Name: Four Arctic Islands: Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, Greenland & Iceland
Brand: Exodus Travels
SKU: N/A
Price: 8671 USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 4.7 (19 reviews)

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Antarctica & the Arctic Tours & Trip Packages

Antarctica & the Arctic

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Antarctica & the Arctic Tour & Trip Reviews | Travelstride

Up there as one of the best experiences of my life - Mother Polar Bears and Cubs. If I had the $ I would do everyone of their trips. As it is I'm saving for the next one. Thank you Arctic Kingdom for your responsible tourism and fabulous adventures!

Arctic Kingdom

Responsible tourism and fabulous adventures!

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What can I say?! The most amazing trip, far exceeding the&nbsp;expectations 
that I had held for a lifetime! Each experience seemed to surpass the last , 
and I hold the memory in my head each day since returning home.
Zodiac cruising on a sublime cloudless day, encircling aquamarine icebergs, 
quietly observing a leopard seal casually lounging on an icefloe. The intense 
colours, the stark white of the ice and snow contrasting with the deepest 
blue ocean. The sound of penguin chatter and raucous calls,&nbsp; the soft 
patter of penguin feet while I sat&nbsp;very still on the beach, listening, 
absorbing and watching the astonishingly beautiful scene before me. Humpback 
whales breaching and the whoosh of the sea as they played out the spectacle. 
Hourglass dolphins accompanying the ship as we approached Cape Horn. 
Listening to the group leader, Shane, reading a short poem about the 
wandering albatross and&nbsp;lost sailors&nbsp; as we approached land at 
Tierra del Fuego.. Sitting with like minded people, conversing about our 
adventure. The feel of the ship under my feet as I stood at the bow, looking, 
watching and looking...


Brilliant! Shane was professional, informative, kindly and always concerned 
for our safety, well being and enjoyment!! Cannot speak too highly of him. 
Inspirational.


Read up on Antarctica before you go, it will enhance your awareness of what 
to look for. Take more memory cards than you think you'll need. Sea 
sickness pills are provided and are effective( although we were very lucky - 
no Drake shake!). Take your time when on shore, stay still and the penguins 
will come to you. Take time to look, look and look... there is nowhere else 
on earth like this....you wont see anywhere like it and it deserves to be 
experienced fully. The ship is warm, you dont need outdoor gear inside! High 
factor suncream and moisturiser is necessary- the weather can be snowy, dry , 
windy, cold, sunny - protect your skin. Forget about your phone- no signal 
after the Beagle Channel. Its good to be able to email but dont get hung up 
on it- you can do that at home. And perhaps when taking photos- just put your 
camera aside sometimes and look around you...


The yellow jackets from Quark are pretty much indestructible! Marvellous item 
of clothing, plus the interactive fleece is great! I cannot recommend Quark 
and Exodus highly enough. Every aspect of the trip was planned and executed 
without a hitch- the only thing that prevents you doing anything is the 
weather- control is an illusion..! Take every opportunity to absorb&nbsp;each 
minute of the trip- it is unique and totally unforgettable. Do not wait to 
go.

Antarctic Explorer

Exodus and Quark had the perfect recipe for the&nbsp;adventure of a lifetime. 
Helpful and efficient&nbsp;pre-trip planning. The Vavilov,&nbsp;a great 
vessel for the expedition that was immaculate and had&nbsp;a very 
accommodating&nbsp;crew. An outstanding knowledgeable and friendly Expedition 
Team&nbsp;with an inspirational leader who&nbsp;always wanted to go&nbsp;the 
extra mile to make it happen.&nbsp;A&nbsp;very varied, educational, exciting 
and memorable itinerary&nbsp;- with an abundance of spectacular scenery 
and&nbsp;exceptional wildlife sightings. The informality onboard and&nbsp;the 
friendliness of the 97 passengers who represented 17 different countries was 
so enjoyable.Beat that!
Back onboard after our trip&nbsp;ashore at Petermann Island, when&nbsp;a vast 
pod of Killer Whales surfaced and were coming straight for the ship. The 
action was absolutely enthralling. The pod eventually went under the vessel, 
resurfaced on the portside, then headed straight for&nbsp;Chris&nbsp;who was 
returning to ship in his Zodiac with the Kayaks. Camcorder footage to die for 
!&nbsp;During our Zodiac cruise around Neko Harbour we were lucky enough to 
see a group of six penguins sequentially dive from&nbsp;a snow covered hill 
into the water below. Their expressions and movements were hilarious.The 
scenery and tranquility of the sail from Ardvord bay to Danco Island was 
breathtaking, and the views from the hills above Paradise Harbour and Neko 
Harbour were&nbsp;memorable.


