Itinerary Expand all Day 1 Start Anadyr and embark. Start in Anadyr, the administrative capital of Chukotka. It is situated at the mouth of the Anadyr River near where the river enters the Anadyr estuary. The town was established in 1889 as a frontier post when it was called NovoMariinsk. The name was changed to Anadyr in 1920 when the Bolsheviks took control of the town. It has grown in importance over the years and today is a modern town with a population of about 11,000 people. You will be transferred to the ship, which will more than likely be anchored in the river (rather than tied alongside the wharf) during the afternoon. Once on board you will be shown to your cabins. There will be a chance to meet fellow expeditioners and for those who have not been aboard before, some time to explore the vessel. We will sail in the late afternoon for Egvekinot. There will be mandatory safety briefings and introductions to ship and staff after we sail. Meals included: Dinner Day 2 At Sea As we sail towards our first destination, the Arctic’s archaeological mystery ‘Whale Bone Alley’, we will take the opportunity to enjoy lectures to prepare us for our voyage and settle in to ship life. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Whale Bone Alley and Gil’mimyl Hot Springs Our first landing of the day we expect to be at one of the most significant and intriguing archaeological sites in the Arctic on Yttygran Island. This place is known affectionately as ‘Whale Bone Alley’ due to the large number of whale bones spread along the beach in the form of a pathway. The site dates to the 14th Century and its origins and purpose have been the cause of much debate. It was almost certainly a ceremonial site as well as being used for meat storage. What is puzzling is the lack of any substantial settlement in the vicinity, which suggests that it was possibly a communal site situated here because of the abundance of whales nearby. This afternoon we intend to make a landing at the Gil’mimyl Hot Springs. They are a short walk from the coastline, but well worth the effort. There will be a chance to explore the tundra for birds, plants and animals as we walk to and fro. After a soak in the springs we will re-join the ship for a relaxing evening. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Bukhta Penkingney and Arakamchechen Island This morning we will be launching our Zodiacs with a landing planned at Bukhta Penkingney, a long fiord cut into the coastline by glaciers and a popular spot for whale watching. Here a small braided river, its gravel bed studded with Willow bushes, winds its way down to the sea where we land. Exploring this scenic location we will be looking for Arctic Ground squirrels and pikas, Willow ptarmigan, Sandhill cranes and Brown bears attracted by the berries and salmon-filled river. This afternoon we plan to cruise over to Arakamchechen Island just north of Cape Chaplino and separated from the Chukotka mainland by the 8-kilometre wide Senyavina Strait. Having watched Gray whales feeding here previously, we recommend being out on deck as we slowly cruise through the strait. On Arakamchechen Island we will explore the lush tundra and, if they are present, view the prominent walrus haul out from the cliffs. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Lavrentiya and Unnamed Bays Dropping anchor in beautiful Lavrentiya Bay, we expect to spend the morning exploring the historically and culturally rich village of Lavrentiya. A former indigenous settlement, this Soviet-planned community was established in the 1920s as an administrative centre where local Chukchi and Siberian Yupik were encouraged to move to. Visit the museum, meet local elders and enjoy an authentic taste and slice of village life in the main square. Nearby picturesque Unnamed Bay is our planned destination for the afternoon where we will Zodiac cruise to shore. Welcomed by an expansive stretch of beach, backed by a lagoon and surrounded by rugged hills, there’s much to discover. Enjoy a walk along the beach and tundra looking for Arctic squirrel, or scale one of the nearby peaks and take in the stunning vistas Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Cape Dezhnev Early this morning we will be at Cape Dezhnev, the north-eastern most point of the Eurasian continent. This cape commemorates the accomplishment of the Cossack Semyon Dezhnev who was the first European to sail through the strait in 1648 (80 years before Bering did). On the cape is a lighthouse, a monument and the remains of a Border Guard base. If the weather and sea conditions are suitable we plan to land here and give you the opportunity to explore the area. A short distance south of the cape is the former Inuit settlement of Naukan. The Soviet government relocated these people to other Chukotka settlements in the 1950s as it was thought they posed a security risk, supposedly because of the close proximity of Alaska. It is still possible to sense the melancholy in the air because the people never wanted to leave. As the relocation was fairly recent, there is a wealth of historic data and photographs that make a visit to this site even more poignant. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 At Sea Take the opportunity to spend time up in the bridge or out on deck looking for the first Polar Bears of our voyage as we cruise along the sea ice, or download photos as we navigate towards Wrangel Island. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 8-10 Wrangel Island We should arrive at Wrangel in the early morning, and what we can achieve will depend on the ice conditions. During the winter months Wrangel Island is completely surrounded by ice. Historically it was slow to break out in some years making it was almost impossible to reach the island. Changing weather conditions has meant that in recent years it is becoming ice-free earlier and earlier, with huge ramifications for the wildlife (especially the Polar bears) that rely on the ice. It is impossible to predict ice conditions ahead of time, but based on recent years there will still be some ice around the island which will be great for us as this is where the wildlife will be concentrated. There should also be opportunities to land and to explore the tundra to look for the species which breed here. We have allowed three days on and around the island to take advantage of whatever conditions we encounter. We will be utilising the local knowledge of the Park Rangers to make landings as well as spending some time Zodiac cruising the ice looking for Polar bears. