SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY

National Geographic Endurance

Launching in 2020, the National Geographic Endurance is a next-generation expedition ship, purpose built for polar navigation. The Category A vessel is a fully stabilized, highly strengthened ship designed to navigate polar-passages and uncharted waters all year round. Designed to provide an extremely smooth ride in even the most adverse of conditions, reduced spray on deck and wave-splicing action making for superior observation.

Days 1-2 Oslo & Tromsø, Norway

As the capital of Norway, Oslo delights its visitors with an abundance of cultural and culinary adventures. Known for its world class museums and cuisine, Oslo’s architecture and chic Norwegian influence would excite even the most seasoned traveller. Oslo is a world leader in sustainability, reflected through its lush green city spaces and surrounded by the nationally protected Marka Forest. In addition to its architecture, restaurants and greenery, Oslo is situated at the head of the Oslofjord, offering stunning views of both the mountains and the sea. Spend the night in the Clarion Hotel The Hub or similar. In the morning board a chartered flight to Tromsø where you will embark on the National Geographic Endurance.

Days 3-4 Northern Norway

Northern Norway is the Finnmark region where much of the landscape is above treeline and comprised of fascinating landscape, including sheer coastal cliffs indented with deep fjords. Saami culture is dominant in the area, and you will visit one of the oldest and most historically significant archaeological sites at Mortensnes in Varangerfjord.

Days 5-24 Russian High Arctic, Siberian Coast, Russian Far East

In keeping with the nature of an expedition, the day-by-day itinerary will be flexible. You will be able to take full advantage of the extensive experience of your captain, crew, and staff as well as technological resources and an ice-strengthened ship to chart a unique course around impenetrable ice, through one of the most remote regions on Earth, and toward once-in-a-lifetime sightings of the Arctic’s abundant wildlife.

Franz Josef Land:

A little-explored world of pack ice, towering volcanic mountains, icebergs and glaciers, Franz Josef Land is the world’s northernmost archipelago, and part of the largest Arctic marine reserve—a sanctuary for such emblematic species as the Atlantic walrus, bowhead whale, polar bear, narwhal, and rare ivory gull. The scattered islands of Franz Josef Land were not discovered until 1873 by the Tegetthoff Expedition.

Kara Sea/Novaya Zemlya:

Depending on your captain’s route in this wild land, approach the heavily glaciated coast of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, northernmost of the islands of the Kara Sea. Dutch explorer William Barents overwintered at aptly named Ice Harbor in 1596-97.

Laptev Sea/Severnaya Zemlya

With 24-hour light, naturalists keep watch from the bridge, ready to announce the sighting of beluga whales or other marine mammals that frequent these shallow coastal waters. Pass Cape Chelyuskin, most northerly point of the Eurasian continent, on our way east toward the new world.

New Siberian Islands

Often surrounded by heavy pack ice, the 150-metre-high volcanic spires, cliffs and buttresses of these rocky outposts are a magnificent backdrop for abundant wildlife. Keep a lookout for elusive Ross’s gull, named after the polar explorer. Walrus haul out in numbers and seabirds nest on great cliffs on De Long islands, discovered by the Jeannette expedition in 1881 on their search for the North Pole.

East Siberian Sea

Depending on your course and the weather, explore granite towers, luxuriant tundra and ancient ceremonial sites along the coast where mammoths once roamed. A hallmark of any Arctic expedition is flexibility and your options are many as you cross the top of the world. The surrounding pack ice is an ideal place to find walruses, polar bears and other wildlife of the circumpolar north.

Wrangel Island

A nature reserve since 1974 and World Heritage site, Wrangel Island is known for unusual biodiversity, including endemic tundra plants, snow geese, and largest seabird colonies in the region. The reserve has the largest concentration of polar bears and walruses. Land mammals include musk oxen and reindeer. Expedition stops include a visit to the village and research center on the south coast.

Chukchi Sea

Keep a lookout for gray whales and other marine mammals in these rich waters. Sailing south from Wrangel, call at Kolyuchin Island, where cormorants, murres, puffins auklets and other Pacific seabirds nest on steep cliffs. Pass the easternmost extension of the Eurasian continent at Cape Dezhnev and continue across the International Date Line to Alaska and the end of your epic voyage.

Day 25 Nome, Alaska

Arrive in the remote city of Nome, Alaska, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Disembark to explore the town prior to the charter flight to Anchorage.