Category Archives: Arctic/Antarctic Travel

Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Antarctica, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, cruises, expeditionary cruises, Expeditionary Travel, Uncategorized

AdventureSmith Explorations Offers 2021 Solar Eclipse Viewing on 7 Antarctic Cruises

On Dec. 4, 2021, there will be a total eclipse of the sun in Antarctica, a region most can only dream about. But Adventure Smith Explorations, an international expert in small ship expedition cruising, has announced limited availability for voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula to witness this phenomenon that will only be seen in the south polar region.

TRUCKEE, CA – On Dec. 4, 2021, there will be a total eclipse of the sun in Antarctica, a region most can only dream about. But Adventure Smith Explorations, an international expert in small ship expedition cruising, has announced limited availability for voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula to witness this phenomenon that will only be seen in the south polar region.
 
Vessels accommodating from 102 to 170 passengers are specifically appointed to maneuver the ice-bound waters of Antarctica for positioning in the center of the moon shadow during the eclipse.
 
Itineraries of 20 to 24 days will utilize in-depth technology to find the best possible viewing area, hoping to ensure an unobscured sun.
 
Departures are round-trip from Ushuaia, Argentina, with explorations of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, the ultimate polar wilderness. These eclipse cruises aim to be in the Weddell Sea to witness the phenomena among giant tabular icebergs and sea ice.
 
For some passengers the eclipse will be the expedition’s highlight. However, the ongoing adventure into spring in Antarctica will leave everyone in awe over some of the world’s most impressive scenery, including icebergs of every size and description, and Antarctica’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Waters rich with krill are home to a variety of whale and seal species. Penguins form large nesting colonies on land.
 
Antarctica cruises, already once-in-a-lifetime experiences, become even more so on the following small ships in December 2021. Following are the scheduled departures for eclipse viewing:
 
20-Day Voyages

     Nov. 23-Dec. 12, 2021 – Polar Solar Eclipse, aboard 116-guest Planica’s; per person double rates from $16,400.

     Nov. 25-Dec. 14, 2021 – Polar Solar Eclipse, aboard the brand-new 170-guest Janssonius; per person double rates from $16,400.

     Nov. 26-Dec. 15, 2021 – Polar Solar Eclipse, aboard the brand-new 170-guest Hondius; per person double rates from $16,400. 

The Plancius, Janssonius and Hondius are purpose-built expedition vessels designed exclusively for polar cruises. These ships offer top-tier activity gear and exploratory educational travel programs, with guests spending as much time ashore as possible.
 
23-Day Voyage

     Nov. 20-Dec. 12, 2021 – Antarctic Wildlife Adventure, aboard 114-guest Sea Spirit; per person double rates from $18,395. Complementing the strong credentials of the ship’s team of marine biology, history, geology and ornithology specialists will be Paul M. Sutter, astrophysicist, author, speaker, producer and on-air host. His first book, Your Place in the Universe; Understanding Our Big, Messy Existence, was published by Prometheus Books in 2018. He is the author of over 50 articles on astrophysics and serves as Chief Scientist of the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio. 

24-Day Voyages

     Nov. 17-Dec. 10, 2021– National Geographic Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands, aboard 102-guest National Geographic Orion; per person double rates from $26,600.

     Nov. 17-Dec. 10, 2021 – National Geographic Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands, aboard the brand-new, 126-guest National Geographic Endurance; per person double rates from $28,750.

     Nov. 18-Dec. 11, 2021 – National Geographic Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands, aboard 148-guest National Geographic Explorer; per person double rates from $25,890. 

On these National Geographic cruises, photography experts will share information about special equipment you’ll need if you want to create an image of the eclipse, like solar filters. And the onboard National Geographic photographer and certified photo instructor will prepare guests for the special challenges of shooting an eclipse from a ship, where tripods and long exposures don’t work on what amounts to a moving platform. A naturalist team and guest speakers will provide insight and background on eclipses and other astronomical features one might encounter in the Southern Ocean and Southern Hemisphere.
 
For intrepid explorers who can’t wait until 2021 to experience Antarctica, AdventureSmith Explorations announces availability with some rate savings on the following Antarctic expeditions in the 2019-2020 season.

     Antarctic Peninsula  – 5 percent savings if cruise for 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons is booked by Dec. 1, 2019.  

     Antarctic Latitudes – save 15 percent on 2019-2020 cruises if booked by Nov. 30, 2019; and save up to $1,700 per person on 2020-2021 cruises if booked by Dec. 31, 2019.

     National Geographic Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands – book by Dec. 31, 2019, to receive complimentary roundtrip airfare. 

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Truckee, CA, near the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. A recognized leader in small ship cruising, in 2012 owner Todd Smith first joined the ranks of Condé Nast Traveler‘s prestigious world’s Top Travel Specialists list as the leading expert on small ship expeditions.

For details on all of AdventureSmith Explorations’ small ship cruises, itineraries, availability and for 2019-2020 reservations, please call 866-575-2875 toll-free or visit the company website.
 
