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VICTORY ADVENTURE EXPEDITIONS HAS BEEN HELPING

CLIENTS ENJOY COLD WATER CRUISES SINCE 1991

Icebreaker Expedition to the North Pole.

It is perhaps the most amazing location on our entire planet. There are no four corners of the World there: the South is all around you and any wind is southern. Over this “Top of the World” stars never rise or set: instead they move around you with the Earth’s rotation. The Polar Star, the beacon of all travelers in the Northern Hemisphere, is invariably in its zenith.

On the way to the Pole we shall come across walruses’, seals and birds’ rookeries. Polar bears might get curious enough to approach the icebreaker to examine it from a very close distance. Sometimes they rise onto their rear paws, coming very close to boards of the ship, when she is standing… It is sort of a Zoo vice versa – with animals studying humans…

Rates are per person in US Dollars, based on double occupancy. The rate of single occupancy is 1.7 times the shared rate.

For any booking before October 31, 2007 you will be granted an “early bird” discount in the amount of $1.000.

Expedition rates include:

• DECK PLAN

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• Two nights at the 5 star hotel Mezhdunarodnaya hotel
  123610, Russia, Moscow, Krasnopresnnskaya nab., 12,
  Tel: (00 7 495) 258-21-22
  (00 7 495) 258-22-22
  Fax: (+7495) 253-20-51; in Moscow with breakfast;
• Airfares Moscow-Murmansk-Moscow;
• Group transfers between the airport, ship and airport (from 15 passengers);
• Luggage transfer between the airport and the ship;
• Voyage aboard the vessel "Yamal" as indicated in the itinerary;
• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by "Zodiacs" and helicopters  (as included in planned group excursions);
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and the service of an experienced guide;
• Four meals a day;
• Pre-departure materials and expedition log;
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program;
• Special expedition parka.

Not included:

• Passport and visa expenses (if required);
• Government arrival and departure taxes (if required);
• Meals ashore and supplement for single hotel accommodation (if required);
• LuBaggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended);
• Excess Luggage charges;
• Telecommunication services; laundry, bar and beverage charges aboard the vessel;
• Standard tips at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personal aboard (at your discretion).

Example of Day-by-day Itinerary

The tourists should keep in mind that this is a unique expedition to a remote and very little explored part of the globe. Our sample itineraries should therefore be read as a guide only, depending heavily on weather and ice conditions, as well as on other circumstances. Our aspiration is to reach the “Top of the World”, visiting historic sites and learning wildlife on the way to the North Pole.

Day 1. Moscow

We arrive at the international airport in Moscow. Comfortable buses will take us to 5* star hotel located in the center of the city where we will be able to rest after the flight.

Day 2. Moscow – Murmansk

After a short Moscow city tour, the buses take us to the airport for our 2-hour flight to Murmansk. Upon arrival we are transferred to the icebreaker "Yamal". We sail late in the evening.

Day 3. Barents Sea

Today we head towards the Franz Josef Land archipelago. In the meantime we will be introduced to the ship and the sophisticated technical equipment in the engine room. We will also learn about helicopter operations, and will be instructed how to use safety equipment and the lifeboats. Lifeboat drill is obligatory for every passenger.

Days 4 – 5. Franz Josef Land Archipelago

We cross 80° North latitude and penetrate the remote world of ancient pack ice, towering volcanic mountains, icebergs and glaciers. Discovered only in 1873 by an Austrian expedition aboard the "Tegetthoff", most of the archipelago remains largely unexplored. Our onboard helicopters will afford astonishing views of the area's magnificent landscape.

We plan to call at Calm Bay to view Rubini Rock and its numerous nesting seabird colonies, closely approaching the sheer basalt cliff if conditions permit. Close by is a deserted research station and offshore the enormous fragments of calving glaciers are sometimes seen. We also expect to spot polar bears and walruses, and it is quite surprising that the polar bears often ignore the ship, and even curiously approach it, thus enabling us to take wonderful photos. We might visit Cape Norway where Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen wintered in 1896-1897.

Days 6 – 7. Towards the Pole

Heading due north, the "Yamal" forces its way through thick, multiyear pack ice, riding up on top of several meters of ice that breaks under the ship's tremendous weight. Our expedition is divided into several groups to board the helicopters and watch the operation of our vessel from above. Once a solid piece of ice is found, the ship makes a stop so that we can take a walk on the ice. During these days scientists, travelers, and explorers who have dedicated their lives to this austere world deliver series of interesting lectures on board.

