Siberia's forgotten Coast: Spirit of Enderby
Russian Far East
This coastline has one of the most diverse assemblages of wildlife and habitats of anywhere of a similar latitude on the globe and virtually no people or visitors to disturb them. One of the most iconic species is the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper that is endemic to the region. This expedition supports Birdlife International with their research into seabirds and waders to monitor potential changes in their populations and distribution due to a variety of reasons including climate change
- Rarely-visited Kamchatka and Siberia Region
- Remote Commander Islands
- Stunning birdlife including Steller’s Eider, Red-necked Phalarope, Parakeet, Crested and Whiskered Auklets and Tufted Puffins.
- Great whale watching opportunities to see Humpback, Sperm, Northern Minke, Orcas and Baird’s Beaked Whales
- Forest and cliff-top walks along remote coasts and deep forested fiords
- Wildlife such as brown bears, Red Fox an
Siberia's eastern coastline is home to several groups of indigenous people, including the Itelmen, Koryak, Even and Chukchi. Fur trappers and sealers plundered the regions natural resources in the name of the Tsar in the early 17th Century. Stalin and subsequent leaders encouraged economic development in this part of the Soviet Union. Soviet towns were built, bonuses were paid to those who would immigrate and work there and attempts were made to collectivise the traditional way of life.
As the iron curtain was drawn and the Cold War escalated, this region became forbidden territory. Travel to and within the area was strictly controlled, the number of military installations increased, early radar warning stations proliferated and Russia's Pacific fleet patrolled the coastline.
This all changed in the early 1990s with Perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Military installations were abandoned, there were mass migrations of workers back west and towns and industries were simply abandoned. As the heavily subsided economy collapsed the indigenous people were forced back to traditional ways of life but permits to travel through the area did become a little easier to obtain.
Twenty five years on, travel through this region is still heavily regulated and virtually impossible for the independent traveller. There is little or no infrastructure, only a few kilometres of road, no hotels apart from in the main towns of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy and Anadyr. These towns have scheduled air services, but access to the rest of the region either by air or sea even for locals is at best ‘unpredictable'.
Throughout its chequered human history its rich natural history has largely gone unnoticed and unknown by the rest of the world. It is an amazing coastline dominated by the volcanoes of Kamchatka in the south, the fiords of what was formally the Koryak region and the rich estuarine areas and tundra of Chukotka.
Undoubtedly one of the most remote and least visited regions of the globe
OverviewThis coastline has one of the most diverse assemblages of wildlife and habitats of anywhere of a similar latitude on the globe and virtually no people or visitors to disturb them. One of the most iconic species is the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper that is endemic to the region. This expedition supports Birdlife International with their research into seabirds and waders to monitor potential changes in their populations and distribution due to a variety of reasons including climate change.
Expedition Vessel: M/V Spirit of Enderby
The Spirit of Enderby is a fully ice-strengthened expedition vessel, built in 1984 for polar and oceanographic research and is perfect for Expedition cruising. She carries just 50 passengers and was refurbished in March 2012 to provide comfortable accommodation in twin share cabins, approximately half of which have private facilities. All cabins have outside windows or portholes and ample storage space. On board there is a combined bar/library lounge area and a dedicated lecture room. The cuisine is excellent and is prepared by top New Zealand and Australian chefs. The real focus and emphasis of every expedition is getting you ashore as often as possible for as long as possible with maximum safety and comfort. Expeditions are accompanied by some of the most experienced naturalists and guides, who have devoted a lifetime to field research in the areas that we visit. The ship is crewed by a very enthusiastic and most experienced Russian Captain and crew.
- Pre/post cruise transfers
- On board ship accommodation and meals
- Expedition shore excursions, excluding optional kayaking programme.
- All items of a personal nature: laundry, drinks, gratuities.
- International/domestic flights
- visas and travel insurance.
- Private charter flight Anadyr to Nome (US$1,000)
- Local Payment US$500
- Kayaking Supplement US$1,050
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