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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, ecotourism, expeditionary cruises, Nature Travel, small ship cruising, Uncategorized, Wildlife Expeditions

Poseidon Expeditions Offers Close Encounters with Reindeer and Polar Bear On High Arctic Expedition Cruises

Poseidon Expeditions, specialists in Arctic cruises, offers opportunities aplenty in the high Arctic wilderness between Norway and the North Pole to see reindeer as well as the King of the North, polar bear in their natural habitat. On Arctic Wildlife Safari and Bet of Svalbard cruises, guests can observe and learn such fun facts about these animals.

PROVIDENCE, RI– In an ancient ice age the four-legged critter we associate with Santa’s sleigh lived as far south as Tennessee. Whether those reindeer picked up a southern drawl is still up for debate.

What’s non-debatable is that Rangifer tarandus or reindeer (aka caribou), meaning snow shoveler, was so named by the Mi’kmaq, who were among original inhabitants of the Atlantic Provinces of Northern Canada.

The specialists in Arctic cruises, Poseidon Expeditions, offers opportunities aplenty in the high Arctic wilderness between Norway and the North Pole to see reindeer as well as the King of the North, polar bear in their natural habitat. On Arctic Wildlife Safari and Best of Svalbard cruises, guests can observe and learn such fun facts about these animals as… 

A reindeer’s hide is covered with hair follicles that are hollow and that trap air that provides insulation.

Their noses warm the air before it reaches the lungs.

In the winter, facial hair grows long to the mouth, protecting muzzles while grazing in snow.

Its body temperature adjusts to just above freezing to avoid losing body heat in extremely cold conditions.

Both male and female reindeer sport antlers.

They vocalize through air sacs in their neck, males warning other males away from girlfriends and females communicating with their young.

The knees of one subspecies of reindeer make a clicking noise while walking, sounds that allow a herd to stay together in a blizzard. 

And about the polar bear? 

Adult females often weigh between 500 and 600 pounds; males are double these weights. Cubs enter the world at around one pound, females reaching full weight at age five and males by age 10.

Ask anyone what color a polar bear is and they’ll reply “white” with total confidence. The fact is, their fur is actually transparent and holds no color. It only appears white because it reflects visible light. The transparent fur also traps in the sun’s heat to help keep the polar bear warm.

When polar bears swim, they use their large front paws to propel themselves through the water and their back legs to steer. They can actually move pretty fast at approximately at 6 mph, closing their nostrils when under water.

They can go days, even weeks, without eating. When they reach a week or more without food, their metabolism slows down and goes into starvation mode until the next meal.

Polar bear cubs learn to freeze or “play dead” while momma bear hunts for food. If they’re caught moving, mom will discipline them, with a smack to the head.

Two-thirds of polar bears could disappear by 2050 due to disappearing hunting grounds, or sea ice. They are now compelled to swim such long distances that they are drowning from exhaustion.

While cruising around seldom-visited, natural preserves of the far north, guests may also experience polar wildlife from the perspective of a kayak. Imagine paddling with bearded seals, large and peaceful creatures that are often encountered at close range reposing on ice floes in sheltered bays and fjords. Harbor seals and ringed seals can be seen from a kayak as well. Sometimes massive walrus can also be seen.
 
Guests may also access beluga whales via kayak. Paddling with these gentle and intelligent creatures in the wild — hearing their breaths and feeling their inquisitive gaze upon you — is a life-changing experience, especially if it happens to be a pod of over a hundred beluga whales swimming in long procession past and underneath the kayaks.

Poseidon Expedition’s sea kayak guides are well versed in the wildlife viewing and protection protocols developed by the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

The rates for 2020 Arctic Wildlife Safari, West Spitsbergen & Polar Ice Edge, are discounted: May 31-June 8, June 7-June 15, June 14-June 22 from $5,895 to $5,305; June 21-July 1 from $7,295 to $6,566 and June 30-July 11 from $8,095 to $7,286. On the June 7 departure guests receive a bonus, the opportunity to mingle with a polar bear expert from the Cincinnati Zoo.

Best of Svalbard, Svalbard & Polar Ice Edge cruises offers three departures in June and July 2020. Children under age 12 travel at half the regular rate when sharing a double-occupancy cabin with an adult. Per person double rates are from $10,095 double in a main deck suite.

For inquires and reservations in North America, or to request a catalog, contact the company’s Providence, RI, sales and reservation office at www,poseidonexpeditions.com or call 347-801-2610, or contact your travel agent.
 
With offices in the US, UK, Germany, Russia, Cyprus and China, Poseidon Expeditions is a leading provider of polar expeditions in the cruise industry. The company is committed to safe and environmentally responsible polar travel. It is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO).

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Adventure Travel, Antarctica, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, cruises, expeditionary cruises, Expeditionary Travel

New Booking Incentives on Small Ship Expedition Cruises to Amazon, Galapagos, Antarctica

One of the most biodiverse regions of the world, the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin, reveals its bounties from the perspective of the Napo River aboard the 40-guest cruise vessel M/V Anakonda, specifically designed to navigate these waters.