Day 8. North Pole

Today in the evening the expedition expects to reach the geographic North Pole. This time of year the weather is usually mild, with air temperatures of 0 – 1° C (32 – 34° F). As our vessel steadily approaches 90° N, we meet on the bridge of the "Yamal" to celebrate our achievement. Upon reaching our goal, we disembark onto the ice. The crew of the ship prepares for a celebration, including a picnic on the ice, and the most daring take a plunge into the Arctic Ocean. Special communication facilities permit contact with civilization to share our achievement with friends. The celebration is in progress...

Days 9 – 11. Course due South

Our icebreaker moves on, smashing through high ice hummocks and pack ice. We make ice reconnaissance flights and flight-seeing excursions. We may see solid white Ivory gulls, and realize that soon we may view a dark strip of land on the horizon ... On our way back, if the weather and ice conditions permit, we intend to visit some extra sites on the Franz Josef Land archipelago.

Days 12 – 14. Barents Sea

On the way to Murmansk we recall the exciting experience of our wonderful voyage, full of discoveries and adventures. We belong to a selected group of people who have conquered the North Pole. The same day we fly to Moscow and comfortable buses take us to 4-5* hotel in the center of the city.

Day 15. Moscow

Today after breakfast at our hotel the buses take us to the international airport for the flight home.

Please note: read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to weather and ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter.

WE ALSO OFFER THE NORTH POLE FROM HELINSKI WITH

3 DEPARTURES FROM JUNE 23 THROUGH JULY 19 2008

What's Included with the Helinski-North Pole voyage:

The voyage rate includes virtually everything you'll need along the way, plus a lot of unexpected things you are going to enjoy.

* Air transportation from the gateway city to the port of embarkation, as well as your return flight from the port of disembarkation, with the exception of Greenland Odyssey (only the outbound air transport is included).

* Group embarkation transfer from the hotel to the airport; and from the destination airport to the ship. On disembarkation from the ship to the airport; and from the destination airport to the hotel. (Excluding Reykjavik on Greenland Odyssey.)

* Hotel accommodations: 1 night pre-expedition and 1 night post-expedition lodging with breakfast at our conveniently located hotel with the exception of the Greenland Odyssey, which includes only the pre-expedition hotel night. (The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel.)

* All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage, including a complimentary glass of house wine with dinner.

* All shore landings and Zodiac excursions per the daily program.

* All helicopter transfers and aerial sightseeing according to each day's program.

* Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.

* Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.

* Expedition log DVD.

* On Kapitan Khlebnikov, a pair of rubber expedition boots on loan for shore landings.

* An Expeditions parka to keep.

* All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.

Shipboard Policies: Our ships are smoke-free with the exception of some outside decks and designated areas. The helicopter deck and Zodiac decks are smoke-free. There is no smoking in the cabins. You are welcome to visit the Bridge as often as maritime regulations and the safety of the ship permit.

ITINERARY HELINSKI-HELINSKI

Day 1 & 2: Travel over 400 years in one day.
Your voyage starts with an overnight stay in the historic city of Helsinki, Finland founded in 1550. We've included a charter flight from Helsinki to Murmansk, Russia, where you board the ship on Day 2.

Day 3: Magnificent and awe-inspiring. And that's just the ship.
Sailing north on board the mighty Yamal, you'll be able to relax and get to know this legendary icebreaker. It's as sophisticated as it is powerful - 75,000 horsepower drive the very latest in ice breaking technology, and what a sight it is. As you cross the Barents Sea, you'll be engaged on board with presentations on everything Arctic, from wildlife to history to geology. And of course, you'll have many opportunitiesto view the native seabirds and whales as we head north.

Day 4-7: Crossing the Great White Expanse.
Watching Yamal break through the formidable pack ice is a sight you'll never forget. Crashing through ice meters thick with a force reminiscent of a 9.0 earthquake, Yamal can reach up to 12 knots in conditions that would defeat most other ships. It's awe-inspiring. As you travel, take one of the included flights on our helicopters for a fascinating aerial view of your progress.

