Natural History Sailing Voyages
( 7 days £1,165)
( 12 days £2,690)
( 8 days £1,490)
( 16 days £2,950)
Natural History Icebreaker Expeditions
( 10 days £1,795)
( 10 days from £2,490)
8 or 11 days - small group, expert led
( 11 days from £2,935)
( 8 days from £2,300)
( 14 days from £3,290)
Ice Diving & Natural History Expeditions
8 or 11 days - small group, expert led
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A voyage on the waters of the Arctic seas is not one you merely take to reach your destination, but one to savour in itself, giving time and space to remove urban cobwebs and revitalise the mind. From the outset the seascape is both rich and expansive, where one may marvel at the spectacle of dolphin acrobatics at the bow, view tail flukes of whales on the horizon or witness polars bears cruise by on the ice below.
The Arctic's vast and remote expanse, demands access and exploration by water. Your vessel is no longer only a means of transport, but your base camp; sustaining and protecting you, whilst at the same time taking you deeper into one of the wildest and most hostile places on the planet. The Arctic instills a strong sense of detachment from the routine of modern commercial life.
Aqua-Firma provides the opportunity to explore this remote wilderness by your choice of ice-strengthened vessels, or by classic sailing ship. These vessels carry small groups of between 20-84 travellers, providing an intimate and stimulating atmosphere of like minded people. Each vessel however delivers a different experience: The ice-stengthened vessels are bold and powerful, hosting excellent viewing from the bridge, bow and decks throughout its length. One can watch in awe as the vessel deftly moves aside an ice mass equal in size to its own, whilst carving a path through the floes in its way. The sailing ship on the other hand, handsome, comfortable and undoubtedly suited to the challenges of the Arctic, evokes a romance and an expeditionary sense of adventure which comes with moving as one with the nature rather than against it.
All Arctic experiences are enriched by interaction through lectures and discussions with expert naturalists and historians onboard. Every opportunity is made to take zodiac landings to explore the glaciers, icebergs and fjords of this frozen expanse, observe wildlife and visit historic sites.
For the experienced dry-suit diver, the submarine ecosystems of the far north present a wild and undiscovered realm. This is a challenging and ever changing World of blue sculpted ice, Arctic marine wildlife and the chance to dive where few have dived before.
Greenland
Greenland is huge, isolated and difficult to imagine. It is the World’s largest island, magnificent, dramatic and unspoilt by modern human trappings. Home to the largest National Park in the World, the North-East hosts majestic fjord scenery, enormous ice sheets, sweeping glaciers and mountainous icebergs. Its Arctic wildlife includes whales, musk oxen, polar bears and during the Summer months, when the sun rarely sets, a spectacular variety of birds.
Spitsbergen ( Svalbard)
Spitsbergen with its rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers, is a High Arctic archipelago just 600 miles from the North Pole. It is a true wilderness: difficult to reach and hostile to explore. Spitsbergen is amongst the most interesting and exciting of all Arctic destinations, and is home to around 2,000 polar bears as well as walruses, reindeer, arctic fox and huge Arctic seabird colonies. Long daylight hours and ice-free shores facilitate the exploration of the unspoilt natural beauty of this area. Guided by natural history experts, we use well equipped zodiacs to navigate deep inside dramatic fjords and hike across spectacular tundra, dotted with an array of wild flowers, birds and wildlife.
The Lofoten Islands & Northern Norway
The Lofoten Islands form a sweeping arc protruding out from the mainland of north western Norway. The sea here is deep, clear and warmed by the Gulf Stream. The Lofoten Islands emerge high and steep out from sea providing some of the most dramatic coastal scenery anywhere which can only really be appreciated by sailing along this impressive coastline.
The Norwegian mainland close to these islands can be as dramatic as the islands themselves. The whole coast from just south of the Lofotens right up to Europe's northernmost point at Nordkapp, have been identified by the WWF as some of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world and among the most biologically diverse in the Arctic. It is home to some of the world's largest fish stocks, including huge schools of herring which seek winter refuge close to shore and in one or two fjords close to the mainland.
Following close behind are around 500 Killer Whales or Orcas which feed almost exclusively on these herring. October, November and December are the best months to see these spectacular animals - something which we arrange both land-based and aboard a classic sailing ship.
Photographs kindly provided by Troels Jacobsen, Jan Belgers, Tiu Simila, Rolf Stange and Charlotte Caffrey |
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