TRUCKEE, CA– For expedition cruisers looking for an amazing deal, below is a heady mix of high-end itineraries available through 2019 in three distinct destinations. All offer booking incentives, with some limited offers up to 40 percent off. All are being promoted through the small ship cruise expert Adventure Smith Explorations.
 
40% Savings on Cruise Departures Exploring the Ecuadorian Amazon
 
The Ecuadorian Amazon comes to life on four, five and eight-day Anakonda Amazon Cruises from $2,440 per person double (for four days). Specific departures through Dec. 20 come with savings ranging from 10% to 40%. One of the most biodiverse regions of the world, the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin, reveals its bounties from the perspective of the Napo River aboard the 40-guest cruise vessel M/V Anakonda, specifically designed to navigate these waters. Guests visit Amazonian communities where they are invited to see handicraft demonstrations and to sample traditional meals. Here the varied ecosystems showcase such wildlife as pink river dolphins, giant otters and turtles. Hundreds of native birds and primates signal their presence while navigating along the region’s freshwater rivers. In Yasuni National Park guests may swim, kayak and canoe, birdwatch and trek through the rainforest.
 
The Manatee Amazon Explorer Cruise offers savings up to 40% on cruises departing from Sept 4 through Dec 20, 2019. These are from $1,966 per person double for four days exploring the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. Five and eight-day adventures are also available. Accommodation is aboard the 30-guest M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer.
 
Free Local Air on Nov-Dec Galapagos Cruises
 
Sea Star Journey Galapagos Cruises are five and six-day active explorations of the Galapagos aboard the 16-passenger luxury yacht, Sea Star Journey. Select departures in November and December come with complimentary local airfare and savings of up to 10 percent. The per person double rate is from $4,649 for five days. (Five and six-day programs can be combined with other itineraries to create longer cruises of up to 15 days.) Complimentary roundtrip air from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos is available on Nov. 3, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15, 2019 departures. Sea kayaking, snorkeling, trekking and exploring the underwater world in a glass-bottom boat bring to life the wonders of this region.
 
On select departures of Seaman Journey Galapagos Cruises from October through December 2019, guests can enjoy savings of up to 20% plus a $300 discount on local airfare. Accommodation is aboard M/C Seaman Journey, a recently remodeled 16-passenger catamaran with one of the best sundecks in the Galapagos. Four, five and eight-day cruises are available starting from $2,599 per person double.
 
Free Round-Trip Airfare Offered on Two Antarctic Itineraries 
 
National Geographic the White Continent is a 14-day cruise from $14,680 aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the 102-guest National Geographic Orion or the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance. Bookings made by December 31, 2019 on this classic itinerary to the Antarctic Peninsula offer complimentary round-trip airfare (when booking on the National Geographic Explorer or Orion), as well as a complimentary bar tab and all ships’ crew gratuities. These ships are virtual floating basecamps during the voyage, offering enough kayaks and Zodiacs to send all guests out exploring at the same time. Huge tabular icebergs, Gentoo penguins, whales and more stamp memories in place forever.
 
Complimentary round-trip airfare and waived bar tab and crew gratuities are also offered on the National Geographic Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands cruise throughout a 24-day adventure at a per person double rate from $25,220. Guests enjoy distinguished hospitality aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the 102-guest National Geographic Orion or the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance. Opportunities for wildlife viewing are countless. Think a vast colony of king penguins, albatross, king cormorants, nesting rockhopper penguins and Magellanic penguins.
 
For details on these and all of AdventureSmith Explorations’ small ship cruises, itineraries, availability and for 2019-2020 reservations, call 866-575-2875 toll-free or visit the company website.
 

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Truckee, CA, near the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. A recognized leader in small ship cruising, in 2012 owner Todd Smith first joined the ranks of Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious world’s Top Travel Specialists list as the leading expert on small ship expeditions, a distinction that is still enjoyed to this day.

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Arctic/Antarctic Travel, expeditionary cruises, small ship cruising, Wildlife travel

AdventureSmith Explorations’ New Ships, Itineraries Expand Opportunities to See Big Arctic 8

National Geographic Explorere at Monoco Glacier, Leifdefjord, Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

TRUCKEE, CA – Small cruise ships purpose-built to ply the planet’s polar regions also transport guests on floating Arctic wildlife safaris.

AdventureSmith Explorations, the small ship cruising experts, invite guests on an increasing number of Arctic cruise options that observe, among other things, a variety of indigenous wildlife. Some, if not all, of the Big Arctic Eight, marine- and land-based creatures are often spotted on these expedition cruises.

“Just to know that these creatures are out there is part of the excitement of venturing north,” says Todd Smith, AdventureSmith’s Founder and President. “These are creatures straight out of children’s fairytales. What’s also amazing is to learn how they’re so physically adapted to their frozen world.”

