Embark Silver Explorer for your exciting – “White Sea Expedition”. Tonight you are invited to attend a special Sail-away cocktail party and to meet the Expedition Team who will be your companions for this special adventure.

This morning you will go out in your Zodiacs to cruise the Gjesværstappan Islands. The islands contain several seabird colonies and have therefore been designated a nature reserve in 1983. The land area of the reserve is less than 2 square kilometres, but the reserve also includes almost 6 square kilometres of the sea surrounding the islands. The largest colonies of cliff-breeding seabirds are mainly located on Storstappen, the biggest of the islands. While you are circumnavigating Storstappen, be on the lookout for puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, Razorbills, fulmars, cormorants, Arctic Skuas, and with luck, majestic White-tailed Eagles, keep an eye out for seals. During the afternoon you will be passing nearby North Cape and the lecture team will prepare you for the varied points of your White Sea expedition. In the evening the Captain would like to invite you to his Welcome cocktail party.

Founded only in 1916, Murmansk is the world’s largest city north of the Arctic Circle. Once cleared into Russia, you will go on a city tour including the major cargo port and its impressive fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, the Orthodox Church, Savior-on-Waters, a lighthouse with panoramic views of the city, and the Murmansk Museum. The city has many monuments that attest to its short, but intense history, its maritime heritage, and its military importance during World War II.

As your journey continues further east you will cruise along the northern coast of the remote Kola Peninsula, a wilderness of vast tundra, mountains, spectacular waterfalls, and some of the oldest forests in Europe on its southern side. You will take advantage of the long hours of daylight to explore the islands and their birdlife by Zodiac. Your on-board naturalists may also lead a hike ashore pointing out the plants and wildlife unique to this remote area.

Your journey continues southward along the Kanin Peninsula’s coast. Founded in the 1930’s by fishing families, the abundance of fish brought more and more fishermen to Shoina village and a collective farm was organized, leading to 1,500 people living there in the 1950’s. Because of the extensive trawling the sea floor was destroyed, leading to sand dunes spreading across the landscape. Half the village is now buried under sand and only 300 souls still remain in Shoina. You will have a look at the village and sand dunes, but another reason for us to go here is the Shoyninsky State Nature Reserve just to the north. Both there and in the nearby Shoyna marsh the Lesser White-fronted Goose, as well as Brent and Barnacle Geese have important flyways into Russia’s extreme Arctic.

The two subsistence fishing villages you visit today are located on the southern side of the Kola Peninsula and are quite small. Pyalitsa, said to have been founded in the 16th century, would once have been a locally important settlement to trade commodities from further inland, but today has only 14 inhabitants. Chapoma Village, just slightly further west has 81 inhabitants. Tidal and weather conditions permitting you might get the experience of Atlantic salmon spawning in the nearby river, while the expedition staff will offer a variety of exploratory hikes.

In the western White Sea, the six islands of this remote, rarely visited archipelago have been inhabited since the 5th century BC and important traces of human presence have been found here from as far back as the 5th millennium BC. An expansive monastery was founded here in the 15th century and was later transformed into one of Stalin’s infamous Soviet gulags – a political prison camp. A vast medieval fortress, the monastery is remarkably well preserved and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will explore its network of covered passages and tunnels that connect the many churches and chapels, botanical gardens, and common buildings, which include watchtowers, residential chambers and a number of workrooms. During the afternoon you will go ashore on Zayatskiy Island where prehistoric labyrinths and burial mounds are believed to be the remains of temporary Neolithic settlements.

This morning, as you make your approach, head out on deck to watch for the Beluga whales commonly found in the waters of the White Sea, especially during the summer season. At Russia’s far northwest corner, Arkhangelsk is situated on the coast of the storied White Sea. Due to its geographic isolation, this region has long held a mysterious fascination for outsiders. Arkhangelsk was first established as a shipbuilding center and became well known to the West for its occupation by “White” Russians during the Russian Civil War and for its role as a base for the North Sea Fleet. Arkhangelsk has also achieved fame as the gateway to the Arctic for the number of notable expeditions that began here. Today, join your on-board historians for a guided tour of the old quarter where you will learn of the Pomors and of ancient Russian culture as you explore centuries-old wooden buildings, the Orthodox Church and the excellent collections at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Today you will cross the Arctic Circle again on your journey north. Morzhovets Island is the last piece of land before entering the Barents Sea. Almost half of the island’s 110 km² consists of lakes, while the rest of this flat island is tundra. Morzhovets 12 inhabitants live in Severny Gorodok, the only settlement on the island, to man the meteorological station and a lighthouse. You will go ashore, looking for wildlife on the tundra and lakes.

Your journey continues in a westerly direction as you cruise along the Kola Peninsula’s coast towards the Norwegian-Russian border. Peruse an array of titles and topics in the well-stocked Library, enjoy a fine cigar and cognac at the Connoisseur’s Corner or watch a movie in your suite. All accommodations feature an interactive television system that allows you to watch your choice of complimentary films or documentaries and even broadcasts from The Theater in the comfort and privacy of your suite or stateroom. During the late evening you will have your outward clearance in Murmansk and will continue towards Norway.

As you cruise through the Barents Sea, a series of lectures will emphasise the special history and natural history of Russia’s and Norway’s Far North. Once you arrive in Kirkenes –the end of the famous Hurtigruten-Coastal/Postal service- you might drive southward into the Pasvik Valley sitting between Russia and Finland. There you can go for nature walks to observe the valley’s unique birds and plants.

Today Silver Explorer will round the North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe. At 71° 10′ 21″ northern latitude, a sheer cliff raises 307 metres above the Arctic Ocean. Adventurous guests can join members of the Expedition Team for a challenging hike to Nordkapp, retracing the traditional route to the cape up a winding path. For those who prefer to arrive in comfort, Silver Explorer will anchor off the shore of Skarsvag, the “most northerly fishing village in the world”, and, weather conditions permitting, head ashore by Zodiac. You will travel by coach to the North Cape where you will admire the glorious scenery, stop in at the visitor’s center and, of course, document our presence at the famed globe monument with many photographs. The panorama is unforgettable. On your return journey to the ship you will watch for reindeer grazing on the surrounding hillsides.

You will arrive at Tromsø in the early morning. Following breakfast on board, disembark Silver Explorer.