To say that "Woody" made this trip is not an exaggeration, and I 
know&nbsp;96 passengers who were of the same opinion.His leadership skills 
were awesome. In addition to always being pleasant, friendly and helpful, his 
boundless enthusiasm, energy and humour were truly infectious.The smooth 
running of the expedition did not happen by accident. It was the result of a 
great deal of hard work, planning and improvisation with great attaention to 
detail."Woody" and his team made it all happen and it was a 
privilege to have him as our leader.


If you are considering making a trip to Antarctica, do not hesitate. Do it, 
you will not be disapointed. Quite a lot of money, but worth every penny, and 
more. . .Based on our experience we would not hesitate in 
recommending&nbsp;Exodus Travel and we hope to work with them again.We are in 
our 60s and have been lucky enough to enjoy&nbsp;some&nbsp;pretty special 
experiences including the Wildebeest crossing in the Masai Mara, Sperm Whales 
and Dolphins in New Zealand, and Grizzlies gorging at the end of the Salmon 
Run in Northern British Columbia, but for us, Antarctica is number one so 
far.&nbsp;


Where next ?

WE had a wonderful experience in the Antarctic and also spending&nbsp;a few 
days in Ushuaia before our departure on the Clipper 
Adventurer.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks must go to Kim 
Christie&nbsp; for sorting us out with travel and accommodation when the Ship 
broke down in December, 2011.&nbsp;&nbsp; Within a few moments of 
returning&nbsp; Kim rang to check we were home safely and 24 hours later we 
we rebooked on the February trip.
Sitting in a Zodiac watching Killer Whales (about 90) swimming&nbsp;towards 
us.&nbsp; Absolutely thrilling.Humpback whales passing under the Zodiak and 
rolling slightly to look at us.&nbsp; Unforgetable.Sitting with hundreds of 
penguins watching them going about their business and watching us with great 
curiosity.&nbsp; I have some wonderful photographs of penguins studying the 
landing of the Zodiacs with a very amusing tilt of the head.&nbsp;Leopard 
seal with the biggest gape when it threw its head back to yawn.&nbsp; 
Barbeque on deck surrounded by wonderful Glaciers and Icebergs in beautiful 
sunshine.&nbsp; We were very lucky with the weather.


All the expedition crew were superb.&nbsp; Nothing was too much trouble for 
them and all were very knowledgeable.They worked very hard to give us the 
most memorable experience.&nbsp;The ships crew each and 
everyone&nbsp;succeeded in making this one of the best experiences of my 
life.I would like now to go to the Arctic before I am too old.&nbsp; Having 
said that the oldest person on our trip was 85.


Warm hat,&nbsp;gloves and something to cover your throat to keep the draught 
out when move swiftly in the Zodiacs.&nbsp; The Jackets supplied were 
absolutely superb.No time to read or anything as the expedition crew give 
lectures and displays and eating so much excellent &nbsp;food,&nbsp; meeting 
so many new friends and staying in touch when you return.&nbsp;


Please just Go for It!&nbsp; Slide down a wonderful slope on your 
bottom,&nbsp; see the most wonderful sunsets, water that is crystal clear, 
and lots of animals both in and out of the water that are just as curious 
about us as we are about them.&nbsp;I would love to do it again.&nbsp; Maybe 
the North Pole next.

