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iExplore: Northern Ring of Fire: Kamchatka & Kuril Islands(Trip #66143)

Tour Overview

Join us aboard the luxury expedition vessel Clipper Odyssey as we cruise from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula along the Kuril Island chain to Hokkaido, Japan. History of the Cold War and Arctic explorers comes to life as we trace the Ring of Fire through the North Pacific. Spectacular scenery and an incredible array of wildlife—whales, seals, otters, and thousands of seabirds await along the deserted coves and anchorages of this seldom visited region.

WHAT TO EXPECT
For most activities, a moderate level of exertion is required. You will need to climb into and out of Zodiacs for excursions ashore. Many of the landings will be “wet” and require that you wear waterproof, knee-high boots. Ashore, you must be able to walk moderate distances, unaided, over occasionally rough terrain. Average daily temperatures on this voyage range from the 50s°F to the low-70s°F with cooler temperatures in the evening.

As with all travel to this region, the itineraries are pending final permission by the authorities. We have done a tremendous amount of scouting, preparation, and planning for our expedition. In addition, your onboard staff is very experienced in leading trips to these remote areas. We will mail a complete list of recommended clothing and a suggested reading list to you approximately five months prior to departure. Flexibility is a must and participants will most enjoy these remarkable voyages if they travel with a spirit of adventure.

Note: We estimate you will be without your passport for one month while we work on procuring your Russian visa.

Expedition Leaders:

Mike Messick
Mike was raised in Switzerland and began working in expedition travel during a summer break from college. He graduated in 1985 from Skidmore College with a degree in bio/psychology. One of the best expedition leaders in the business, Mike embarked on a full-time career in adventure travel shortly after graduation and has since visited more than 170 countries around the world. Mike has conducted research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in its onshore laboratory and aboard one of its research vessels. He is a member of The Explorers Club, holds a U.S. Coast Guard captain's license, and has his scuba instructor certificate from NAUI. In 1990 Mike and six others founded Zegrahm Expeditions.

Dr. Mark Brazil
Mark developed his fascination with the natural world, especially birds, during his boyhood in the landlocked English county of Worcestershire. He then pursued his academic interests in biology during studies in England and Scotland, while exploring the coasts and mountains of Britain in search of birds. Mark earned his Ph.D. from Stirling University, Scotland, for his work on avian ecology and behavior in Iceland. Ornithological research, natural history consultancy for TV companies, and guiding naturalists and wildlife photographers have taken him to all continents, but his particular passion is Asia in all its diversity. Fascinated by island biology, he is a leading authority on the natural history of Japan, where he worked as a professor of biodiversity and conservation at Rakuno Gakuen University near Sapporo. In addition to being a field naturalist, he is a columnist, author, and editor. His books include Wild Asia: Spirit of a Continent, The Birds of Japan (the definitive text of bird biology and distribution in the Japanese archipelago), the monograph The Whooper Swan, and most recently, A Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia.

John Buchanan
John is a professor of geology and director of the environmental science program at Eastern Washington University. While his academic focus includes sedimentology, hydrogeology, and geomorphology, he is easily excited about all things geological. He has recently participated in National Geographic Society funded caving expeditions to Central America where he is mapping and studying the region's longest caves. John is also an experienced world traveler, an avid photographer, and a passionate amateur astronomer.

Russell Evans
Russell Evans is a 6th generation Falkland Islander who grew up working on farms on Pebble and Saunders Islands. In the mid 1990s, Russell left farming to pursue his interest in the sea and small boats (especially sail boats), and he went to work crewing and skippering commercial work boats for island companies. He has spent the past few years as dive boat support, assisting with scientific research and medical evacuations, conducting sightseeing trips to local islands, and working with cruise ships that visit the region. His work background and independent sailing explorations provide him with considerable cumulative knowledge of the waters around the Falklands. Russell began working on expedition ships as a Zodiac driver/ naturalist in December 2003. After falling under the spell of the Antarctic, he takes every opportunity to return. His passion for the sea and interest in travel has led Russell to choose a career in expedition travel and he has recently worked in that capacity as a Zodiac driver in the Arctic and British Isles. He is very much an outdoors person, enjoying hiking and camping with a keen interest in wildlife and photography.

Scott Pearson
Scott has been studying economic change in developing countries for more than four decades, and is an internationally renowned specialist on the development of Third World countries. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1961, he joined the Peace Corps and taught for two years in Nigeria. He then earned an M.A. in international relations at Johns Hopkins and a Ph.D. in economics at Harvard. In 1968 Scott began teaching economic development and international trade in the Food Research Institute, Stanford University. Scott retired from teaching in 2002 to begin a new career as a lecturer on expeditions, including recent explorations of Asia, North America, the Arctic, and the Antarctic.

Bob Quaccia
Bob chose adventure as a career more than thirty years ago when he became a commercial fisherman in Alaska. He has recently spent three summers as a skiff operator for the Alaska Marine Mammal Observing Program, which has taken him to the remote waters of Kodiak and Yakutat with a focus on sustainability. Bob holds a B.S. in biology with the bulk of his studies in natural history. He is currently the Programs Director for the Rogue Valley Audubon Society and has served on the board for two terms.

Lynne Greig
Lynne was born and raised in South Africa and after finishing her education spent several years teaching there. Her love for travel led her around the globe, and eventually turned into a career in the adventure travel industry as cruise director. Since 1995 she has traveled from Antarctica to the Arctic, through Africa and the Indian Ocean, Russia, the South Pacific, and Australia. Voyages have taken Lynne to every continent and across every ocean aboard expedition vessels ranging from Russian icebreakers to Australian catamarans. She has tried to settle down on numerous occasions; however, the lure of the sea is too strong, and she keeps going back out in the field, where her cheery personality, abundant energy, and industry knowledge serve her well in her positions as expedition leader and cruise director.


Day by Day Itinerary

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