Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Experiences you'll have
The voyage to Wrangel Island will start in Anadyr and take place on an ice-class expedition vessel. You will land on uninhabited islands and the wild coast of the Chukchi Peninsula. On zodiac boats, you will approach coastal cliffs where thousands of seabirds nest. The program includes visits to several historical monuments and the settlement of the region's indigenous peoples, Chukchi and Yupik.
You will spend 3 days on the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve territory. In addition to polar bears, you can also see walruses, musk oxen, gray and humpback whales, Arctic foxes, white owls, and rare white geese.
Lectures from experts on the history, culture, geology, unique fauna, and flora of the Arctic islands await you on board.
Highlights of the expedition:
The cost of the cruise depends on the selected cabin type. See details in the Accommodation section.
First-hand Experience: read our colleague's journey review in our blog →
Itinerary
The journey begins in Anadyr, where you should get to on your own. We are ready to help with the purchase of tickets. If necessary, leave a comment in the application.
This is a general plan of the expedition, the route may vary depending on the weather and ice conditions.
Day 1 Embarkation in Anadyr, Chukotka
After picking up at the airport you will be taken to the port of Anadyr. Once you are accommodated on the vessel, you will be invited to lunch and then have a safety briefing. You will get acquainted with the crew and the expedition team and then head out to the open sea. In Anadyr Bay, you will have the opportunity to observe beluga whales.
Day 2 Providence Bay
After a long passage through Anadyr Bay, the ship will enter Providence Bay. Here, you will see many tight bays surrounded by dark hills that reach 800 m in height, sometimes covered with snow. This is one of the most beautiful places on the Chukotka coast. The narrow bay stretches for 34 km, forming a unique and mysterious coastline due to the harsh climate and frequent fogs.
Day 3 Yttigran Island and Gilmimyl Bay
You will continue along the southeastern tip of the Chukchi Peninsula.
During the landing on Yttigran Island, you will see a unique monument of ancient Yupik culture called Whale Alley. It is a sanctuary made of bowhead whales' bones buried in the ground, believed to have been created no later than the 16th century.
In Gilmimyl Bay, you will walk along the blooming tundra and have the opportunity to bathe in hot springs. Afterward, you will return to the boat and cross to Pankigney Bay. Here, you will go on zodiac boats for encounters with gray and bowhead whales.
Then, a sea crossing to the village of Yanrakynnot awaits you. The village is located on a hill on the shore of Senyavin Strait. In the vicinity of the village, you will see the Whale Cemetery, which is a monument to traditional Chukchi whaling.
Day 4 Dezhnev Cape and Uelen village
Today, you will reach the easternmost point of continental Russia and Eurasia, Dezhnev Cape. From here, the mainland point of North America is only 86 km away. In good weather, you can even see the shores of the neighboring continent.
You will visit the Semyon Dezhnev monument and the lighthouse. Dezhnev Cape and the actual tip of Eurasia are 12 km away from the monument. Like the explorer Dezhnyov in 1648, you will not be able to land there due to a steep wall at that point.
Then, you will go to the Uelen village, the easternmost settlement in Eurasia and the largest center of traditional bone-carving art of the peoples of the North. You will visit the first bone-carving workshop in Chukotka, founded in 1931, and then taste local delicacies such as fish, caviar, whale, and walrus meat.
Day 5 Kolyuchin Island
Continuing along the Chukchi Sea, you will land on the tiny Kolyuchin Island, with an area of only 8 km². Here, you will see the remains of the Russian meteorological station, which was located on the island until 1992. Next to the abandoned buildings, one of the most spectacular bird colonies in the Arctic is found, where hatchets, kaira, and gulls nest. There are also polar bears living on Kolyuchin.
Days 6-7 Wrangel Island
For these 2 days, you will spend time in the protected area of Wrangel Island. Several landings on the shore are possible if the weather is favorable. You will get acquainted with the unique wildlife of the Arctic, including polar bears, walruses, musk oxen, Arctic birds, and the fantastic northern landscapes.
The natural complex of the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The density of polar bear dens here is the highest in the world, and more than 50 species of birds nest on this island. In the adjacent waters, you can find beluga whales, gray whales, and bowhead whales.
Wrangel Island is also home to more than 400 species and subspecies of plants, more than any other Arctic island. Approximately 40 species and subspecies of plants, insects, birds, and animals found here are unique to this island and are not found anywhere else in the world.
Day 8 Herald Island
Today, you will continue exploring the territory of the reserve. If the ice conditions are favorable, you will have the opportunity to approach Herald Island, located 40 km east of Wrangel. The island has high shores, which makes landings inconvenient, but from the expedition boat, you will be able to observe bird colonies and take photos of polar bears.