Our trip to the Antarctic Peninsula was simply 'mind-blowing'
Any description&nbsp;of Antarctica is always full of 'expletives'. 
Quite honestly where do you start? Its awesome, pristine, 'bigger' 
than you can imagine. The glaciers and the thickness of the snow cover was 
simply mind boggling. Listening to the occasional 'calving' glacier 
making a noise like 'gun fire' sometimes startled you as often it 
happened some distance away without you&nbsp;actually seeing the event 
itself. The clearness and crispness of the air was&nbsp;an absolute tonic. 
The penguin colonies ('rookeries') were simply amazing. You read 
about how close you can get to the wildlife there but it was quite suprising 
actually how close you could get to them. They were seemingly oblivious to 
the presence of man and therefore we were able to study their natural 
behaviour. It was a very humbling experience indeed and you felt 'at 
one' with nature, a part of the whole. Someone said to me back home 
before we left 'Why go there won't a photograph of a particular 
animal or bird have the same effect? Well you just have to visit a penguin 
rookery or a seal haul-out to experience the unforgettable sights sounds and 
oh yes -'odour' like no other and the adventure of course of actually 
making landfall on the most remote and pristine continent on Earth. You 
don't get that experience from photographs! It is such an exciting 
feeling when you actually set foot on the continent itself.Describing a 
specific inspirational moment is impossible as you have to think about the 
whole picture. The landscape, the glaciers, the wildlife, the silence, the 
light, the people. There is no experience quite like it on our planet. It was 
one 'big adventure' from start to finish!


All the 'One Ocean' guides were good. They were 
knowlegable,&nbsp;skillful, caring and considerate at all times.&nbsp;The 
expedition&nbsp;team leader was Chad who was exceptional I have to add. His 
cool, calm quiet leadership made such a difference to the trip&nbsp;I'm 
sure. We all felt very safe in his capable hands. We have nothing but praise 
too&nbsp;for the ship's Captain and crew. They worked efficiently, 
quietly and discreetly in the background.


Most trips to the Antarctic Peninsula start at Ushuaia in Southern Patagonia. 
They call it 'The end of the World' but don't be put off by 
that&nbsp;rather deceiving descriptive! Its a city with a population of 
70,000 to 80,000 people so its quite substantial. It is very much a 
'frontier' town much like Jenneau in Alaska if you have been there. 
It is quite vibrant and I would suggest spending a few days there before (or 
even after) your cruise to explore the area such as&nbsp;taking a&nbsp;boat 
trip into the Beagle Channel or a trip to the Tierra Del Fuego National Park. 
Maybe the best way to do this might be to hire a car but our&nbsp;trips were 
organised. What clothing to take&nbsp;with you&nbsp;will probably take up 
much of your time in planning beforehand! But make sure you take enough base 
layers with you and warm and 'waterproof' gloves. The expedition ship 
we went on namely the 'Akademic Ioffe' provided waterproofs and gum 
boots which you keep for the duration of the voyage and 'wash down' 
after each shore visit. Do wear good footwear on deck ie- 'hiking 
boots'&nbsp;as it can get slippy and you don't want to 
be&nbsp;breaking any limbs when you are out there!&nbsp;Its even more 
important to wear good footwear if you hit foul weather in the Drake Passage 
and a&nbsp;unexpected wave can cause a sudden jolt which may&nbsp;cause you 
to lose your balance. The golden rule then of course is 'keep one hand 
for the ship'! We took warm quilted coats with us&nbsp;which were not 
waterproof. They are fine but bulky to pack. If you have taken sufficient 
base layers with you then the kit the ship supplies may be sufficient for 
you. We went in January and it wasn't incredibly cold out there in fact 
it was colder in the UK when we got back! Don't forget the 'sun 
block' and UV protection sunglasses. Make sure you take 'plenty' 
of memory cards for your cameras!


You may have thought about a trip to Antarctica for a long time. Of course 
its expensive getting there&nbsp;and there is no getting away from that but a 
voyage to this pristine white continent can be simply life changing. Savour 
every moment. A trip to Antarctica will give you a better understanding of 
the fragile planet upon which&nbsp;we all live.Remember it when you return 
home and be an ambassador for this remote and fascinating continent.

