On this 20-day journey from Anchorage to Tokyo you will cruise through the Bering Strait, past the Aleutians to the Kamchatka coast, and on through the wildlife rich, volcanically active Kuril Islands to Japan’s northern islands of Hokkaido and Honshu. The sheer number of live volcanoes around this area of the Pacific rim has earned this route the reputation of the Ring of Fire. The Aleutian Islands – a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands and 57 volcanoes – form an arc in the northern Pacific Ocean extending west towards the Kamchatka Peninsula. Within this arc, the Shumagin Islands are the most north easterly and you will visit Unga, the largest island of the group. Although human sightings here are rare (the island was abandoned in 1969) wildlife is abundant with Arctic Fox, Bald Eagles and Fur Seals. At Kiska, occupied by Japanese forces for over a year during the Second World War, you will see one of the finest well-preserved harbours in the Aleutians. Also uninhabited, the island is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Keep an eye out for large colonies of protected seabirds and marine mammals. Attu is the most remote of the Aleutian Islands; pristine and peaceful, this bird watcher's paradise is home to hundreds of species including Brambling, Tufted Duck and Siberian Rubythroat. Subject to permissions, the plan is to anchor off Bering Island to show you the large populations of Tufted Puffin, Russian Sea Otters, Arctic Fox and Northern Fur Seals. On the Kamchatka Peninsula you will explore Petropavlovsk, one of the oldest settlements of the Russian Far East established in 1740. With the volcanoes of Avacha and Koryak to the north and majestic Avacha Bay to the south, you have plenty of time to enjoy the city’s natural beauty. A certain air of mystery surrounds the Kurils, an arc of more than 20 volcanic islands stretching from Kamchatka to Japan. These isolated and seldom-visited islands with their dramatic landscapes and smoking volcanoes are largely uninhabited. Many are havens for birds and marine mammals including the world’s largest population of Steller’s Sea Eagles, Brown Bears, Fur Seals, Sea Otters and Grey Whales. Asian Rosy Finches, Peregrine Falcons and Whiskered Auklets will appeal to the bird watchers. On arrival in Japan, your first stop will be Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, to see the Sacred Red-Crowned Crane, Yezo Deer and Sakhalin Taimen, the world’s most ancient species of salmon. You sail through the spectacular bay of Matsushima featuring 250 tiny islands blanketed in pine trees. A dramatic monument to natural forces, Matsushima has earned recognition as one of Japan’s Three Great Sights. Your journey ends in Kobe. The Ring of Fire A breathtaking expedition to the islands of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ – one of the most geologically active and visually dramatic parts of the world. S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com Itinerary Day 1. Arrive in Anchorage and overnight in hotel Day 2. Anchorage to Whittier and embark Day 3. Kodiak Day 4. Shumagin Islands Day 5. Dutch Harbour Day 6. At sea Days 7 & 8. Aleutian Islands Day 9. Cross the international date line/Bering Island Day 10. Petropavlovsk Days 11 to 14. Kuril Islands Day 15. Kushiro, Japan Day 16. Matsushima Day 17. At sea Day 18. Toba Day 19. Kobe and disembark Day 20. Return home Vessel Spirit of Oceanus (see Vessel pages for more details). Things you need to know Embark Anchorage, Alaska Disembark Kobe, Japan Voyage nights 17 nights Departure dates 13 Sep to 3 Oct Price From £3,395 in a triple share cabin From £3,895 in a twin share cabin Single supplement On request. If you are travelling alone ask about our request share programme which enables solo travellers to share a cabin with another solo traveller. What’s included Pre-cruise hotel night in Anchorage, post-cruise hotel night in Kobe, voyage including guided shore & zodiac excursions, all meals onboard & transfers. Guide price for flight package Around £850 including return flights from the UK. 191

Few places have stirred the hearts and minds of explorers more than the North Pole. It was not until 1926 that the pole first had a confirmed sighting and not until 1948 that anyone actually stood there – precisely what you could do on this extraordinary voyage. We are offering a choice of 15 or 16-day expeditions to the North Pole, sailing out of Murmansk, the home port of the Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet, onboard the Yamal, one of the world’s most powerful icebreakers. This extraordinary vessel has the power needed to negotiate the challenging ice conditions to push northwards through the dense Arctic pack ice to reach the ultimate goal of 90° North. Your journey to the Pole will take you through an ever-changing panorama of wind-polished ice up to five metres thick, narrow channels of dark green water and aquamarine pools scattered across the frozen sea. Along the way, in this stunning setting of ice and snow, you will expect to encounter a variety of Arctic wildlife such as Polar Bears, Walrus and Ivory Gulls. Sightseeing on one of the ship’s helicopters will provide you with unique aerial views of the icebreaker crushing through the Arctic Ocean pack ice. On reaching the Pole you will join a rare and select group: those that can truly say they have stood at the top of the world. There will be time for a hike on the expansive ice; you can literally walk around the world in under a minute! From the North Pole, the ship heads south towards Franz Josef Land, a remote archipelago of volcanic mountains with numerous colonies of seabirds. You will visit historic sights of early exploration, including Cape Norway where Norwegian explorers, Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen spent the winter of 1896-97 after a bold attempt to reach the North Pole. Depending on visibility, the helicopters will transfer you to one of the flat-topped islands that comprise the archipelago. Then it is back across the Barents Sea to Murmansk, where your amazing voyage ends. The North Pole This incredible journey aims to give you the opportunity to stand at 90° North, the top of the world – on the very same spot that the early explorers struggled to reach. F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982 Itinerary Day 1. Helsinki, Finland Day 2. Flight to Murmansk and embark Days 3 to 7. Northbound on the Arctic Ocean Day 8. North Pole Days 9 to 11. Southbound - the Arctic Ocean Day 12. Franz Josef Land Day 13 & 14. Barents Sea Day 15. Murmansk and disembark Flight to Helsinki Day 16. Helsinki Vessel Yamal (see Vessel pages for more details). Things you need to know Embark Murmansk, Russia Disembark Murmansk, Russia Voyage nights 13 or 14 nights Departure dates 23 Jun to 8 Jul, 6 to 21 Jul, 19 Jul to 4 Aug Price From £13,395 in a twin share cabin Single supplement On request. If you are travelling alone ask about our request share programme which enables solo travellers to share a cabin with another solo traveller. What’s included Two nights hotel accommodation in Helsinki, return charter air between Helsinki & Murmansk, voyage including guided shore, helicopter & zodiac excursions, all meals onboard & transfers. Guide price for flight package Around £250 including return flights from the UK. 192