Latest news with #polarexpedition
The Independent
14-07-2025
- The Independent
A holiday in the Arctic that's more than just searching for polar bears
A brilliant-white creature, camouflaged by snow, rests on a solitary slab of ice in the Arctic Ocean, sparkling under the polar summer sun. This majestic bird, the ivory gull, is a poignant symbol of an environment disappearing due to uncomfortably warm temperatures in the far north. Weighing around 500g, it is approximately 600 times smaller than Svalbard's most famous resident, the polar bear. Yet, contrary to widespread belief, the polar bear is not the sole monarch of the Arctic. Far fewer in number and considerably rarer, the brilliant-white ivory gull could easily claim that crown, its existence intrinsically linked to the vanishing ice. The bird, which lives at high latitudes for its entire lifespan – even in 24 hours of darkness, is one of the species I've been searching for on a circumnavigation of Svalbard with leading polar expedition cruise experts Quark. Admittedly, these angelic white birds are rarely far from the hulking fluffy white bears that have historically brought people to these regions – from hunters and trappers, through to tourists and photographers. Scavenging for scraps, they keep a close eye on the apex predators' moves. When I first visited Norwegian-governed Svalbard more than a decade ago, it was a very different place; there were less (and smaller) cruise ships navigating waters, and more ice. New regulations have been introduced to cope with the growing pressures of over-tourism and climate change, taking effect from January this year. The biggest change is the introduction of minimum distances for viewing bears – 500metres (from March 1 to June 30) and 300metres (from July 1 to February 28). Inevitably, there are grumblings and concerns about rules that reduce most bear encounters to viewings of a blob no bigger than a Rice Krispie through a supersized scope. But companies like Quark are determined to work within the new parameters and still deliver an excellent experience, proving there is so much more to Svalbard than painstakingly hunting for bears. During mid-summer, when the sun never sinks, it's possible to move around the entire Arctic archipelago reached by a one-hour and 40-minute flight from Tromso into former coal mining settlement turned tourist hub, Longyearbyen – (or, in my case, a three-hour charter flight from Helsinki). Our first excursion had been a hike across the tundra at Camp Zoe, on the western coast of main island Spitsbergen. Surrounded by the area's trademark spiky peaks, we walked across spongey soils, stopping to look at clusters of purple saxifrage as delicate as millefiori glasswork and sniffing the rose-like scent of moss campion. Tiny waterfalls trickled and snow bunting whistled, signalling the surprising variety of life at these extremes. A second hike in Buchananhalvoya, the following day, introduced us to forests of polar willow – the biggest 'tree' in Svalbard, standing at only 8cm tall. 'They say, if you're lost in the forests of Iceland, just stand up,' quipped expedition guide Kelly. 'If you're lost in a forest in Svalbard, just open your eyes.' Along our trail, pawprints the size of dinner plates reminded us bears can be anywhere, explaining why all hikes are led by guides with rifles, and landings are only ever made if a site has been carefully scouted and deemed clear. As part of the new regulations, landings have been limited to 43 designated sites and only ships with a maximum of 200 passengers can enter protected areas. Carrying less than that number, our ship, the Ultramarine, was perfectly suited to explore the best spots. The ideal way to view bears is – and always has been – from a ship, in ice. Beyond Svalbard's 12-nautical-mile protection zone, there are no set restrictions on viewing distances. During the summer months, this is where the remaining pack ice can be found. Heading to 81 degrees north, the furthest north Ultramarine has ever travelled, we enter the Arctic's frozen kingdom. A mosaic of shattered slabs drifts around us like pieces in an ever-shifting jigsaw puzzle. It isn't long before we sight two male bears playing and rolling in the snow, taking dips in sapphire-blue patches of water to cool off from the blazing sun. Watching wildlife is a game of patience. After several hours, a curious bear approaches our vessel, sniffing the air with his coal-black nose, until he is only metres from the bow. Dwarfed by the expanse of a frosted realm stretching into infinity, it's the iconic image of an animal