Jewels of the Russian Arctic

13 night Cruise Only - from £8700pp

Franz Josef Land. Photo credit: Samantha Crimming

Russian High Arctic. Photo credit: Johanna Carlo

Zodiac cruising. Photo credit: Acacia Johnson

Explore one of Earth's least-visited frontiers on this expedition cruise to the rugged beauty of the remote Russian High Arctic, from the glaciated mountains of Novaya Zemlya to isolated Franz Josef Land

13 night - Cruise Only

from £8700pp

Itinerary Prices Ship

The sparsely populated Russian High Arctic is a place of isolated, rugged beauty that will leave you amazed.

Few travellers have ever ventured into this near-uninhabited landscape; follow in the footsteps of early northern explorers to experience an in-depth exploration of seldom-visited regions in the stark and spectacularly beautiful Russian Arctic. Guests will discover two of the most remote archipelagos on the planet. From the ancient mountains of Novaya Zemlya to the wildlife-rich remote Franz Josef Land, there is an exhilarating mix of unique sights and adventures. Marvel at majestic ice-capped peaks and look out for the unforgettable sight of a polar bear roaming its natural environment.

Q112 Operated by Quark Expeditions

Cruise Includes

Includes
13-night full board cruise
Wine and beer with dinner during the cruise
Soft drinks during bar opening hours during the cruise
Complimentary coffee, tea and water at all times during the cruise
Zodiac landings and shore landings, walks and hikes
Lectures by the Expedition Team
Quark Parka to keep
Loan of waterproof knee-high boots
Port charges and taxes

Excludes
International flights – we can arrange these for you
Overseas transfers
Optional excursions such as paddling and kayaking
Gratuities

Cruise Map

Itinerary

Day 1 Murmansk (Russia)

Embark your ship in Murmansk.
Day 2-3 At sea

Enjoy the ship's facilities whilst cruising the Barents Sea. Learn about the history, geology, wildlife and ecology of the region through fascinating lectures from the Expedition Team. Watch out for kittiwakes, skuas, whales and seals.
Day 4-6 Novaya Zemlya

Rarely-visited Novaya Zemlya consists of two main islands, separated by the imposing Matochkin Strait. Each expedition will be unique, depending on the weather and ice conditions, but places visited may include the picturesque glacier at Inostrantseva Bay, the Oransky Islands, Cape Zhelaniya, Cape Spory Navalok and Russkaya Gavan. Conditions permitting, there will be explorations ashore and Zodiac cruise along the faces of glaciers. Wildlife abounds in this region, with walrus, whales and polar bears often sighted.
Day 7 At sea

Cruise north towards Franz Josef Land.
Day 8-11 Franz Josef Land

This remote group of 191 islands lies entirely within the Arctic Circle and is part of the Russian Arctic National Park. Weather and ice conditions will dictate exploration here, but there should be the chance to explore historical sites, see remote seabird colonies and walrus haul-out and possible sight a polar bear. On Jackson Island Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen wintered from 1895 to 1896, with the remains of their small hut still visible, along with a memorial marking the event. In Tikhaya Bukta there is plenty of Russian polar history to discover, and you may even be able to send a postcard from the post office.
Day 12-13 At sea

Relax whilst sailing back to Murmansk through the wildlife-rich sea, with Expedition staff on hand to help you spot marine and bird life.
Day 14 Murmansk

Disembark ship in Murmansk.

Dates and Prices

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Ship Information

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