Wonderful trip.&nbsp; Well worth the effort despite some stressful moments in 
the beginning.&nbsp; Antarctica is a very special place.&nbsp; Cannot be 
compared to any other travel experience.&nbsp; So glad I went.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Would have given 5 stars but for my experiences prior to and at the beginning 
of the trip.
The Penguins.&nbsp; Waking up after a night in the snow to see a Penguin 
looking at me.&nbsp; Seeing a Whales head surface near our Zodiac.&nbsp; The 
sheer pristine beauty of the place.&nbsp; The "blue icebergs" and 
the stillness.&nbsp; Nature at its purest and most unspoilt.&nbsp; The 
wonderful staff.&nbsp; The professional photographers and the interesting 
lectures.&nbsp; The memory stick of the trip, including photos&nbsp;was 
a&nbsp;great momento.&nbsp;&nbsp;


Kim Christie.&nbsp;&nbsp;I did not know she was on the trip until a few days 
into the trip despite exchanging emails prior to the trip. Could have done 
with her help in Ushuaia (see "Anything you want to add").&nbsp;


Wish I'd taken a hat with ear flaps and an inbetween coat.&nbsp; 
Sometimes my triple goose down parka was a bit too warm (it can get quite 
warm in the sun when worn&nbsp;together with the waterproof outer gear) and 
my thin jacket (for the BA sun) was not warm enough for Ushuaia.&nbsp; The 
thin inner finger gloves are very useful when taking photos.&nbsp; Thermals 
are a must.&nbsp; Layers of thin polo necks best.&nbsp; Tee shirt OK in ship 
but need warm coat for deck.&nbsp; No special shoes/boots required.&nbsp; 
Rent wellington boots,&nbsp;waterproof jacket and trousers on ship.&nbsp; 
Travel light. Take lots of film and&nbsp;extra batteries.Worst airport (BA to 
Ushuaia) experience I've ever had (and I've done a lot of 
travelling).&nbsp; Long queues.&nbsp; Very few of the staff speak 
English.&nbsp; Chaos.&nbsp; So nearly missed flight.&nbsp; Met quite a few 
other people who had a similar experience.&nbsp; Get to the airport 
early.&nbsp; Coming back was better.&nbsp; Nice little airport at Ushuaia.


Did not get my final travel documents until a week before my departure 
date.&nbsp; I had to call and ask where they were.&nbsp; Even then, they were 
not complete.&nbsp; There was no separate&nbsp;document re "Ushuaia 
joining instructions".&nbsp;&nbsp;I sent an email and got an apology and 
some instructions&nbsp; Also, why was I not booked in at the Hotel Albatross 
(the meeting point for departure to the ship) as Kim and her companion 
were?&nbsp; I have no complaints about Hotel Las Lengas. They were very 
helpful but it is a good 10-15 minutes walk to the Albatross Hotel.&nbsp; 
Also, I was told&nbsp;by Kim that I could leave my bags at the&nbsp;Albatross 
Hotel until our departure to the ship in&nbsp;late afternoon.&nbsp; Check out 
at the Hotel Las Lengas was 1000.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When I got to the 
Albatross Hotel (around 1030) they would not let me store my luggage 
there.&nbsp; They said they&nbsp;only stored luggage for people staying at 
the hotel.&nbsp; They said they had had this problem before and had informed 
the various companies before.&nbsp; They gave me the name of a place in the 
town where I could leave my luggage.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I could not find it 
and ended up leaving my luggage at the Tourist Office (who were very 
helpful).&nbsp; One more thing - I was booked into a triple&nbsp;cabin but 
there were other single people on the ship who did not book a single cabin 
but ended up in a cabin on their own.&nbsp; Kim was aware of this and said 
she would look into it.&nbsp; &nbsp;

An unforgetable trip, can't begin to really describe the Antarctic, it 
has to be seen to be believed.&nbsp;
The Minke whale who decided to investigate 3 of the 5 Zodiacs a few times, 
swimming right underneath them all and then surfacing really close to us on 
two occasions to inspect what was happening above sea level!&nbsp;&nbsp;


Chellie was incredible. &nbsp;Funny, knowledgeable, obviously well respected 
and well loved by her team and the Captain and his crew. She ensured 
everything ran smoothly and safely. A star!


Just go - Buenos Aires is probably worth a couple of days at least if you 
have the time. The trip was seamless: we went on the Sea Spirit which is a 
really lovely ship. Make sure you stay on deck as long as you can, take loads 
of photos, take loads of travel sickness pills - you will very probably need 
them! &nbsp;We did, and apparently we had a calm crossing on both occasions!


Holiday experience of a lifetime.