OTL12 Franz Josef Land 2012

OTL12

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Map to follow

Day 1 (Aug 21) - Noon, bus Kirkenes to Murmansk. Embark ship in port Murmansk

Day 2 & 3 - At sea

Day 4 - We make a landing on Bell Island, near Eira Lodge, the station of Leigh Smith. Then we sail to Cape Flora on Northbrook Island is an important site in the history of Polar exploration, where a century ago, several expeditions had their base. On the cliffs behind Cape Flora, there are large colonies of Brünnich’s Guillemots. It is an exciting view to witness the young birds when they try to glide from the ledges to the sea and where they are often eaten by Glacous Gulls. In Günther  Bay at Northbrook Island we make a zodiac cruise near an important haul-out place for Walruses.

Day 5 - Rubini Rock in Tichaia Bay on Hooker Island has colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds like Brünnich’s Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Little Auks, Fulmars and Kittiwakes. We should also see Bearded and Harp Seals. We shall also visit the Sedov Research station. Encounters with Polar Bears are likely and also Greenland Whales have been seen in this area.

Day 6 - If sea ice conditions allow in the British Channel, we shall try to sail to Cape Norvegia on Jackson Island, where Nansen and Johansen spent the winter after they had left their ship, "Fram".  

Day 7 - If sea ice conditions are very light we will sail to Rudolf Island, the northernmost island of the archipelago or Apollonia Island, another large haul-out for walruses.
Alternatively we may land at Alexandra Land at an Ivory Gull colony.

Day 8 - Camp Ziegler on Alger Island has remains of polar expeditions from a century ago. The island, in a beautiful setting, is surrounded by mountainous islands with impressive glacier fronts. Krenkl Station on Hayes Island, built around a meteorite crater, is a surrealistic picture against a background of pristine wilderness.

Day 9 - If weather conditions for the home voyage will not be adverse we will try to land in the very early morning at Cape Tegethoff or Wilchzek Island in the south, where we again find the remains of the stations of early polar explorers such as the Austrians, Weyprecht and Payer, who first discovered Franz Joseph Land in the 19th century.

Day 10 & 11 - At sea

Day 12 - Morning, debark ship in port Murmansk (bus to Kirkenes)