliffs and sea
caves of Látrabjarg, at the westernmost point of Iceland.
Home to the world's largest Razorbill colony, Iceland’s most extensive
bird cliffs are 14km long and rise to over 400m in height. Our expedition
naturalists will point out the other bird species that nest on the cliffs and
also the seals on the rocks. Day 3
Today
we explore the Isafjordur Peninsula, geologically the oldest region in Iceland,
its imposing basalt mountains scoured out by Ice Age glaciers. We sail into
Adalvik in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Once farmed, this beautiful,
sheltered fjord has been deserted for 50 years. As sheep no longer graze here and the human impacts are
minimal, fauna and flora thrive on a scale unknown in other parts of Iceland. We
continue our voyage by sailing along the Hornstrandir Peninsula, spotting the
remains of other farmsteads along the coastline of golden sand beaches set
between sheer basalt cliffs. We aim to land at Hornvik , where we can follow an
old path, used by fowlers, to reach the top of 300m high Hornbjarg. From the
dizzy heights of this cliff we can marvel at one of the biggest seabird colonies
in Iceland, with tens of thousands of Brünnich's Guillemots and Kittiwakes.
Day 4
If the East
Greenland pack ice, will be less than 100 nautical miles north of Iceland, and
the weather will be good, we will sail towards the edge and spend some time in
and near the ice. During our 24
hours at sea, there will be plenty of time to watch for the spout of large
whales, and to observe the northern migration of skuas and other Arctic birds.
When we sail along the pack ice edge, we may also see Harp Seals. If the
pack-ice will be more than 100 nautical miles north of Iceland we will
land at the east side of the
Isafjordur Peninsula in Furufjördur, Tharalátursfjördur and Reykjafjördur,
from where we will have a good and near view on the northern side of the glacier
Drangajökull. Walkers can make a hike of a view hours from one fjord to the
next on an old trail with cairns. In Furufjördur we will find bogs and lakes,
and in Reykjafjördur hot pools, in which we can take a bath.
Harbor Seals and Grey Seals are common
in this fjord. Day 5
In the early morning, if the weather allows, we sail past
Kolbeinsey, a tiny island north of Grimsey, formed from a submarine eruption.
Later we land on Grimsey, an island off the north coast and the only part of
Iceland, which lies within the Arctic Circle (the Circle crosses the island).
The island is home to huge colonies of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Puffins, Fulmars
and Arctic Terns, who far outnumber the human inhabitants, numbering just 100. A
zodiac cruise along the western cliffs will afford us the opportunity to also
admire the seabirds from the water. Later we may sail along the bird cliffs of
Raudinupur.
Day 6
If weather
allows, we go ashore on the wild and windswept volcanic sands of Heradssandur,
formed from debris washed down by mighty glacier rivers. On the marshlands of
its braided channels, Whooper Swans, Greylag Geese, and several species of ducks
and skuas breed. The see near the mouth of the river is teeming with Harbor
Seals. In the afternoon we call at Borgarfjördur. A friendly small village,
where people work on Jasper, a precious stone only found in this part of
Iceland. We will try to visit a farm with a Common Eider breeding colony, where
the birds are protected for down collection in this time of the year. If the
conditions at Heradssansur are adverse we will not land there, but land after
Borgarfjördur, at Alftavik, in the
natural harbour Lotna, where people lived until 1904. Day 7
Heading down
Iceland’s east coast we reach Skrudur, a bird island ( Gannets ) of 160 m
high, where we can not land, but where we will cruise around in zodiacs and
enter a huge cave. Later we sail to Papey, where Irish monks made a living in
the 9th century. This beautiful, now uninhabited island, is home to
thousands of Puffins and other seabirds. Day 8
We land on
Heimaey, an important fishing port and the Westman Islands only permanent
community. A short walk allows us
to see the results of the surprise 1973 eruption, which destroyed one third of
the town and almost sealed off its vital harbor.
A highlight of our time ashore will be the multitude of Puffins that
breed along the grassy cliff tops and are still harvested annually by the
locals. When we have left Heimaey
we use the Zodiacs to cruise among the other Westman Islands.
We will circumnavigate Surtsey, an island born in 1964 from volcanic
activity, and Sulnasker and Hellisey, which have large breeding populations of
Northern Gannets. Day 9
After
breakfast we disembark in Keflavik.
Faroes - Jan Mayen - Bear Island - Spitsbergen
June 02 – June 13, 2007
(Oban – Longyearbyen ) aboard Grigoriy
Mikheev
June 03 – June 14, 2007
(Oban – Longyearbyen ) aboard Prof.