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 At Sea We will be steaming south from Wrangel Island and, again, sea and ice conditions will dictate our course and speed. We suggest expeditioners will be richly rewarded by being on deck, because if we are in ice there could be Polar bears, walrus, and Ringed and Bearded seals to be seen. As we make our way closer to the Chukotka coast we will keep an eye out for Humpback and Gray whales, which are frequently seen. Increasingly we are also seeing a number of Bowhead whales in this area. We will also use this time for lectures and recaps. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 Kolyuchin Island and Kolyuchin Inlet This morning we will come to anchor at tiny Kolyuchin Island. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in points of interest. People from the nearby village of Nutepelmen come here to hunt walrus when the ice disappears and large numbers of walrus haul out on the island. At the western end of the island is the remains of a Polar Research Station which was only abandoned in the 1990s. During the Soviet period there were large numbers of these Research Stations in the High Arctic, but few survived the economic meltdown of the 1990s. Nearby are some amazing bird cliffs where it is possible to get magnificent views (and photographs) of puffins and guillemots as they come and go from their nests. The only things stopping us from landing here, other than weather and sea conditions, are Polar bears. They take refuge on the island when the ice recedes and if they are there it is both unwise and unsafe for us to go ashore. If they are ashore we will Zodiac cruise the bird cliffs for equally good views. This afternoon we have planned a cruise to nearby Kolyuchin Inlet, a massive tidal estuary so big we can take our ship inside. It is ideal habitat for many bird species and it is early enough in the season for the majority of them to either be on nests or have young. It is an easy landing with lots of opportunity for hiking, exploring and photography. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 The Annual Beringia Arctic Games Today we plan to attend the first day of the annual Beringia Regatta and Festival which includes whaleboat and Baidara (traditional walrus skin covered boats) races, as well as cultural group performances. It is one of the most colourful festivals in the Chukotka calendar and attracts people from many villages in the region. This unpredictable festival rotates between different villages and features a range of activities. Some you can watch, while others allow participation. There will be local foods to sample and lots of photographic opportunities. This festival gets to the heart and soul of the people, their culture and land. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 14 Presbrazhenya Bay We aim to be cruising along the south coast of Chukotka today and plan to stop at Presbrazhenya Bay. This is an excellent opportunity to Zodiac cruise some spectacular bird cliffs, as long as sea conditions permit we will get in close for some great photographic opportunities. There will also be a chance to land at a hunting camp (and boat haul-out area) at the nearby village of Nunligren. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner and final recap. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 15 Disembark in Anadyr. We will wake this morning as we enter the Port of Anadyr. After breakfast passengers will be taken ashore either to the airport to catch a flight out today or to the town if staying on. Meals included: Breakfast
Russia All nationalities require a visa for Russia. These requirements will vary depending on your nationality. For British nationals visa applications must now be made in person at a visa processing centre, located in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. At the time of application, fingerprints will be taken. We will be providing a new type of service to assist with the application process; however we will no longer be able to submit the application on your behalf. It is your responsibility to arrange a visa prior to travel, but we will provide you with more information after booking to help and advice with this. The cost of the visa is currently GBP108.40. For more information please click here Please note: The visa application takes approximently 20 working days. You can arrange for your passport to be posted back to you or returned to the visa processing centre to collect it in person. There is a £20pp charge to create an invitation letter if any pre or post tour accommodation is not booked with Exodus.
Russia There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever.
Polar Adventure Ship The Chukotka: Where Russia's Day Begins is offered on the Spirit of Enderby and the Akademik Shokalskiy which are Polar Adventure ships. Full board accommodation on the ship, generally on a twin share basis in a variety of cabin types, all with shared or en suite facilities. Please visit the Polar Fleet page for Ship Information and Deck Plans. Polar Adventure Ships These are small (approx. 100 passengers) ice rated vessels well qualified for Polar waters. Intimate adventures are always more enjoyable with like-minded passengers and staff, so these voyages are for people who like flexible itineraries and plenty to keep them busy. Activities include frequent Zodiac excursions, trekking and many hours on deck in areas that other ships only dream about accessing. Food and staff are superb and every guest benefits from the technical advances of this superb fleet. Rest assured our Polar Adventure Ships enable any traveller to maximize their experience sensitively in the Poles.
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