He notes that demand is up to explore the Arctic among clients who have already cruised Antarctica, as well as travelers new to the polar regions. “The core of what AdventureSmith strives for is delivering the most incredible explorations of the natural world to our clients who are a special group of likeminded explorers. Alongside our observation of more cruise itineraries opening up in the Arctic, we’ve seen more purpose-built expedition ships being built with a focus to educate travelers on how to be ambassadors for the Arctic’s wild places and animals. The trips we offer are designed to be small (under 200 guests) and focused on sustainable exploration.”

The company has created a blog post with tips on spotting some of Earth’s most interesting animals. Here is what AdventureSmith Explorations has named the Big Arctic Eight:

  • Polar Bear, the largest living land carnivore, can measure up to eight feet long and weigh 1,500 pounds. Some 26,000 Polar bears are estimated to be roaming the Arctic and regions of Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Russia and Norway.
  • Walrus live in the Arctic areas of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. These creatures are often viewed lounging in large herds on shorelines or icebergs. Their powerful tusks that sometimes reach three feet are tools to lift their heavy bodies onto the ice.
  • Reindeer (caribou) live on the tundra and in boreal forests and are known to migrate up to 3,000 miles a year. Males grow antlers for sexual attraction and mating standoffs. Females grow antlers to defend their food from other females. Come spring, herds number in the thousands.
  • Arctic Foxes possess incredible hearing that allows them to locate prey under the snow. Their thick, long fur that sustains them at -58 degrees Fahrenheit is an example of camouflage – in winter white or blue-gray, in summer brown-gray.
  • Narwhals are some of Earth’s most unusual creatures. The narwhal tusk is actually a spiral tooth that can grow as long as 10 feet. This is a specialized sensory organ that spots changes in the environment, aiding in locating food and mates.
  • Puffins, the cute white-and-black birds with orange beaks, can fly up to 55 mph. In spring and summer, they return to a land colony that numbers in the thousands to mate (usually with the same partner each year).
  • Beluga Whales, stark white creatures with a unique neck, can turn their heads almost completely sideways to create a right angle. This allows for special maneuverability for swimming backwards and for harvesting food. Their sonar skills echolocate their prey while working together to force fish into favorable situations. Highly vocal, they make a variety of sounds for communication in their social pods which can number up to 100 individuals.
  • Musk Ox are one of the few hooved animals, along with reindeer, that survived the Ice Age. Their long, shaggy hair can grow to two feet long and an undercoat provides insulation that is eight times warmer than sheep’s wool. In winter herds numbering up to 24 forage for roots, moss and lichen, which they harvest with their hooves.

New state-of-the-art polar exploration vessels for fewer than 200 guests now can offer itineraries as compact as seven days. Debuting in the Arctic spring of 2019 is the 174-guest Hondius and in spring 2020 the 176-guest World Explorer and the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance. They cruise in the north for the boreal summer and position south in the autumn for the Antarctic sailing season.

AdventureSmith Explorations offers several itineraries exploring the “classic” destinations of Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland. For 2019, cabin availability can still be found on:

  • Realm of the Polar Bear
  • Around Spitsbergen
  • Intro to Spitsbergen
  • Three Arctic Islands
  • A Circumnavigation of Iceland
  • Classic Polar Bear Adventure

The company also offers trips to lesser-known areas such as the Russian High Arctic: Franz Josef Land, which yield excellent opportunities to view polar bears, marine mammals and seabird rookeries.

For details on all AdventureSmith’s small ship cruises worldwide, day-to-day itineraries, availability and reservations, phone: 866-575-2875 toll-free or visit their company website.

AdventureSmith Explorations, founded in 2003, is a recognized leader in small ship cruising (“Think Outside the Boat!”). In 2012 owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Condé Nast Traveler‘s prestigious world’s Top Travel Specialists list as the leading expert on small ship expeditions.

 

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, ecotourism

Spend a Night on a Glacier with Polar Bears in Svalbard, Norway – Off The Map Travel Makes it Possible

This summer, spend a night on a glacier with polar bears. Off the Map Travel enables guests will stay at the exclusive Nordenskiold Lodge located at the foot of the blue glacier on the island of Svalbard, high up in the Arctic Circle.

(Svalbard, NORWAY)   This summer, the experts at adventure travel company Off the Map Travel invite you to spend a night on a glacier, in a prime viewing area for Norway’s polar bears. On the island of Svalbard, high up in the Arctic Circle, guests will stay at the exclusive Nordenskiold Lodge located at the foot of the blue glacier. There, with almost no sounds to distract, guests will hear the ice creaking and cracking as the glacier moves along its slow journey. Guests will also have the chance to observe the island’s variety of wildlife including its most famous residents, the polar bear. Bookable now, the new “Night on a Glacier” program is offered from May – September 2019). Each itinerary is customized to meet the interests and needs of the participants.

