Russia (The Far East) - Across the Top of the World(15 days)

Across the Top of the World itinerary:

Day 0:

For those departing Nome, Alaska your adventure begins with a flight across the black Bering Sea and the International Date Line, to the remote port of Anadyr.

Day 1: Anadyr

Explore Anadyr, the administrative centre of the Chukotka region, before getting to know your fellow voyagers and crew on board the Spirit of Enderby.

Day 2: Anadyrskiy Bay

Weighing anchor early, you are invited to join the expedition staff and crew on the bridge for introductory briefings as we sail toward the Bering Straits, through the Anadyr Estuary famed for its Beluga Whales.

Day 3: Yttygran, Nuneangan and Arakamchrchen Islands

Yttygran Island is home to the monumental ancient aboriginal site known as Whale Bone Alley, where we make a landing. Constructed from immense whale jawbones and skulls to form arches, the site is of international archaeological importance. On the lookout for Grey Whales, we also cruise by Nuneangan and Arakamchrchen Islands where seabirds nest and Walrus can be found.

Day 4: Cape Dezhnev / Uelen Village

The north easternmost point of the Eurasian continent, it is sometimes possible to see the coast of America from this remote and lonely outpost. It's a steep scramble up the rocky beach to an abandoned Soviet border guard base and a monument to Semyon Dezhnev, the brave 17th century seafarer who lends the cape his name. We are welcomed by Chukchi villagers whose traditional lifestyle remains largely unchanged by the passing centuries and are treated to a precious collection of sculptures, bone-carvings and artwork.

Day 5: Kolyuchin Island

Inhabited today only by Walrus and seabirds this was once a Polar Bear research station. Near the derelict buildings are some of the most spectacular bird cliffs in the Arctic where puffins, guillemots and gulls can be observed and photographed up close.

Day 6-10: Wrangel and Herald Islands

Our itinerary will vary depending on ice and weather conditions but with a multitude of migrating birds to spot and the commanding presence of Polar Bears and their cubs to hold our attention, our days here will be busy. This is the essence of expedition cruising and there are many landings we can make to search out wildlife like Snowy Owls and Snow Geese, Ivory Gulls, the powerful Musk Ox and herds of Reindeer. Diverse Arctic landscapes from sweeping tundra of wildflowers in summer riot to sea cliffs housing rookeries of noisy seabirds underline this area as a Nature Reserve of international significance. This is also a chance to visit historic Dragi Harbour where early explorers endured terrible winters after their steamship was crushed by ice.

Day 11: North Siberian Coast

Bounded by narrow sand ridges with numerous lagoons and inlets, this area offers plenty of places to land and explore a coastline that very few humans have seen and survived to tell the tale. Looking for Walrus we will come across Chukchi villages whose residents scratch out a living in an unforgiving climate, hunting seals and whales just as their ancestors did.

Days 12: Kolyuchin Inlet

So huge that it is visible from satellite photos, this inlet contains vast numbers of waterfowl and migratory waders. We visit the spit of land near the inlet's mouth and find a wild, desolate landscape that is strangely beautiful; its dunes and tidal areas are home to the mighty Emperor Goose and extremely rare Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Grey Whales frequent the area and we may be fortunate to spot them feeding only a stone's throw from shore.

Day 13: Big Diomede Island (Ostrov Ratmanova)

Sometimes called Tomorrow Island and Yesterday Isle the Diomedes are separated by the International Date Line; these two rocky outposts represented the final Cold War frontier between Soviet Russia and the USA. We go in search of the Black-legged Kittiwake, Brunnich's Guillemot and Horned Puffin and perhaps glimpse the world's northern-most colony of auklets.

Day 14: At Sea

Relax in the ship's bar or library as we sail across Anadyrskiy Bay, before bidding farewell to your fellow voyagers and staff over a dinner and expedition recap tonight.

Day 15: Anadyr

Our adventure ends after breakfast with disembarkation back at the port where you will enjoy a complimentary transfer to the airport or to your hotel.