at the frontline of climate change. In extreme environments, weather dictates everything. Much of expedition leader Sarah Zaubi's time is spent analysing and cross-referencing weather charts, looking at wind speeds and fog. Although a storm is approaching, we have a small window of opportunity to visit Svalbard's premier bird cliffs at Alkefjellet along the Hinlopen Strait – a body of water separating Spitsbergen from neighbouring island Nordaustlandet. At 5.30am the next morning, visibility is gloomy. The sharp ridges of steep cliffs appear like turrets of medieval castles in the low, foreboding light. Motoring closer to the site in Zodiac RIB boats, the bickering of squealing birds grows loader, eventually drowning out the sound of our engines. More than 60,000 breeding pairs of Brünnich's guillemots nest here every summer, crammed onto ledges like residents of inner-city tower blocks. Jostling for a comfortable position, the small bids flutter their monochrome wings as they squabble and fight, creating even bigger black clouds in the skies overhead. Amidst the chaos, crafty foxes sneak between the ridges to steal eggs. While wildlife is Svalbard's biggest attraction, its landscapes shouldn't be underestimated – from glaciers with walls taller than skyscrapers to polar deserts rolling into a seductive unknown beyond. Whether out on the bow or sitting in the elegant dining room, I spend hours watching mountains rise and fall in the mist as chubby fulmars and even several humpbacks flank our vessel. Throughout our 14-day voyage, we clock up bears on ice, rocks and even strolling below a glacier. But it's the tiny creatures that leave the biggest impressions – fox kits tumbling in the tundra, a newborn baby bearded seal clinging to a drifting stack of ice, hundreds of little auks flocking metres from my face as I huddle into a cluster of lichen-stained rocks. New regulations and bigger crowds have undoubtedly made it more challenging to visit Svalbard, but 'the land of cold shores' is still warmly inviting. With the right approach and correct planning, it's possible to enjoy everything the archipelago has to offer. Although it's in those impromptu, unexpected moments that the real beauty lies. How to plan your trip
Travel Daily News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Oceanwide Expeditions appoints Rémi Bouysset as CEO
Oceanwide Expeditions appoints Rémi Bouysset as CEO, aiming to strengthen global growth, product development, and competitive positioning in polar expedition cruising. VLISSINGEN – Oceanwide Expeditions, an award-winning, industry-leading expedition cruise operator specializing in activity-focused polar itineraries in the Arctic and Antarctica, has announced the appointment of Rémi Bouysset to the role of CEO. This appointment takes effect from 16 June 2025. A strategic appointment for business development Bouysset brings a wealth of industry experience to Oceanwide Expeditions, with a career spanning over 30 years in the travel, hospitality, and luxury sectors. In past leadership and management roles, Bouysset has led growth in business operations in the European market and on a global level. 'It is an honor to join a company so widely respected for its commitment to authentic polar exploration, scientific integrity, and responsible travel. Reconnecting with this world of purposeful, nature-based exploration feels both natural and deeply motivating. Oceanwide Expeditions' reputation is built on substance, a quiet strength rooted in people, knowledge, and passion. Our priority remains to deliver meaningful and memorable journeys to our guests. Their experience is at the heart of everything we do' says Rémi Bouysset. With recent roles leading and managing customer strategy in maritime and yachting operations, tour operations, aviation and helicopter management, and expedition cruising, Bouysset has a broad range of expertise relevant to Oceanwide Expeditions and the expedition cruise industry as a whole. 'We are delighted to welcome Rémi to Oceanwide Expeditions. With his extensive experience and key industry insights, we believe he is well placed to lead the company's strategy in further developing our product offering and brand standing in a time of increasing competition.' said Michel van Gessel, Director. Oceanwide Expeditions is a world-leading polar expedition company specializing in immersive voyages to the Arctic and Antarctica. With a fleet of ice-strengthened vessels and expert-led cruises, the cruise operator provides unparalleled access to some of the planet's most remote and breathtaking landscapes.