Day 8: The North Pole. Congratulations. You have arrived.
This is it. For the rest of your life, you'll remember this moment as clearly as you're standing here today. You've joined a rare and select group; those that can truly say they've stood at the top of the world. Reflect on the many adventurers that came before you, giving their lives for the moment you are now experiencing. You'll have time for a hike around the expansive ice; you can literally walk around the world in under a minute.

Day 9 & 10: Now it's just you and the polar bears.
As Yamal takes us back south, stand on the deck and survey the expanse of brilliant blue and white ice that stretches hundreds of kilometers in all directions. Keep an eye out for rare Arctic wildlife, particularly near Franz Josef Land, where polar bear sightings are possible.

Day 11 & 12: A virtually unexplored archipelago.
Franz Josef Land is one of the most recently discovered archipelagos in the world. It was only in the late 1800's that this remote and stunning world of jagged mountains and massive icebergs was found, and even today it remains mostly unexplored. There are 191 islands here, and they are a naturalist's paradise. Polar bears, arctic fox, seals and belugas inhabit the region. Walrus and vast colonies of seabirds abound.

We'll attempt to explore this fascinating coast in our Zodiacs, and enjoy the spectacular glaciers and volcanic plateaus from our helicopters. But remember, this is a remote region. All landings are subject to the cooperation of government and weather.

Day 13-16: The journey ends. But the stories have just begun.
You'll cross the Barents Sea, to Murmansk, where you'll board the included charter flight to Helsinki. At last you can cross the North Pole off your 'things to do in my lifetime' list. You'll be glad you did. Your memories will last a lifetime. And your stories will leave your children and grandchildren speechless.

The Icebreaker “Yamal”

She is one of the most powerful and sophisticated ships in the world. Designed as a working ship for ploughing Russia's sea routes in the north, the "Yamal" can crash through the thickest and heaviest ice. This remarkable vessel combines advanced technology and comfortable passenger accommodation.

The Crew of the “Yamal” consists of 150 persons. Passengers aboard "Yamal" are lodged in 50 outside cabins (i.e., having windows or portholes) and the first class cabins with all conveniences including large portholes, desk, television, etc. Public areas include a large passenger lounge (that can accommodate all passengers at once), restroom, cinema/lecture hall, basketball court, gymnasium, and an indoor swimming pool filled with heated seawater, in addition to a sauna. The Bridge (open almost around the clock) and wide open decks at various levels provide splendid views from the ship. Our vessel is equipped with the most up-to-date satellite navigation system and communication equipment, including a telephone, telex, fax and e-mail. The "Yamal" also has a good library and a small infirmary.

Superb cuisine

Qualified chefs prepare varied international cuisine, and experienced staff attends your needs. The bar has a large supply of alcoholic and soft drinks.

Technical characteristics

Length: 150 m

Breadth: 30 m

Draft: 11 m

Displacement: 23,455 tons

Power plant: Two nulear steam turbines rotating six generators

Total capacity: 75,000 hp

Cruising speed: 19.5 knots

Maximum fuel storage: 4 years approximately

Crew: 150

Passengers: 100

Registry: Russia

The thickness of the hull of the i/b «Yamal» is 48 mm (about 2 inches). The icebreaker is equipped with the best satellite navigation system and satellite communication facilities.

I/b «Yamal» belongs to the Russian government and is operated by Murmansk Shipping Company.

The qualified Expedition Staff, the experienced Captain and the Crew will do everything to make your voyage safe and unforgettable.

Unique excursions

The programs are developed in the way to give to the passengers the maximum information about Arctic regions and the areas we visit. The lecturers will deliver lectures and answer all the questions. Landings are carried out by the Zodiac-type boats and helicopters.

Terms and conditions

Reservations and payment. A deposit of 50% of the cabin rate is required to confirm a reservation with final payment due 90 days prior to departure. All prices and payments are in US dollars and no other currencies can be accepted.

Cancellation and Refunds.  All requests for cancellation must be received in writing. Cancellations received 90 days prior to departure are fully refunded less an administrative fee of 5% of the cabin rate per person. Please note that within the 90 days limit all deposits and tariffs are forfeited.

For these and other reasons mentioned below, you are strongly encouraged to obtain trip cancellation insurance. Prices quoted are based on group participation, and no refunds will be made for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate, including any helicopter flying time (if applicable and which at the discretion of the captain and expedition leader may or may not be utilized). It is understood that refunds cannot be made to the passengers who do not complete the tour for any reason whatsoever.