Molchanov
Day
1 The channels
between the Scottish islands offer excellent possibilities to spot Minke Whales
(a small baleen whale), White-beaked Dolphins and Harbor Porpoises. Several
other cetaceans, including Orcas (Killer Whales), are also native to these
waters. In 2006 we saw
a Black-browed Albatros at this island. Day
3 Today
we arrive at Thorshavn, the
capital and cultural center of the Faroes. Here we are free to shop, to visit
the museum or just wander at will. In the harbor the small Faroese boats are a
reminder of the Viking origins of the islanders. The walkers among us can make
an exciting two hours walk across the hills to Kirkjubøer where they will find
a medieval cathedral. In
the early evening we will try to land at Saksun, tucked away at the head of a
fjord which was once a superb natural harbor. Today the bay is full of sand and
we can only enter by zodiac at high tide. At Saksun is a Natural Heritage
Museum. Continuing along the north side of Streymoy we pass huge seabird
colonies. Day 4 & 5 We sail north
to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, situated 300 nautical miles north-east of
Iceland. During our two days at sea there will be plenty of time to watch for
the blow of a Minke, Fin or Blue Whale, which could herald a rewarding encounter
with these gentle giants. Perhaps
we might run into a pod of Orcas, who can often be quite curious about boats
such as ours. Day 6
Jan Mayen is a
volcanic island of breathtaking beauty and mystique, dominated by Mt Beerenberg.
From the slopes of the 2300m volcano, impressive glaciers spill into the sea.
Until recently, the island was off-limits as it is a military base, and was
rarely visited by tourists, but with permission from the Norwegian authorities
we hope to visit the weather station. We will also walk across the island to
Kvalrossbukta to look at the remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station and
a substantial colony of Fulmars. We also plan to sail by Koksletta where
thousands of Little Auks and Brünnich's Guillemots breed close to a glacier,
watched over by piratical Glaucous Gulls. Days 7 & 8 We
spend two days at sea, looking out for whales, dolphins and seals and a variety
of seabirds. Day
9
At
Bear Island we visit the remains of a whaling station active from 1905-1908 in
Kvalrossbukta. Arctic Skuas and Great Skuas can be seen during a walk across the
desolate hills and tundra. The weather will decide whether we then sail along
the west coast, where we can observe one of the largest seabird colonies in the
North Atlantic teeming with Little Auks, Brünnich’s Guillemots, Common
Guillemots and Kittiwakes. Alternatively we will sail along the east coast to
visit Tunheim, an abandoned mining settlement. When we approach the sea-ice at
the southern tip of Spitsbergen, we may also encounter moulting Harp Seals. Day
10
Depending
on the position of the sea-ice, we cruise the maze of fjords in the spectacular
Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, which is ringed by towering mountain
peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch
explorers gave the name ‘Spitsbergen’ - pointed mountains - to the island.
There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area but as well as spectacular
scenery, the area is renowned for its abundant and varied arctic wildlife.
We have very good chances of seeing seals and with a little luck, the
very symbol of the Arctic - Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research
station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research
projects. Behind the station, the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of
nesting Little Auks. Bearded Seals often cruise the inner fjords, whose cliffs
are lined with colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and Kittiwakes. On the
tundra we will have good opportunities to observe foraging Barnacle Geese.
Day
11
Today
we land at Kapp Toscana on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjord,
where piles of Beluga skeletons are a reminder of the 20th century exploitation
of these small white whales. Numbers are now recovering and there is a good
chance of spotting small groups in the area. We then move to Recherchefjord,
where a walk on the fragile tundra which backs the fjord may yield sightings of
Reindeer and where we visit the remains of a 17th century Dutch
whaling station at Lagerneset. Alternatively we may land at Midterhuken to
explore the remains of 17th century English whaling sites. The weather will
determine which good options will be chosen in this area. Day 12 We
disembark at Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, for flights
south to Norway and onward to home. Alternatively we may stay on the ship and
continue our voyage to North Spitsbergen (June 13-20, 2007; June 14-21, 2007). Iceland – Jan Mayen – Bear Island - Spitsbergen
June 04 - 15, 2007
(Keflavik – Longyearbyen) aboard
Professor Multanovskiy
Day 1
Late in the
afternoon we board ship in the port of Keflavik, just a short way from
Iceland’s international airport. The largest of the North Atlantic islands,
Iceland’s volcanoes, ice-caps, rugged glaciated mountains, fjords and coastal
cliffs and beaches together form one of the most inspiring landscapes on earth.
We sail north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which is crowned by a
beautiful snow-capped volcanic cone, 1442m high Snaefellsjokull.
In the mellow evening light (at this time of year it is light all night)
it is worth staying on deck to watch for whales in this often very productive
location. Day 2
Today
we explore the Isafjordur Peninsula, geologically the oldest region in Iceland,
its imposing basalt mountains scoured out by Ice Age glaciers. We sail into
Adalvik in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Once farmed, this beautiful,
sheltered fjord has been deserted for 50 years. As sheep no longer graze here and the human impacts are
minimal, fauna and flora thrive on a scale unknown in other parts of Iceland. We
continue our voyage by sailing along the Hornstrandir Peninsula, spotting the
remains of other farmsteads along the coastline of golden sand beaches set
between sheer basalt cliffs. We will land
at Hornvik , where we can follow an old path, used by fowlers, to reach the top
of 300m high Hornbjarg. From the dizzy heights of this cliff we
can marvel at one of the biggest seabird colonies in Iceland, with tens
of thousands of Brünnich's Guillemots and Kittiwakes.