“This is a spectacular opportunity for adventure lovers,” commented Jonny Cooper, adventure travel expert and founder of Off the Map Travel. “Svalbard is one of the world’s best spots for seeing wildlife, with May to September the optimal months as the snow has melted. And at the expedition lodge, you’ll enjoy all manner of amenities and comforts with the chance to see polar bears.”

From Longyearbyen, the arrival point on the island, guests begin their Arctic journey with a summer dogsledding expedition before joining a guide on a Zodiac boat cruise around the coast to search for walrus, whales and polar bears on the way to the Nordenskiold Lodge.

The adventure continues at the lodge with a guided glacier climb to the source, kayaking, and a photo walk among spectacular scenery where a chance for wildlife encounters is possible around every turn.  In the evening, guests enjoy camaraderie and meals at the lodge, a traditional sauna experience, and further opportunities for wildlife viewing from the indoor coziness of the lodge.

“Summer on Svalbard offers an Arctic destination where wildlife spotting and mild temperatures ensure its stature as a new luxury adventure holiday destination for 2019,” Cooper adds.

An example of a five-day “Night on a Glacier” itinerary with Off the Map Travel costs from £6599 ($8353 USD per person at the time of this writing), based on double occupancy. Included are all transfers, three nights in Longyearbyen on a B&B basis, two nights at Nordenskiold Lodge exclusively booked on a full board basis, kayaking, Zodiac boat safari, glacier climb, and summer dogsledding. Flights are additional. All itineraries can be customized to add additional days and nights.

This project is supported by Interreg Nord and the Visit Arctic Europe project, developing travel to the Arctic Europe region.

For more information on tailor-made Off the Map Travel itineraries visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041; email [email protected] or join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest.

Off the Map Travel is a team of travel experts who work with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of the world. Specializing in soft adventure and viewing of the Northern Lights, Off the Map Travel creates tailor-made itineraries that offer a distinctive vacation based on first-hand experience. Off the Map Travel vacations anticipate travelers’ needs with pre-planning and customization. Each bespoke itinerary is tailored to the ages of participants, creating experiences for families, groups, couples and singles that are comfortable and luxurious, with activity levels appropriate for all participants. www.offthemap.travel.

 

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, ecotourism, Live Like a Local, Sustainable Travel

Experience the Arctic like the Inuit: in a Traditional, Hand-Built Igloo

Igloo Lodge, Greenland (photo: Off the Map Travel)

(Ilulissat, Greenland)  – Experience the Arctic like the Inuit people with a stay in a traditional hand-built igloo. Comprising a village known as the Igloo Lodge, five spacious igloos are available for adventurous travelers, each with room to sleep two people.

Launched by Arctic travel specialists Off the Map Travel, the new Igloo Lodge is a first for this winter and an exciting choice for couples and small groups alike.

Travelers don’t have to worry about being cold as each igloo is kitted out with reindeer skins, warm sleeping bags and a petroleum lamp on a night table. On-site is a cozy wooden cabin with bathrooms and a communal meal area. Although outside temperatures can drop well below freezing, the igloos remain around 32ºF, with specialized outdoor bedding and gear providing coziness and comfort.

“The best Arctic adventures are about experiencing authentic moments and creating lifelong memories,” notes Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. “As soon as you enter the igloo, you see the craftsmanship that goes into its creation, a skill that’s been passed down through generations. It’s quite special to lie back and sleep there just as the Inuits have done for thousands of years,” he continued.

As an example, a 5-day 4-night Ilulissat Igloo Experience itinerary, offered from the end of January 2019 to the beginning of April, is priced from £999 ($1304) per person including three nights on a B&B basis at Hotel Arctic in a double room, one night in an ice-hewn igloo at Igloo Village, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, two Northern Lights safaris, and transfers. Flights are additional.

This project is supported by Interreg Nord and the Visit Arctic Europe project, developing travel to the Arctic Europe region.

For more information on tailor-made Off the Map Travel itineraries visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041; email [email protected] or join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest

Off the Map Travel is a team of travel experts who work with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of the world. Specializing in soft adventure and viewing of the Northern Lights, Off the Map Travel creates tailor-made itineraries that offer a distinctive vacation based on first-hand experience. Off the Map Travel vacations anticipate travelers’ needs with pre-planning and customization. Each bespoke itinerary is tailored to the ages of participants, creating experiences for families, groups, couples and singles that are comfortable and luxurious, with activity levels appropriate for all participants. www.offthemap.travel

 

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Arctic/Antarctic Travel, expeditionary cruises

Poseidon Expeditions Offering Early Bird Booking Discounts on 2018-9 Arctic, Antarctic Cruises

PROVIDENCE, RI – Early booking rates are available through the end of July 2017 for Arctic and Antarctic cruises in 2018-19 with polar cruise specialist Poseidon Expeditions. Cabin discounts are as generous as 20 percent off the regular rate, depending on category reserved.

The well-appointed 114-passenger expedition ship Sea Spirit serves both Arctic and Antarctic for Poseidon Expeditions

Poseidon Expeditions (http://poseidonexpeditions.com/), which focuses on remote polar cruise exploration in the high latitudes, offers May through September cruises in the Arctic and October through February itineraries in the Antarctic.

