Chukotka and Wrangel Island

Transfer to ship from Anadyr city or charter flight from Nome. Ship will depart when all passengers are on board.

This small town was built by Gulag prisoners as a port to supply the rich Lul’tin mining complex some 200km inland, they were then forced to construct a road to the mine. We explore the town which has an excellent museum and plan to travel by Ural to explore along the road towards Lul’tin and into the tundra to gain an appreciation of this unique Arctic landscape close to the Arctic Circle.

Across Kresta Bay from Egvekinot is the small reindeer herding village of Konergino. Reindeer herding is still an important part of the indigenous people’s culture and economy, the practice has remained largely unchanged over the centuries and revolves around ‘brigades’ looking after large herds of reindeer out on the tundra. Today is an introduction to and an opportunity to understand this way of life.

We will be sailing along the south coast of Chukotka today and we will stop at Presbrazhenya Bay. We zodiac cruise the spectacular bird cliffs which could provide great photographic opportunities. There will also be a chance to land at a hunting camp at the nearby village of Nunligren.

The fascinating archaeological site of ‘Whale Bone Alley’ on Yttygran Island dates to the 14th century and its origins and purpose are still unknown. Here, whalebones stretch along the beach for several hundred yards. Gray Whales are also frequently seen offshore. This afternoon we plan to land to visit the Gil’mimyl Hot Springs.

We plan to be here for 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 performances. It is one of the most colourful festivals in the Chukotka calendar and attracts people from all around the region. There will be a range of activities at the Regatta and Festival and local foods for you to sample. This is a festival that gets to the very heart and soul of the people, their culture and their land.

Plan to land at this most north-easterly point of the Eurasian continent early this morning. The cape is named after Semyon Dezhnev, who actually sailed through the strait 80 years before Bering. Also visit the site of an early Inuit settlement.

Spot birds and whales as we sail towards Wrangel Island

Due to climate change in recent years Wrangel Island is becoming ice free earlier and this has a massive impact on the wildlife (especially the Polar Bears) that rely on the ice. Weather conditions permitting there should still be some ice around the island where wildlife will be concentrated. We will land and explore the tundra to look for 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 multiple landings as well as spending some time ice cruising looking for Polar Bears.

This morning we will anchor at tiny Kolyuchin Island and hope to see some of the large number of walrus which often haul out on the island. At the western end of the island is the remains of a Polar Research Station, abandoned in the 1990s. Nearby are some amazing bird cliffs, teeming with puffins and guillemots going to and from their nests. If there are no polar bears around, we will land on the shore; otherwise, we will zodiac cruise the bird cliffs for equally good views of the birds. This afternoon we sail to the massive tidal estuary that is Kolyuchin Inlet, a habitat for many nesting bird species. This is an easy landing with lots of opportunity for walking, exploring and photography.

Last opportunities for birding and cetacean spotting

Disembark and transfer to hotel or airport