Explore Anadyr, the administrative center of the Chukotka region and get to know your fellow voyagers and crew upon embarkation on the Akademik Shokalskiy.

Weighing anchor early, you are invited to join the expedition staff and crew on the bridge for introductory briefings as you sail toward the Bering Strait, through the Anadyr Estuary famed for its beluga whales. Late this afternoon, Zodiac cruise some spectacular bird cliffs in Preobrazheniya Bay.

Yttygran Island is home to the monumental ancient aboriginal site known as Whale Bone Alley, where the ship makes a landing and where whale bones stretch along the beach for nearly half a kilometer. On lookout for gray whales, cruise by Nuneangan and Arakamchechen Islands where seabirds nest and walrus can be found.

Sea conditions permitting, land at Cape Dezhnev early this morning. The north-easternmost point of the Eurasian continent, it is sometimes possible to see the coast of America from this remote and lonely outpost. A few nautical miles to the west of Cape Dezhnev, visit Uelen Village, the most northeastern village in Russia. The population is predominantly Chukchi and the village is one of the largest centers for traditional Chukchi and Inuit art in the world. Be entertained by villagers and visit the bone-carving workshop during your visit.

This small island was once an important Russian Polar Research Station and one of a number dotted across the Arctic. Near the derelict buildings are some of the most spectacular bird cliffs in the Arctic where puffins, guillemots and gulls can be observed and photographed up close.

Ice and weather conditions permitting, spend the next few days on Wrangel Island and potentially on the nearby Herald Island. There are many landings that can be made to search out wildlife, wildflowers, and Arctic landscapes. Polar bears are high on the list of animals to see and with a little patience, be rewarded with a number of encounters. Musk oxen and reindeer were introduced to the island, though reindeer numbers are low. Have a chance to visit Dragi Harbour where the survivors of the Karluk, which was crushed by ice in 1914, scrambled ashore and lived until they were rescued. Wrangel Island is a Russian Federal Nature Reserve of international significance and importance particularly as it is a major polar bear denning area. Also, each summer, thousands of birds migrate here to breed, including snow geese, snowy owls, skuas, Arctic terns, and Ross’s, Sabine, and ivory gulls.

Bounded by narrow sand ridges with numerous lagoons and inlets, this area offers plenty of places to land and explore the extensive coastline. Looking for walrus, whales, and other wildlife, come across Chukchi villages whose residents scratch out a living in an unforgiving climate, hunting seals and whales just as their ancestors did.

So huge that it is visible from satellite photos, this inlet contains vast numbers of waterfowl and migratory waders. Visit the Belaka spit near the inlet’s mouth and find a wild, desolate landscape that is strangely beautiful; its dunes and tidal areas are home to the mighty emperor goose and extremely rare spoon-billed sandpiper. Gray whales frequent the area and you may be fortunate to spot them feeding only a stone’s throw from shore.

In this early morning, pass the Diomede Islands, sometimes called Tomorrow Island and Yesterday Isle because they straddle the International Date Line. Here, Russia and America are separated by only 2.3 nautical miles of ocean. Remain in Russian territory as you cruise south past the islands. Later this afternoon, make an expedition landing on the Chukotka coast, your last chance to enjoy the wildlife and tundra landscape.

Relax in the ship’s bar or library as you sail across Anadyrskiy Bay, before bidding farewell to your fellow voyagers and staff over a dinner and expedition recap tonight.

Your adventure ends after breakfast with disembarkation back at the port where you can enjoy a complimentary transfer to the airport or your hotel.