The stylish and well-appointed 114-passenger expedition ship Sea Spirit serves both regions for Poseidon Expeditions. Applying the early booking discount, Arctic rates in 2018 for the all-suite Sea Spirit begin at $4,660 per person if three people share a spacious Triple Suite. This rate applies to a June 27-July 5, 2018, West Spitsbergen & Polar Ice Edge/ Searching for Polar Bears adventure. This same suite for three with the early booking discount brings a Nov. 26-Dec.7, 2018, Antarctic Peninsula tour to just $7,564 per person. Double occupancy rates for these departures begin at $6,596 and $10,204, respectively.

Sea Spirit offers all-suite accommodations ranging from 215 to 463 square feet (20-43 square meters). There are two multi-purpose lounges for educational programming and entertainment, a restaurant that can accommodate all passengers in one seating, a well-stocked polar library, and ample outdoor deck space to enjoy the polar landscapes and wildlife.

Activities both on and off the ship are directed by a team of experienced, bilingual polar guides, scientists and educators. Guests are offered many opportunities to venture from the ship. Shore landings provide the chance to explore and to partake in guide-led interpretive walks and photography workshops. Sea kayaking and Zodiac cruising are offered in both polar regions and camping can be arranged in Antarctica. The ship’s expedition staff-to-passenger ratio of 1:9 is one of the most generous in the business.

Travelers bound for the Antarctic Peninsula embark from Ushuaia, the southernmost tip of Argentina. Other destinations in this region of the Southern Ocean include the Falklands and South Georgia Island, once a whaling center and the final resting place of legendary explorer Earnest Shackleton. Icons of the area are penguins, seals, sea lions, whales and birdlife, including albatross.

Arctic-bound cruises include a focus on the region’s wildlife – walrus, polar bears, reindeer, arctic fox, whales and birdlife – as well as delving into the history of polar exploration more than 100 years ago. Early summer travelers will come face-to-face with the contemporary culture of the Intuit and the echoes of the past visits of Vikings. In this shifting landscape of sea ice and icebergs, the Northern Lights are always a possibility on late summer departures.

The next frontier in polar expedition cruising is the High Arctic region known as the Franz Josef Land Archipelago. Few visitors have ventured here and because of multi-year sea ice, access by ship is possible only a few weeks each summer. Poseidon Expeditions is the only company offering dedicated cruises from Longyearbyen, Svalbard to this archipelago of 191 uninhabited, volcanic, mostly glaciated islands that since 2012 are part of the Russian Arctic National Park. The seal industry drove the first explorers here in the mid-1800s. They were followed by others searching for the North Pole.

Poseidon Expeditions offers cruises to the Antarctic October through February.

The complete 2018-19 Arctic and Antarctic schedules, rates and special offers can be found at https://poseidonexpeditions.com/. A new 80-page catalog detailing the company’s ships and activities is also available, and can be requested online or through any of the Poseidon Expeditions offices.

For inquires and reservations in North America, or to request a catalog, agents can contact the company’s Providence, RI, sales and reservation office at [email protected] or by telephone at 347-801-2610.

With offices in the US, UK, Germany, Russia and China, Poseidon Expeditions is a leading provider of polar expeditions in the cruise industry. In addition to the Sea Spirit, the company provides guests with the unique opportunity to travel to the geographic North Pole aboard the 50 Years of Victory, the largest and most modern nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world. Fourteen-day, top-of-the-world programs are scheduled for both the 2017 and 2018 summer seasons. The company is committed to safe and environmentally responsible polar travel. It is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO).

Follow Poseidon Expeditions on Social Media:
Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/poseidonexpeditions
Twitter:           https://twitter.com/poseidonexp
YouTube:       https://www.youtube.com/user/pxpeditions
Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/poseidonexpeditions/
Website          http://poseidonexpeditions.com/
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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, Conservation, ecotourism, Endangered Places, Environmental Activism

Hurry: 7 Places to Visit While You Still Can

See Greenland with Big Chill Adventures (photo by Mindy Cambiar).

The world’s warming climate, rising sea levels, booming development and changing political landscape have the potential to impact travel in the not-too-distant future. Here are seven trips highlighting natural wonders, wildlife and cultures to see while you still can.

