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

This 9-day voyage offers the opportunity to see Alaska’s wildlife in all its splendour: from Humpback Whales and Stellar’s Sealions to Harbour Seals, Orcas and Pacific White-sided Dolphins. You will also enjoy the exclusive privilege of a full day in Glacier Park. Declared by many to be the most extraordinary and untouched place in the world, Glacier Bay enjoys the highly protected status of a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Make sure you are out on deck to admire the 5,000 metre peak of Mount Fairweather, the steepest climb from sea level in the world, and to take in the Park’s amazing wildlife. Black-legged Kittiwakes and Puffins swoop above the barking haul-outs of Steller’s Sea Lions; Brown and Black Bears are seen foraging along the shoreline; whilst Harbour Seals, Sea Otters and Humpback Whales all call Glacier Bay their summer home. Sailing through some of the richest whale waters in all of South-east Alaska the whale watching is fantastic! Nutrient-rich waters flow into Icy Strait (the stretch of water that separates Chichagof Island and Glacier Bay) creating perfect conditions for feeding Humpback Whales as well as seals, sealions and porpoises. Vigilant whale watchers may well see Orcas too. To give you a taste of life in this wild and offthe- beaten-track part of the world, you call at one of the small Alaskan villages where ‘traffic’ certainly takes on a whole new meaning! Your small ship easily navigates the delicate passage through Sergius Narrows to reach Sitka, the city known as ‘the jewel of the Inside Passage’. The peaceful setting alone is breathtaking and you will have time to stroll amongst the totems at the beautiful Sitka National Historic Park. The narrow fjords of Tracy Arm are considered by many to be the most spectacular site in Alaska. Sheer cliffs rise thousands of metres up to snow-capped peaks, their sides studded with stunning waterfalls. And then, of course, there's the ice. Conditions permitting, you will zodiac cruise along the shorelines amid ice calved from ancient glaciers. For keen photographers, two departures have been identified as specific ‘Photographer’s Voyages’ – 23 May and 4 July 2008. These two voyages will operate on the Spirit of Discovery. You may want to book early as these small ships fill quickly! Alaska’s Whales & Wilderness On this round trip voyage from Juneau, you cruise deep into the wilderness of Alaska's Inside Passage basking in a peaceful sanctuary where wildlife abounds and people are few. S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com Itinerary Day 1. Juneau Day 2. Embark in Juneau Days 3. Icy Srait Days 4 & 5. Glacier Bay Day 6. Sitka Day 7. Frederick Sound Day 8. Tracy Arm Day 9. Juneau and disembark Vessel Spirit of Alaska (see Vessel pages for more details). Things you need to know Embark Juneau, Alaska Disembark Juneau, Alaska Voyage nights 8 nights Departure dates Mondays, from 19 May to 18 August Price From £2,150 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 Juneau, voyage including guided shore & zodiac excursions, all meals onboard & transfers. Guide price for flight package Around £950 including return flights from the UK. 193