Itinerary. The itinerary described is subject to change at the discretion of the expedition leader. This is an expedition to a remote and scarcely populated part of the world, and we reserve the right to change the itinerary due to weather conditions, availability of anchorages, political conditions and other factors beyond our control without consulting the participants. It is understood that such decisions will be made in the best interests of all passengers aboard and with regard to the safety of the vessel. Participants have no right to any refund or other considerations in the event of these inevitable itinerary changes. Nothing in this brochure is meant to signify the use of any specific design or model of helicopter.

Responsibility.

Please read this important information carefully. The payment of a deposit of any part or full payment for a reservation on this tour shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein.

Victory Adventure Expeditions Ltd acts as General Sales Agent for the vessel and as such exercise every possible care. However, Victory Adventure Expeditions Ltd , their subsidiaries and/or their associated Agents, shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injury or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any aircraft, helicopter, automobile, bicycle, boat, vehicle, hotel, State carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service provided thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Victory Adventure Expeditions Ltd acts only as agent.

Victory Adventure Expeditions Ltd shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property arising out of any act of war, insurrection, revolt or other civil uprising or military action in the countries of origin, destination or passage. Victory Adventure Expeditions Ltd strongly recommends individual passengers to obtain appropriate insurance coverage. Luggage is at the owner’s risk entirely.

In case of medical problem arising during the voyage, either on board or on shore, which results in costs for evacuation, use of aircraft or repatriation, the responsibility for payment of these costs belongs solely to the passenger. Victory Adventure Expeditions Ltd strongly advises that passengers ensure that such eventualities are covered by travel insurance. If not covered by travel insurance the responsibility still remains with the passenger and Victory Adventure Expeditions Ltd declines any responsibility whatsoever.

The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation company and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger. By accepting a ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions.

Click for info on your Ice Breaker Vessel: i/b Yamal

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On the way to the Pole we shall come across walruses, seals and birds; rookeries. Polar bears might get curious enough to approach the icebreaker to examine it from a very close distance. Sometimes they rise onto their rear paws, coming very close to boards of the ship, when she is standing… It is Zoo vice versa – when animals are studying humans…Remote and difficult to reach, the North Pole has lured generations of explorers on voyages full of adventure and discoveries. It is only at the end of the second millennium that nuclear power has enabled man to reach the top of the world without the dangers faced by earlier voyagers, yet with all the spirit of adventure inherent in their quest. Who knows, maybe at the end of the next millennium earthlings will also easily reach the boundaries of the known universe and return home victorious as ever, every part of our itinerary is thought out in the most careful manner. Although any expedition involves some degree of risk, our ship is certified by all international organizations having regulatory authority for voyages of this type. The crew and attending staff are experienced and qualified for operations in the most challenging ice conditions. Helicopters and Zodiacs, which are essentials of every expedition of ours, meet all conventional requirements. Helicopter pilots have already flown several thousand of hours in the Far North. They are real experts in Polar Aviation. Zodiac drivers are also top-class professionals.

Itineraries of our voyages are never the same. Each new voyage is not alike the previous one. We never stop in our goals, trying to reach and explore newer parts of the Arctic. Every passenger aboard our vessels may take himself/herself as a Polar explorer.

The Yamal breaking ice.

'Pink' ice bergs.

New attainments.

Every one out of our personnel is devoted to the Sea and the Arctic. Highly professional, they are permanent participants of our expeditions for many years, they are eager to share their knowledge with our passengers. Lectures, they conduct, do not look like High School classes: all the information is given to an audience in informal and friendly matter. Beyond any doubt, everyone, having cruised with us, takes home not only good impressions but new attainments also.

Excellent cuisine.

Times, when Polar explorers had to eat dried biscuits and dried meat are over. Our chefs will treat you to the most refined and exquisite courses of International cuisine.

Approximate Itinerary

We arrive to an international airport in Moscow. Comfortable busses take us to 4-5* centrally located hotel of Moscow City.

After short excursion around the City of Moscow, having departed from Moscow's airport, our expedition arrives in Murmansk. From the Murmansk airport we take comfortable buses and are transferred aboard the icebreaker Yamal. We sail in the evening.