  1. Antarctica: Major ices shelves along the Antarctic Peninsula have broken apart, retreated or lost volume in recent decades, and the trend continues today with a crack in the Larsen C shelf growing this year. Book a cruise with Adventure Life and use the ship as your base as you explore the peninsula on kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, camping and Zodiac excursions.
  2. Greenland: Greenland’s ice sheet is one of the largest contributors to sea level rise around the globe and the country experienced its highest average summer temperature on record and an early melt last year. With Big Chill Adventures, you can see calving glaciers, giant icebergs and Arctic landscapes accompanied by geologist and glaciologist Sarah Aciego and professional photographer Mindy Cambiar.
  3. Cuba: Travel restrictions between the United States and Cuba have eased recently with the first regularly scheduled flights between the countries, but the 2016 election brought several tourism-related questions. On this cruise, meet Cubans in person and see the historic architecture of Old Havana and the island’s natural wonders.
  4. Alaska: Several Canadian copper and gold mines are in operation, being explored or under review for approval, and their tailings pose a hazard in the headwaters of Alaska’s major salmon rivers. Book a trip to an Alaskan fishing lodge with Frontiers for a chance to cast for the five main species of Pacific salmon, plus trout, grayling, char and more.
  5. Rwanda: A study released this year shows that 75 percent of primate species have shrinking populations and 60 percent are threatened with extinction, with their decline being attributed to hunting, farming, ranching, logging, mining and oil drilling. Encounter some of the last remaining mountain gorillas, as well as chimpanzees and golden monkeys, on a trek in the forests of Rwanda with Gondwana Ecotours.
  6. Russia: Russia’s Lake Baikal holds about 20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater – making it the largest freshwater lake by volume – but it faces threats from pollution and hydroelectric projects. With MIR Corporation, travelers can see the lake by train and boat, and also visit the Gobi Desert to the south in Mongolia.
  7. Solomon Islands: Research published last year showed that rising sea levels resulted in the disappearance of five of the Solomon Islands, while erosion on others has forced the relocation of villages. Visit secluded bays and remote beaches, snorkel coral reefs and meet villagers in the Solomons and other nearby archipelagos by booking a cruise with Adventure Life.

 

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Arctic/Antarctic Travel, cruises, expeditionary cruises, small ship cruising

AdventureSmith Explorations to Sail New 100-Passenger National Geographic Quest in Alaska for 2017

The National Geographic Quest will be outfitted with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment and Zodiacs, all geared to get guests out and into the wild, remote places being explored.
The National Geographic Quest will be outfitted with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment and Zodiacs, all geared to get guests out and into the wild, remote places being explored.

TAHOE CITY, CA– Alaska continues to be one of the world’s hottest destinations for small ship cruising. Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations has seen the growth firsthand and now recommends that plans need to be secured by early December 2016 to get the best choice of ships, cabins and itineraries for summer 2017.

“Last year the most popular high-season trips were sold out earlier than we had ever experienced. By January more than half of the summer departures were fully booked or had very limited availability,” said Todd Smith, founder and director of AdventureSmith Explorations (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/).

This booking strategy should give early birds certain advantages while securing a cabin on a brand-new, 100-passenger expedition ship being introduced to Alaska next summer. This is Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Quest, set to launch June 26, 2017, on a Seattle-to-Sitka itinerary exploring the coast of British Columbia and into Alaska’s Inside Passage. The nature-intensive 15-day cruise starts at $9,390 per person double.

National Geographic Quest will then spend the summer exploring the coves and fjords between Sitka, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau and Petersburg on Lindblad’s classic Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness route, an eight-day adventure also sailed by the 62-guest National Geographic Sea Lion, with rates starting at $5,890 per person double.

National Geographic Quest will be the most modern and spacious expedition vessel cruising Alaskan waters. The ship features roomy (135 to 185-square feet), outside-facing cabins, 22 with small balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Eight cabins can be configured into four adjoining cabins for families. Some cabins can accommodate a third guest. The ship will be outfitted with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment and Zodiacs, all of which are geared to get guests out and into the wild, remote places being explored. Also aboard is state-of-the-art expedition technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video microscope, and a hydrophone and bow-cam designed for immediate deployment to hear and film, for instance, humpback whale vocalizations and to view bow-riding dolphins.

Following the Alaska season, the ship will remain in the Pacific Northwest for a series of new voyages between Seattle and Vancouver, with stops in the San Juan Islands, Victoria, Alert Bay and more far-reaching stops in British Columbia’s channels and fjords. Beginning in December 2017, National Geographic Quest will reposition and operate voyages in Costa Rica and Panama before kicking off a series of new voyages in Belize and Guatemala starting in February 2018.

With the introduction of National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird will fly away to two new itineraries. Wild Alaska Escape is a six-day cruise designed to pair with a land trip that includes river rafting and biking options unique to a cruise program. The action takes place in wild, pristine Alaska for those with limited time but with an unlimited sense of adventure. Included are iconic wildlife, epic landscapes and the ancient Chilkat Tlingit village of Klukwan. In Haines, “Adventure Capital of Alaska,” guests have a three-hour bicycling trip around a stunning glacial lake, half-day hikes up a few of the region’s most dramatic mountains or, for the most fit, a trek up Mt. Riley. Others may choose to float down the Chilkat River through an area rich with native tradition and sporting the largest congregation of bald eagles in the world. In more remote stretches of the voyage come guided, point-to-point kayak trips with the ship as moving basecamp. Or, in expedition landing craft, guests may zip around sculpted icebergs or land on remote beaches for hikes in dense and dramatic Tongass National Forest. Rates begin at $4,290 per person, double. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/wild-alaska-escape-cruise-national-geographic-sea-bird.

