Jewel Of the Russian Far East itinerary:

Day 1: Nome Alaska,
On arrival at Nome Airport, you will join a private charter flight to Provideniya with your fellow passengers. During this flight you will cross the International Date Line, on arrival into Provideniya Russia, you will clear Russian Customs and Immigration and have the opportunity to explore Provideniya. You will meet your expedition team and board Spirit of Enderby.

Day 2: Yttygran Island
On Yttygran Island, Russian anthropologists discovered an ancient aboriginal site nicknamed ‘Whalebone Alley’. Whalebones stretch along the beach for nearly half a kilometer. There are many meat pits used for storage, and other remains of a busy whaling camp that united several aboriginal villages at a time. In one location, immense Bowhead Whale jawbones and ribs are placed together in a stunning arch formation. Walruses and Grey Whales are known to frequent the area and there is a large seabird colony on neighboring Nuneangan Island.

Day 3: Cape Navarin
This morning we cross to the south coast of Anadyr Bay, an opportunity for stimulating lectures on local and natural history. Our destination is the Cape Navarin region, where we plan an expedition on foot in Gavrilov Bay. This is a large estuary which we will check for wildlife and enjoy extended walks to explore the tundra vegetation.

Day 4: Bukhta Natalii
This afternoon at Bukhta (or Fiord) Natalii, we have a unique opportunity to explore the ‘hinterland’. It is a wonderful location for an extended walk, photography and botanical exploration, with autumn colors at their height. Nomadic reindeer herders and walrus often frequent the vicinity.

Day 5: Bukhta Lavrova
Today, we explore the upper reaches of Bukhta Lavrova by Zodiac. This is in the Pylginsky mountain range, a dramatic landscape formed by glaciation.

Day 6: Lorran Peninsula
The Lorran Peninsula has been declared a Nature Reserve and includes a range of habitats. We plan to meet up with the local rangers who manage the day-to-day work in the Reserve and to explore with them on foot. This area has a high population of Brown Bear, which we hope to see. This evening we make a landing on nearby Verkhoturova Island, home to extensive cliffs hosting thousands of sea birds. Stella Sea Lions have also been recorded here, and we may well spot them on an easy walk to an abandoned lighthouse.

Day 7: Karaginskiy Island
On Karaginskiy Island we encounter some of the first ‘forests’ of the voyage. This is a change from the tundra that we have seen so far, and a sure sign that we are getting further south. We will make an expedition landing to explore these forests on the western shoreline where the trees should be in full autumn splendour.

Days 8-9: Commander Islands
The Commander Islands sit at the western extremity of the well-known Aleutian Islands. These Islands are Russian territory discovered by the explorer Vitus Bering. Bering and his men were shipwrecked here and he perished along with many of his men. The reports from those that survived led to a ‘fur rush’ and settlement on the Islands. The Commander Islands were an important strategic military and Border Control post during the Cold War, but since the collapse of communism in 1991-1992 many of the people have moved away. We visit Nikoi’skoye, the one small village that remains, meet some of the locals and visit the small museum before investigating some of the known wildlife colonies, including a large number of seabird and seal colonies.

Day 10: Zhupanova River
Today we explore the Zhupanova River by Zodiac. This journey allows us to explore a river habitat common in Kamchatka. These rivers are important ecosystems that work in tandem with the seacoast to support a wide variety of wildlife. Stella’s Sea Eagles are known to nest in the lower reaches of the River, and hundreds of tons of salmon are harvested from these rivers each year. We will make a stop at a salmon fishing camp – an ideal opportunity to learn about this important industry.

Day 11: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
Early this morning we sail into Avacha Bay, one of the world’s best natural harbours. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy is the capital and administrative centre of the Kamchatka Region, and today is our chance to explore it. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy was founded in the 1700s by the Second Kamchatka Expedition. The harbour was home to some of the Pacific Fleet during the Cold War, and was classified as a ‘closed’ city until 1992. From nearby Yelizovo you can take a helicopter ride into the world-famous Valley of the Geysers, or alternatively you might take a day trip to one of the nearby volcanoes or visit the local museums.

Day 12: Atlasova Island
This afternoon we land at Atlasova Island, one of the northernmost islands in the Kuril Island chain. The island is home to Alaid Volcano – at 2339 metres it is the highest in the Kuril Islands. Our time ashore is an opportunity to investigate some wetlands for wildlife, explore the remains of a ‘gulag’ or political prison, and witness recent volcanic activity.

Day 13: Onekotan Island
On Onekotan Island there is a relatively easy walk across a range of habitats to Black Lake, which lies in the shadow of Volcano Nemo. In the afternoon we sail to Ekama Island where we take a cruise by Zodiac around the eastern cliffs to see large numbers of Northern Fulmars breeding. We should also see other species, including Horned and Tufted Puffins.

Day 14: Yankicho Island
Yankicho Island is home to thousands of Crested and Whiskered Auklets. Although the breeding season will be over, the birds should still be around. We take the Zodiacs right into the flooded caldera in order to explore the island. There are large numbers of Arctic Foxes, and also an area of geothermal activity to explore. This afternoon on Simushir Island, further to the south, we explore a huge flooded caldera that was a former submarine base. The nearby village was abandoned after the collapse of communism, and is now a ghost town with empty buildings and rusting machinery – testimony to the massive infrastructure required for the Cold War.

Day 15: Iturup Island
This afternoon will be our last opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the local people. Iturup Island is one of the larger islands in the Kuril group and has resident population – a rarity in the Kurils – that sustains itself for the most part by fishing. We plan to land at the village of Kurlisk and enjoy some world-famous Russian hospitality.

Day 16: At sea
Today we cross to Sakhalin Island, where the expedition will finish. It is a day for final recaps, logbook writing and sharing photographs. We enjoy a special farewell dinner tonight.

Day 17: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
After clearing customs we have arranged transfers to the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or the nearby airport for flights to Moscow or Vladivostok.

Optional pre-cruise extension
Anadyr to Provideniya  - 7th - 9th September 2011
If you wish to maximise your time in the Russian Far East you can join your ‘Jewel of the Russian Far East’ expedition in Anadyr for no extra cost.
Flight to Anadyr (flights not included) and join Spirit of Enderby in the Port of Anadyr and meet your expedition team.
Depending on your flight arrival into Anadyr your afternoon is free to explore the town, which is the administrative centre of the Chukotka Autonomous Region.
After a night onboard in Anadyr we depart early the morning for Providenyia a former strategic military town and seaport.
Sailing from Anadyr to Providenyia presents good opportinies to see Beluga and Grey whales as well as a wide range of birdlife.