Today we head towards the Franz Josef Land archipelago. In the company of the Captain, we will be introduced to the ship and the sophisticated technical equipment in the engine room, as well as to the basic principles of ice navigation and the navigator's job. We will also learn about helicopter operations, and instructed how to use safety equipment and lifeboats. Lifeboat drill is to follow.

We cross 80° north latitude and penetrate the remote world of ancient pack ice, towering volcanic mountains, icebergs and glaciers. Discovered only in 1873 by an Austrian expedition aboard the "Tegetthoff", most of the archipelago remains largely unexplored. Our onboard helicopters will afford astonishing views of the area's magnificent landscape. We plan to call at Calm Bay to view Rubini Rock and its numerous nesting seabird colonies, closely approaching the sheer basalt cliff if conditions permit. Close by is a deserted research station and, offshore, enormous fragments of calving glaciers are sometimes seen. We also expect to spot polar bears and walruses, and it is quite surprising that the polar bears often ignore the ship, and even curiously approach it, thus enabling us to take wonderful photos. We also plan to visit Cape Norway where Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen wintered in 1896-1897.

Heading due north, the "Yamal" forces its way through thick, multiyear pack, riding up on top of several meters of ice that breaks under the ship's tremendous mass. Our expedition is divided into several groups to board the helicopters and watch the operation of our vessel from above. Finding a solid piece of ice, the ship may stop for us to take a walk on the ice. During these days scientists, travelers, and explorers who have dedicated their lives to this austere world deliver a series of interesting lectures.

Today the expedition expects to reach the geographic North Pole. This time of year the weather is usually mild, with air temperatures of 0 - 1° C (32 - 34° F). As our vessel steadily approaches 90° N, we meet on the bridge of the "Yamal" to celebrate our achievement. Upon reaching our goal, we disembark onto the ice. The crew of the ship prepares for a celebration, including a picnic on the ice, and the most daring can take a plunge into the Arctic Ocean. Special communication facilities permit contact with civilization to share our achievement with friends. The celebration is in progress...

Our icebreaker moves on, smashing through high ice hummocks and pack ice. We make ice reconnaissance flights and sight seeing excursions. We may see solid white Ivory gulls, and realize that soon we may view a dark strip of land on the horizon ... On our way back, if the weather and ice conditions permit, we intend to visit some extra places on Franz Josef Land or Novaya Zemlya.

On the way to Murmansk we recall the exciting experience of our wonderful voyage, full of discoveries and adventures. We belong to a select group of people who have conquered this icy realm, the Arctic. The same day we fly to Moscow and comfortable buses will take us to 4-5* hotel in the center of the city.

Today after breakfast at our hotel the buses will take the willing ones for a short shopping at the Arbat Street. After this we shall go to the Farewell Party to be held at the restaurant of Metropol or Savoy Hotel. Having enjoyed the party, we shall take our buses to the international airport for the flight home.

Please note: read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to weather and ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter

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Innovative.

Many developments by these Arctic Voyages experts are singular in its kind and unprecedented in the world tourist practice. The single-minded and professional staff is able to guarantee a successful operation of high-standard voyages.

Educational.

Attending the lectures by expert naturalists you will be able to fully appreciate and feel carried away by the beauties of the rigorous Arctic nature.

Progressive.

Possessing a successful background of Arctic expeditions we do not intend to rest on our laurels. Our experts are engaged in perfection of the existing itineraries, as well as in the development of new exciting itineraries across the boundless expanses of the Arctic regions.

Ecology.

Nowadays the Arctic is one of the last ecologically intact wilderness sanctuaries on our planet. The Arctic's ecological balance, however, is extremely precarious. Under the region's extreme climatic conditions, animal and plant life exists on the verge of their tolerances. Any interference by man in the region must be extremely cautious and carefully considered because the consequences are much more serious than elsewhere. With this in mind, Victory Adventure's Arctic Voyages and MSCO ensure that expeditions are arranged in a way that minimizes disturbance to wildlife and the fragile natural environment of the Arctic. All our expeditions comply with all International ecological requirements and requirements for conservation of natural resources. Our motto is: travel with us and observe. Do not take anything home except pictures, good spirits and wonderful impressions. Do not leave there anything except for part of your hearts.

Standard Cabin	$21 900
Mini Suite	$24 900
Suite	$28 900