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| Polar Expeditions | ||
Antarctica Antarctic Peninsula Arctic Oban, Faroes & Jan Mayen to Spitsbergen Polar Sailing Expeditions Arctic Sailing in the Lofoten Islands Polar Sub Aqua-Firma Arctic Spitsbergen Diving, Wildlife & Marine Life Expedition Antarctic Peninsula Diving & Photography Expedition |
A voyage on the Polar 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, tail flukes of whales on the horizon or even witness polars bears cruising by on the ice below. The polar regions vast and remote expanse invites easiest access and exploration by water. Your vessel is no longer a means of transport, but your base camp: sustaining and protecting you, whilst at the same time taking you deeper into some of the wildest and most hostile places on the planet. These voyages instil a strong sense of detachment from the routine of modern life. Aqua-Firma's small group Arctic and Antarctic natural history expeditions are based from ice-strengthened oceanographic research vessels or onboard an Arctic-based classic sailing yacht.
Through a series of inspiring lectures and briefings, experienced and enthusiastic natural history guides bring to life the land and seascapes surrounding you. Regular exploratory excursions from the home-base ship allow us to explore the narrow channels, ice cliffs, glaciers and other polar landscapes, all by means of sturdy inflatable zodiacs. Antarctica
Antarctica, one of the World’s last frontiers, is a perfect example of where Water, Wilderness and Wildlife combine with breath-taking perfection. It inspires it visitors with its majestic beauty and dramatic ice scenery. The towering white mountains, sweeping glaciers and icebergs form an unrivalled backdrop for the unique and abundant sea birds and marine mammals which reside here. Fin, Right and Minke whales, Leopard, Ross, Weddell and Crabeater seals are common. Seabirds are abundant and include the Albatross as well as Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguin which make their home on these coastal shores. Arctic 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. 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 abundance and variety of birds. Photographs kindly provided by Jan Belgers, Charlotte Caffrey, Rinnie Van Meurs, Franco Banffi, Malcolm Blake,Troels Jacobsen |
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