Day 9 Kolyuchin Bay
The ship will approach the coast of the Chukchi Sea. You will take zodiac boat trips on the rocky shores of Kolyuchin Bay to the places where whales, walruses, and other animals are most likely to be seen. You can also observe a variety of Arctic birds here.
Day 10 Bering Strait and Ratmanov Island
After rounding Dezhnev Cape, the ship will head towards the center of the Bering Strait. You will land on Ratmanov Island, the easternmost island of Russia, which neighbors the American Kruzenshtern Island. A date line passes between the islands, which is why they are called "Tomorrow Island" and "Yesterday Island."
Day 11 Lorino village
After returning to the coast of Chukotka, the ship will stop at Lorino village, the capital of Russian whaling. Only native peoples of the North are allowed to harvest whales in these waters. Not far from the village, you will be able to visit Lorino hot springs.
Day 12 Fishing on Achchyon Lake
Today, you can leisurely fish on Achchyon Lake, which is separated from Anadyr Bay by a narrow flat spit. For lunch, you will be served soup made from the fish you have caught, and then you will have a rest on the shore by the fire.
Day 13 Returning to Anadyr
Early in the morning, the ship will arrive at the port of Anadyr. You will be transferred to your hotel or the airport for your return flights.
Accommodation during the trip
Your voyage will take place on the expedition ice class vessel "Professor Khromov".
The vessel is specially equipped for navigation in places where passage of larger vessels is impossible. The ice class of the vessel allows cruising in polar regions.
Facilities on board: bar, restaurant, lounge, library with a collection of thematic literature, lecture hall, sauna. Access to the navigation bridge, wildlife, and marine life viewing from open decks.
Rates depend on the type of cabin:
The price is per person with double occupancy in a cabin.
Cabins Description:
Triple (12 sq.m.) three lower and one upper berth, porthole, desk, closet, bedside tables, washbasin. The toilet and shower are on the deck.
Double (12 sq.m.): two lower bunks, sofa, porthole, desk, closet, bedside tables, washbasin. The toilet and shower are on the deck.
Superior (12 sq.m.): upper and lower berth, sofa, window, desk, closet, bedside tables, shower, toilet, and washbasin.
Superior Plus (12 sq.m.): two lower berths, sofa, window, desk, closet, bedside tables, shower, toilet, and washbasin.
Mini Suite (18 sq.m.): bedroom with double bed, living room with single bed, windows, TV, desk, closet, bedside tables, shower, toilet, and washbasin.
Owner's Suite (27 sq.m.): double bedroom, living room with single bed, sofa, TV, fridge, closet, windows on the bow and sides of the ship, shower, toilet, and washbasin.
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Common questions
The crew of the ship is Russian-speaking, there are both Russian and English speaking guides.
Three meals a day on board the ship: a buffet for breakfast, a hot meal, salad and dessert for lunch, a hot meal, vegetables and dessert for dinner. Alcoholic beverages are available for dinner.
The chefs will be able to prepare meals according to your diet, if necessary, please let us know in advance.
When choosing clothing and footwear, take into account the peculiarities of the Arctic region. Temperatures can drop below freezing at the northern points of the route. Sometimes there are no landings on the shore and the boats go along the shore.
Keep in mind that it can be very windy on the coast, this adds to the temperature effect. There will be splashing on the boat even in small waves, so clothing should be waterproof and windproof. The main heat loss occurs through the head, arms, and legs – pay maximum attention to these places. We recommend taking a camping seat with you. Don't forget about equipment: you need a waterproof case for shooting in rain and drizzle.
Clothing: warm pants, waterproof pants, thermal underwear, sweater, turtleneck, wool hat covering ears, balaclava/scarf, warm socks, waterproof hooded jacket. You can bring dressy clothes for the farewell party (heeled shoes are not recommended).
Footwear: trekking boots (not compulsory, but recommended for long walks on the shore). If you prefer trekking boots to rubber boots, you should bring them with you in your backpack and change them on the shore. Boots with grooved soles will give you the most stable footing. Rubber boots are also necessary, but they can be given free of charge on the first day of the cruise. It is important to bring warm insoles with you. If you plan to bring your boots, they should be mid-calf height or higher with thick ribbed non-slip soles. Some landings will require stepping into water up to 25 centimeters deep. It can also be quite slippery on the ice and on the shore. Make sure the boots fit comfortably with a wool sock. You will also need sandals, sneakers, or any other comfortable shoes for the ship, and flip-flops for the shower.
Other: a small backpack for landings (preferably waterproof), warm and waterproof gloves, sunglasses, cream (in windy weather preferably greasy nourishing), lipstick, binoculars, earplugs, swimsuit (for baths, hot springs, and optional bathing in the ocean), towel.
Documents: passport, boarding pass (issued in advance or mailed), airplane ticket, copy of insurance.
Purchasing this cruise will give you a 5% discount on all future journeys with RussiaDiscovery.
Expedition to Wrangel Island
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