Big Picture Alaska, an 11-day program crafted by National Geographic photographers, targets camera buffs. The trip spans the full north-south expanse of Alaska’s Inside Passage. The immersive, wide-ranging photo expedition takes Lindblad’s wildly popular week-long expedition and expands it, adding in the striking Misty Fiords at the lowest reaches of Alaska’s Inside Passage and Haines, in the northernmost corner. It’s the perfect mix of small-town life and the grand expanse of the wild landscape that surrounds it. Guests raft though the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, explore Glacier Bay National Park, search for humpback whales with time in a popular feeding area called Clarence Strait, kayak amid glacial ice, hike the Tongass National Forest and learn about the region’s rich Tlingit heritage while shooting with the expertise of an industry-leading expedition photography team of Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructors and National Geographic photographers. Rates begin at $8,990 per person, double. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/big-picture-alaska-cruise-photography-national-geographic.

AdventureSmith Explorations also notes new offerings in Prince William Sound thanks to the 12-guest Dream Catcher. The seven-day Prince William Sound Dream Catcher cruise is from $5,775 per person double. Getting up close and personal with icebergs and sea otters is just the beginning of the fun. There are set departures in addition to possibilities to charter this small ship. See: https://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/prince-william-sound-dream-catcher.

For information on all of AdventureSmith’s small ship cruises worldwide, itineraries, availability and reservations, Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or visit http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/.
 

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Adventure Travel, Antarctica, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, ecotourism, Expeditionary Travel, experiential travel

From Silk Road to Antarctica, 5 ‘In the Footsteps of Explorers’ Routes You Can Follow

Join Big Chill Adventures on a trip designed to highlight Greenland and follow in the footsteps of Hans Poulsen Egede, a Dano-Norwegian Lutheran missionary (photo by M Cambiar).
Join Big Chill Adventures on a trip designed to highlight Greenland and follow in the footsteps of Hans Poulsen Egede, a Dano-Norwegian Lutheran missionary (photo by M Cambiar).

There are not as many undiscovered places as there used to be, but following in the footsteps of some of the great explorers is a fantastic way to discover a new adventure. From the Silk Road to the seas of the Antarctica, here are five historical routes that you can follow today.

  1. Shackleton’s Footsteps– Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton was a polar explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic, and one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. With shipping restricted by impenetrable pack ice to just two brief months each austral summer, few people have ever visited the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. Join Adventure Life on a 30-day voyage, helmed by skillful sailors and knowledgeable guides, to experience nature on a scale so grand there are no words to describe it. http://www.adventure-life.com/new-zealand/cruises/2961/in-the-wake-of-scott-shackleton
  1. Greenland Explorer– Hans Poulsen Egede was a Dano-Norwegian Lutheran missionary is credited with revitalizing Dano-Norwegian interest in Greenland after contact had been broken for hundreds of years. Join Big Chill Adventures on a trip designed to highlight all that Greenland has to offer, including calving glaciers, palatial icebergs, dogsledding, hut camping with Inuit people, wildlife viewing, a speed boat tour of the fjords surrounding Nuuk, kayaking amongst icebergs, mountain biking primitive trails, and helicoptering to a supra glacial lake. http://bigchilladventure.com/trips/greenland-june-2017/
  1. Follow the Silk Road– Marco Polo is probably the most famous Westerner who traveled the Silk Road. Silk, spices, teas, precious metals and jewels, carefully lashed to pack camels, once made their way from one world to another along this route. Visit Kashgar, one of the most exotic cities in the world, skirt the infamous Taklamakan Desert on camelback, and admire the breathtaking views across 12,000-foot Torugart Pass on MIR Corporation’s most comprehensive Silk Road offering. http://www.mircorp.com/trip/chinese-turkestan-central-asia/
  1. Visit Amazon Tribe– Despite the fact that indigenous people had been living in the Amazon for at least 10,000 years; the Amazon River was “discovered” by a Spanish explorer and conquistador, Don Francisco de Orellana. Gondwana EcoTours offers a 10-day tour of Ecuador that visits the Achuar, a tribe of 6,000 indigenous people still living traditionally in small Amazon communities along the Ecuadorian and Peruvian border. http://gondwanaecotours.com/tour/amazon-rainforest-ecotour/
  1. Hannibal Expedition– Hannibal led the military forces of Carthage that fought against Rome in the Second Punic War. Join Ride & Seek on a ride of historical proportions cycling in the footsteps of Hannibal from Barcelona to Rome. Biking some of Europe’s most iconic and picturesque touring routes through Spain, France and Italy, this epic journey has it all. Traverse some of the iconic climbs of the Grand Tours, roll through the vineyards of the Languedoc, Provence, Piedmont and Tuscany, and sample the delights of the diverse gastronomy to be found along the route. http://www.rideandseek.com/epic/hannibal 

 

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