GREENLAND ODYSSEY

August 26 - September 14, 2007

A rare journey, and a witness to history being made.

We’re celebrating the International Polar Year with the introduction of Greenland Odyssey. This expedition to northern Greenland will attempt to reach the northernmost point of land in the world. You’ll sail along the eastern coast where fewer people live per square kilometer than almost any place else on Earth. It is also one of the least visited regions in the world. It remains, pristine, untouched and utterly magnificent.

Twenty degrees above the Arctic Circle, off the northern coast of Greenland is the northernmost point of land in the world, Oodaaq Island. Recent exploration is making maps of the region obsolete, as new islands are discovered. On our Greenland Odyssey you will meet special guest, Ken Zerbst, an explorer who was a member of an expedition that discovered an island even farther north than Oodaaq. Become a witness to history, as we use the icebreaker and its helicopters to attempt to reach the northernmost island in the world.

International Polar Year Featured Itinerary

On three occasions in the last 125 years, scientists from all over the world have banded together to organize scientific and explorative projects in the polar regions. This 24-month event will build on a successful legacy. An intense, international campaign will initiate the dawn of a new era in polar science. This will help to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and leaders to further research and awareness building of these important regions.

Kapitan Khlebnikov

Kapitan Khlebnikov is renowned in the realm of adventure travel and polar navigation. It’s among the few ships in the world that can take you through the pack ice in the remote high latitudes.

Day 1

The odyssey begins in Ottawa, Canada, which is served by flights arriving from the continental United States, Europe and through connecting flights to Asia. You may arrive at any time during Day 1 of the expedition.

The transfer from the airport to the host hotel will take about 30 minutes by taxicab, which is available outside the terminal building. The cost of a transfer in July 2006 was US$23. Transfer to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, located downtown next to Parliament Hill.

At the hotel, please register with the front desk. Note that your room may not be available for occupancy until mid-afternoon. You may store your luggage and explore the community should you arrive early.

Within walking distance of your hotel are shops, restaurants, the National Arts Centre and a number of national museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Canada.

Day 2

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred as a group to the airport for the flight to Kangerlussuaq, (Søndre Strømfjord), Greenland, above the Arctic Circle. Have your identification in your hand. You will need it to board the plane.

In Kangerlussuaq, you will be ferried to the icebreaker either by Zodiac or helicopter depending on the weather conditions. Once aboard, the Expedition Team will direct you to the lecture hall, for a safety briefing. Emergency procedures are explained then followed by a practical demonstration. One of the enclosed lifeboats may be lowered to give you the opportunity to see what is within and how you would survive in the unlikely event of an emergency at sea.

When the Greenland authorities grant permission, the anchor is raised, a salute is sounded on the foghorn, and the voyage up the fjord begins.

Although our style is distinctly informal, there may be one or two occasions during this expedition when you choose to wear something a little less informal than expedition gear. The first would be the Captain’s Welcome Reception, an opportunity to meet the Captain and his very experienced officers, who maneuver the ship with such skill during the voyage. The daily program, which is delivered to your cabin each evening, informs you of the next day’s activities and special events such as this one.

Later a three-course dinner with a choice of main courses and a complimentary glass of wine is served in the dining room.

During the after-dinner Welcome Briefing, the Expedition Leader introduces the team of specialists that accompanies every expedition. The EL delivers an overview of the voyage, after which the ship’s doctor may provide practical advice about coping with seasickness.

Day 3

This day and every day while at sea will begin with a wake-up call over the ship’s public address system. You are informed of the ship’s latitude and longitude, sea conditions, and weather. After breakfast, the education program commences with a presentation that could be about the early days of polar exploration. Alternately, you could hear a variety of presentations on the life cycle of the wildlife you will encounter during the voyage.

In the evening a film such as the classic Nanook of the North or the recent award-winning Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner could be shown.

Day 4

Having rounded the southern most tip of Greenland during the night, you awaken in Prins Christian Sund, a scenic waterway, which you may find littered with icebergs. The skilled officers and crew of the Kapitan Khlebnikov navigate the obstacle course adroitly.

You may wish to spend hours on deck watching in fascination, taking photographs or just admiring the ever changing views.