Day 3
We
land on Grimsey, an island off the north coast and the only part of Iceland
which lies within the Arctic Circle (the Circle crosses the island). The island
is home to huge colonies of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Puffins, Fulmars and Arctic
Terns, who far outnumber the human inhabitants. Numbering just 100 and living in
the island’s only village, this resourceful farming and fishing community
would not dream of moving to the mainland.
In the evening we sail across the Arctic Circle and circumnavigate
Kolbeinsey, a tiny island north of Grimsey, formed from a submarine eruption. Day 4 On
our way to Jan Mayen, situated 300 nautical miles north-east of Iceland, there
will be plenty of time to devote to looking for whales - Humpbacks are most
likely but as we approach the pack ice, we may also encounter Minke Whales, who
can sometimes be quite curious and approach boats such as ours.
We should also see Harp Seals. Day 5
Jan Mayen is a
volcanic island of breathtaking beauty and mystique, dominated by Mt Beerenberg.
From the slopes of the 2277m volcano, impressive glaciers spill into the sea.
Until recently, the island was off-limits, and was rarely visited by tourists,
but with permission from the Norwegian authorities we hope to visit the weather
station. We will also walk across the island to Kvalrossbukta to look at the
remains of a 17th century Dutch whaling station and a substantial colony of
Fulmars. Day 6 & 7 We
spend two days at sea, looking out for whales, dolphins and seals, and a variety
of seabirds. Day
8
At
Bear Island we visit the remains of a whaling station active from 1905-1908 in
Kvalrossbukta. Arctic Skuas and Great Skuas can be seen during a walk across the
desolate hills and tundra. The weather will decide whether we then sail along
the west coast, where we can visit one of the largest seabird colonies in the
North Atlantic teeming with Little Auks, Brünnich’s Guillemots, Common
Guillemots and Kittiwakes. Alternatively we will sail along the east coast to
visit Tunheim, an abandoned mining settlement. Day
9
When
we approach the sea-ice at the southern tip of Spitsbergen, we may encounter
moulting Harp Seals on the sea ice, and make a zodiac cruise among the
ice-floes. Later
we will try to land at Stormbukta, with its postvolcanic springs, and a canyon
with nesting Kittiwakes. Day
10
Depending
on the position of the sea-ice, we cruise the maze of fjords in the spectacular
Hornsund area of southern Spitsbergen, which is ringed by towering mountain
peaks. Hornsundtind rises to 1,431m while Bautaen shows why early Dutch
explorers gave the name ‘Spitsbergen’ - pointed mountains - to the island.
There are also 14 magnificent glaciers in the area but as well as spectacular
scenery, the area is renowned for its abundant and varied Arctic wildlife.
We have very good chances of seeing seals and with a little luck, the
very symbol of the Arctic - Polar Bears. We may visit the Polish research
station where the friendly staff will give us an insight into their research
projects. Behind the station, the mountains are home to thousands of pairs of
nesting Little Auks. Bearded Seals often cruise the inner fjords, whose cliffs
are lined with colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots and Kittiwakes. On the
tundra we will have good opportunities to observe foraging Barnacle Geese.
Day
11
Today we land at Kapp
Toscana on Ahlstrandhalvøya at the mouth of Van Keulenfjord, where piles of
Beluga skeletons are a reminder of the 20th century exploitation of these small
white whales. Numbers are now recovering and there is a good chance of spotting
small groups in the area. We then move to Recherchefjord, where a walk on the
fragile tundra, which backs the fjord may yield sightings of Reindeer. The
Spitsbergen Reindeer is not as big as its mainland relative and is found in much
smaller herds. Alternatively we may land at Midterhuken to explore the remains
of 17th century English whaling sites. The weather will determine which good
options will be chosen in this area. Day 12 Early
in the morning we arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of
Spitsbergen, for flights to Oslo and home, alternatively we may stay on board
for the next voyage to North Spitsbergen (June 15-22, 2007). Notes:
The above itineraries
are for guidance only. The programs may vary depending on local ice and weather
conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. SUMMARY
Inclusions: ·
Expedition cruise
onboard ‘Grigoriy Mikheev’, ‘Professor Multanovskiy’ or ‘Professor
Molchanov’, modern and comfortable ice-strengthened vessels, providing
accommodation for just 46-54 travelers; ·
All meals throughout
the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; ·
All shore excursions
and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac; ·
Program of lectures
by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; ·
All miscellaneous
service taxes and port charges throughout the program; ·
Comprehensive
pre-departure material. 2007 Dates & Rates (US$)
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