Transit Russia's Northeast Passage and discover some of the world's least explored shores on this extraordinary 7,000 kilometre icebreaker expedition.

Since the sixteenth century explorers have attempted to transit the fabled trading route of the Northeast Passage which follows the Arctic coast of Russia from the Barents Sea to the Bering Strait. It was in 1878 (some 500 years later) that the Swedish explorer Nordenskjold, made the first successful transit. The Arctic summer of 2008 is the 130th anniversary of that celebrated voyage. Relative darkness for six months of the year, coupled with extreme ice and weather conditions, make Russia's Northeast Passage relatively inaccessible to travellers. But not to those privileged few sailing on the polar-class icebreaker, Kapitan Khelbnikov. This extraordinary 25-day expedition will take you into the heart of a very remote and littleexplored part of the world.

To reach the Northeast Passage you sail north from Anadyr on Russia's Asian shore through the Bering Strait and past Cape Dezhnev, the eastern-most point of Asia. Landings are planned at the small Russian village of Uelen, the uninhabited island of Kolyuchin, where puffins and other seabirds nest, and on Wrangel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated for its diverse flora and importance for migratory birds.

Making your way through the pack ice of the East Siberian Sea you reach the New Siberian Islands where you explore ancient hunting camps, see the northern-most part of the European continent and, with luck, spot the rare Leptev Walrus. Landings are planned on Severnaya Zemlya, the least accessible group of islands in the Arctic, as well as on islands in the archipelago of Novaya Zemlya. The shipboard helicopters will be used for flightseeing and transfers to otherwise inaccessible landing sites.

Well above the Arctic Circle lie the most northerly group of islands in Eurasia - Franz Josef Land. These islands are home to Polar Bears and Atlantic Walrus. Conditions permitting, you visit Cape Flora, where the remains from three expeditions are found. This great journey ends in Murmansk, from where you will fly to Helsinki - a time to reflect on your rare and impressive achievement.