Day 5

While at sea today, the shipboard education program continues. You will learn about the vast ice sheet that covers 81% of Greenland, belying the island’s name – and you will learn the name the indigenous people have given to the island – Kalaallit Nunaat.

Throughout the voyage our extremely talented chefs host many themed dinners, such as the ‘black and white dinner,’ during which fun trumps formality. These special dinners celebrate many of the different nationalities represented by your fellow adventurers.

Movies will be shown in the auditorium in the evenings after dinner.

Day 6

Ammassalik Island is the location of the largest community on the eastern coast – Tasiilaq – one of only two towns and seven settlements on the 2,600 km (1625 miles) of coastline. The communities are inhabited by slightly more than 3,500 people!

The eastern shore is only accessible by ship for five months of the year. Ammassalik is located just south of the Arctic Circle, so the climate is generally warm and dry in the summer months.

Landings are planned on the island, before the ship steams across the Arctic Circle one more time.

Day 7

Henry Hudson sighted the coast of East Greenland as you will be doing today, while at sea. He wrote in his log, “It was a mayne high land, nothing at all covered with snow: and the North part of that mayne high land was very high Mountaynes…wee thought good to name it, Hold with hope, lying in 73, degrees of latitude.”

Day 8

Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) was first mapped by an English whaler, William Scoresby in 1822. Evidence of human habitation has been dated in the Scoresby Sund area to 4300 BC. Climatic changes during the 1700’s decimated the indigenous population that had been thriving since 1100 AD - the so-called North Greenland mixed culture. Remnants of their stone and turf winter houses and summer tent rings can be found throughout East Greenland.

Evidence of Viking culture in this region has been found in graves of the indigenous peoples – silver buttons, beads and ornamental combs made of bone.

Day 9

You may choose to spend the day on the Bridge pouring over charts and enjoying the view from the immense windows. You will note that the origin of the place names on the eastern coast of Greenland appear to be English, Dutch, Scottish, and French, as well as the Danish or Greenlandic. This reflects the history of the coastline which was first explored by whalers and sealers from European seafaring nations.

Day 10

With each passing minute you will be drawing closer and closer to the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. To whet your appetite for the ice-breaking to come, the Expedition Team may deliver presentations on glaciology and the formation of polar ice. You may also learn how the Captain will use the icebreaker’s 24,000 horsepower diesel-electric engines to crush the ice into submission.

Day 11 and 12

If weather and ice conditions permit, the helicopters will be deployed for flight-seeing to provide aerial views of Kapitan Khlebnikov breaking ice. The ship’s officers can deploy an air curtain system to assist ice-breaking – air at 2.5 kg cm² may be discharged through vents from forward to midships 2 m above the keel. The ship’s pumps can move 74 tonnes of water per minute between ballast tanks (fore and aft) and heeling tanks (athwart ships). This allows motion of the hull to sally (a rush forward) the ship in ice.

Take plenty of film or a 1 GB memory chip with you – you will want to spend every second taking pictures as ice floes snap in two.

In between helicopter operations, Ken Zerbst, a member of the American Top of the World Expedition, will tell how he and his team members stumbled across ATOW1996 and proved that it was the northernmost point of land on Earth.

Day 13 and 14

When you awaken you will be 600 km (375 miles) south of the North Pole off the coast of Peary Land, a peninsula at the northernmost tip of Greenland that extends into the Arctic Ocean. Cape Morris Jesup is the northernmost point on the mainland. The southern portion of the peninsula is the most northerly ice-free region in the world. This is a polar desert, with precipitation of only 25 to 200 mm per year.

Ken Zerbst, a member of the Explorers Club, was co-leader of two expeditions to northern Greenland that discovered new islands situated farther north than Oodaaq. As special guest on this voyage, he is anticipating hiking to the peak of the northernmost mountain in the world, as well as setting foot on the northernmost point of land. If you choose, you may join him in his quest.

Day 15

From the deck as the ship steams southward, you may catch glimpses of the Greenland ice sheet, which is so massive that it has depressed the island’s center, forming a basin that lies more than 300 m (1000 feet) below sea level.

Day 16

Daneborg is a military outpost located just south of 75°N. The landscape is mountainous with high plateaus, steep rock faces and wide valleys. Several glaciers occur within the area. Zodiac or helicopter landings will be mounted to permit you to explore this high Arctic region with a diversity of flora and fauna.

