Wildlife Cruises

In recent years ocean cruises have been the largest growing sector of the holiday market and new luxury liners are launched annually to meet the ever increasing demand for this style of holiday. Once the only way to travel between continents, the popularity of travelling by sea waned with the advent of air travel but with airports crowded to capacity and the mystique of flying long since replaced by tedium there is once again a desire to take to the water and the new era of cruising offers passengers the opportunity to cross the world’s oceans whilst enjoying the amenities and comfort of a five-star hotel. For those not attracted by the usual hedonistic format of such cruises there are fortunately a number of alternatives which retain the best elements of travel by sea but in place of endless sessions of deck tennis or quoits focus on the natural history attractions of each area visited. The world’s oceans are in many respects one of the last great wilderness areas left on our planet and there are still wildlife paradises such as Antarctica that are accessible by sea but cannot yet be reached by air. Naturetrek Wildlife cruises allow our clients to savour these ultimate natural history experiences in five continents with each voyage accompanied by expert naturalists to interpret the ecology and identify the species encountered. These are not cruises in floating palaces, the ships are usually 50 berth or smaller and specially adapted for safely navigating the particular areas visited, which includes strengthened hulls for the vessels used to explore Spitzbergen and Antarctica.

 

For over twenty years Naturetrek has been introducing clients to the Darwinian wonders of the Galapagos Islands and have four departures in 2007. We escape the crowds by chartering an elegant 16 berth schooner and spend two weeks following our own leisurely itinerary around the islands affording wonderful chances to photograph the confiding birds, mammals and reptiles that inhabit this unique place. There is no better way to see the wonders of Galapagos and not surprisingly demand is heavy for these very special cruises.

 

In somewhat colder climes we have a cruise over the Christmas period which sails from Ushuaia in southern Argentina and encompasses the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. Penguins by the tens of thousand, marine mammals, seabirds and incredible scenery make this a spectacular alternative to spending the festive season at home. Another cruise departs from Ushuaia early in the new year with a professional photographer leader and with the Falkland Islands and South Georgia on the itinerary it is guaranteed that cameras will be fully deployed throughout the holiday.

 

In late May we offer an exciting new cruise in the Soviet Far East visiting the spectacular Kamchatka Peninsula, Kuril and Commander Islands. Some of the largest seabird colonies in the Pacific Ocean may be found in this remote and sparsely populated region which is also renowned for having the largest density population of Brown Bears in the world and is the stronghold of the magnificent Steller’s Sea Eagle.

 

Amazing scenery and awesome animals are also in prospect during our voyage along the Svalbard Archipelago in Spitzbergen during July. This dramatic landscape of snow-capped mountains, huge claciers and steep-sided fjords is inhabited by vast colonies of seabirds, Walruses, Beluga Whales and Polar Bears contributing to an Arctic voyage par excellence.

 

Devotees of whale watching will find the Naturetrek Baja California and Sea Of Cortez cruise in late February the realisation of their dreams. The oceans here contain the world’s largest concentrations of cetaceans and serve as a nursery for the thousands of Grey Whales which migrate annually from Arctic waters to breed here. Many other species of cetacean are likely to be seen during this twelve day cruise including Blue, Minke, Humpback and Sperm Whales in addition to marine mammals and seabirds.

 

Whales are also among the attractions of the Naturetrek Kimberley cruise in October. Employing a luxury motor cruiser we navigate around the islands and inlets of Australia’s remote Kimberley region during the Austral spring as thousands of seabirds begin their breeding season and visitors to the clear coastal waters include sharks, Humpback Whales, turtles and Dugong.

 

It should be abundantly clear that a life on the ocean wave does not have to conform to the stereotype image of cruising and can indeed be a permit to witness scenes of natural splendour that most people will only ever see on their television screens.

Antarctica, The Falklands and South Georgia

A 22-day wildlife holiday from Ushuaia in Patagonia to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.

 

Baja California & the Sea of Cortez

A 14-day whale-watching and wildlife holiday down the western coast of Mexico's Baja Peninsula and round into the Sea of Cortez.

 

Brahmaputra Cruise

A magical 14-day holiday to Assam in north-eastern India which includes a unique 11-day wildlife cruise down the Brahmaputra River

 

Cape Verde to Madeira - Seabirds and Cetaceans of Macaronesia

A pioneering 8-night seabird and cetacean cruise along the West African continental shelf from the Cape Verde Islands to Madeira.

 

Kamchatka: A Voyage around the Ring of Fire

An 18-day holiday, including a 13-night voyage to the spectacular landscape of Kamchatka, plus the Kuril and Commander Islands.

 

Pilots, Dolphins & Mantas - A Maldives Cruise

A 10-day holiday, including a 7-night whale-watching cruise surrounding the Maldives.

 

Spitsbergen - Realm of the Polar Bear!

A 9-day wildlife expedition to the high Arctic, including a 7-night voyage around the island of Spitsbergen.

 

Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand & Australia

A 16-day holiday incorporating an 11-night cruise around the remote Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia.

 

The Galapagos Islands

A 20-day holiday incorporating a 2-week cruise around the "Enchanted Isles" in our elegant Two-masted Topsail Schooner.