Day 17

The eastern coast of Greenland is related geologically to Norway. A study recently conducted determined that there is a pronounced geological difference north and south of Kong Oscar Fjord. The shipboard geologist will explain the difference from the deck of the icebreaker, pointing to the tell tale signs in the landscape.

Day 18 and 19

The last day at sea is “packing day.” A briefing is always held, final remarks are made, and instructions for disembarkation are delivered.

The Captain’s Farewell Cocktail Party, which often occurs on the last evening aboard, is an excuse to dress after weeks in expedition gear. This is an opportunity to thank the Captain, and officers, whose skills were essential to the success of the expedition and to our safety.

Day 20

After breakfast, your luggage will be transferred from the ship to the dock. You will be asked to identify your luggage, before being transported to Reykjavik Airport for your homeward flight.

Note: please read this itinerary as a guide only. Our exact program will depend on local permissions and will vary to take best advantage of local weather and ice conditions and opportunities to experience wildlife. This is an expedition into a very little traveled area and flexibility is the key to the success.

SUMMARY

Inclusions:

Trip grade:  Easy

Cost:
Triple private            US$ 18,000
Twin private             US$ 21,000
Twin private             US$ 35,700  (single occupancy)
Suite                         US$ 23,000
Corner Suite            US$ 27,000

All rates are per person in US dollars based on twin or triple occupancy (except rate for single occupancy). Triple cabins are identical to twins, but with a third pull-down berth.

Please ask us about the significant savings solo travelers can from our Request-Share program, which matches solo travelers of the same gender.

All cabins are smoke-free. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas only.

‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’

A world-class icebreaker with comfortable accommodation

Russian icebreakers are considered to be among the best and most powerful icebreakers in the world – and the ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ is an outstanding example. Built in 1980 and launched a year later by the world’s leading builder of icebreakers - the Wartsila Company of Finland – the ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ was designed as a hard-working ship for the challenging conditions in the frozen Arctic seas of northern Siberia. 

Since its original refurbishment, in 1992, it has been sailing with adventurous travelers to some of the most remote corners of the world. No other expedition vessel has navigated more polar waters and, in 1997, it became the first ship ever to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers. 

Quality accommodation

Refurbished to accommodate passengers in 54 first-class outside cabins and suites, the ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ is extremely comfortable. All cabins feature private facilities, two lower berths (one fixed berth and one convertible sofa bed), a desk and large closets. Public areas include two dining rooms, a lounge and bar, well-equipped auditorium, indoor swimming pool, gym and sauna. Views are excellent from the Navigation Bridge. Our ship also has a library of polar books and videos, a shop, a passenger elevator and a small infirmary with a western doctor. 

European catering staff and international cuisine

European chefs prepare excellent international cuisine using fine provisions from around the world. A European barman attends the popular forward lounge that features a well-stocked bar with a good selection of wines, champagne and spirits. The dining room is attended by a combination of Russian and western staff.

Sophisticated technical gear

With 24,000 horsepower and a massive icebreaker hull, we navigate high latitude waterways closed to conventional shipping safely and efficiently. The ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ is also equipped with the latest satellite navigation and communications equipment, including convenient Inmarsat telephone, facsimile and e-mail. 

Expert polar officers and crew

The ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ is staffed by Russian officers and crew, all highly experienced in polar navigation. Russian captains are recognized the world over as experts in icebreaker operations. 

Experienced expedition staff and lecturers

Every voyage is accompanied by a dedicated, experienced and highly qualified team of expedition leaders, naturalists, historians, geologists and other experts from all over the world, offering a unique, informative and entertaining educational program.

Unique Zodiac and helicopter excursions

Zodiac landing craft take us to remote beaches, and enable us to cruise among floating ice or close to Arctic wildlife. We also carry helicopters for ice and wildlife reconnaissance. The aerial views of our ship breaking through thick ice in the otherworldly polar landscapes are unforgettable. (The ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ may not carry helicopters on board all the times and, in some cases, local helicopters may be used; the exact make and model of helicopters will be determined prior to the voyage; all helicopter flights are weather-dependent).