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Australian polar adventurer turned astronaut Eric Philips takes part in historic SpaceX mission
Sitting under the night sky at Eric Philips' home in Victoria's high country, it is hard not to feel close to the cosmos. "The stars are always alluring and the place of dreams, right?" he said. "If anywhere you can let your imagination run wild it's up there, but for me it's no longer imagination. "That's the bizarre thing, it's reality now." Mr Philips is no stranger to extreme environments. As one of the world's leading polar experts, he and friend John Muir were the first Australians to ski to both the North and South Poles. When 7.30 caught up with him he had just returned from his boldest adventure to date – private space travel. Mr Philips became the first Australian to fly into space under the Australian flag as part of a chartered SpaceX mission in early April. The mission was privately funded and commanded by former Chinese national Chun Wang, a crypto billionaire, now a citizen of Malta, who Mr Philips guided on a ski trip in the Arctic Circle in 2023. "It's the most phenomenal tip a client could give me." Mr Wang purchased the chartered spaceflight from Elon Musk's SpaceX for an undisclosed figure. Mr Philips has described Mr Wang as a "denizen of the universe". "He considers himself nomadic because he travels the world, visiting every country that he can and is a Bitcoin entrepreneur, that's how he made his money in order to pay for this mission," he said. The mission, titled 'Fram2' after an early Norwegian polar research ship saw the crew become the first humans to complete an orbit of the North and South Poles. Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen and German polar scientist Rabea Rogge were also on board the 'Dragon' capsule. "It is an autonomous craft. Everything is planned by SpaceX, by ground control, mission control. It's uploaded into the system of the Dragon capsule and it will do everything from launch through to splashdown," Mr Philips said. After a year of training the crew launched from the historic Cape Canaveral in Florida on April 1. Their launch took them beyond the Kármán line, the boundary line 100 kilometres above sea-level where the atmosphere ends and outer space begins. "It's the most immersive experience you could possibly imagine." During the three-and-a-half-day mission in microgravity the crew completed 55 orbits of Earth. "You see all of Earth, all of Earth below you … you can turn around in that dome and you are seeing the entire horizon," Mr Philips said. "That feeling, I knew that would be profound in some way but I didn't know that it would affect me so emotionally. "Looking at Earth from that perch and knowing that we have a pretty rough history of treating our planet the way we do, and with the current bickering and squabbling amongst our people down on Earth, that if everyone could have the opportunity to see this incredible planet from above, I think it would give people much more perspective over their lives and how we should treat our fellow citizens and the Earth itself." While hurtling around the planet the crew conducted 22 research projects designed to pave the way for human long-haul space flight, including the first X-ray in space and the first attempt at growing mushrooms. "There's a big push at the moment to get to Mars and perhaps to build a Mars colony and for humans to inhabit that, so these research projects all contribute to this next phase of human life," Mr Philips said. Despite being in a hostile environment, Mr Philips said at no point did he feel close to death, except for when their spaceship re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. "Then you feel gravity start to take over and you are plummeting down to Earth at more than 500kph in absolute freefall," he said. After a successful splashdown off the coast of California, the crew of Fram2 accomplished one final piece of history, becoming the first astronauts to complete an 'unassisted egress', an exit of the spacecraft without additional medical and operational assistance. Just days after Mr Philip's mission another group took to the sky with private space company Blue Origin, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos. An all-female crew, which included his fiancee Lauren Sanchez and pop singer Katy Perry, spent 11 minutes above the Earth. Space travel is currently extremely expensive for both civil and private space agencies, but Mr Philips believes it will become more accessible. He said SpaceX is developing a craft that will take hundreds of people into space. "You can literally board that spaceship like you board an Airbus or a Boeing aircraft and fly internationally. That is in the not-too-distant future, and I can certainly see that happening," he said. "That will ultimately bring the cost down and make space travel available to a wide group of people." Now aged 62, Mr Philips said his celestial experience with SpaceX has ignited his passion for the universe. "There is no question that I look at the night sky now from a different perspective and an acute longing to be back up there, it was such an intoxicating experience," he said. "If I had the opportunity to go back tomorrow, I would take it." Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
Travel Weekly
08-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
G Adventures replaces polar expedition ship
Tour operator G Adventures is swapping out its Expedition polar vessel for a newly chartered ship, which the tour operator will begin sailing in October. The ship is more fuel-efficient than G Adventures' current one, which is a key reason the company said it opted for a change. "While we all wanted to continue to operate our little red ship, it became apparent that doing so would not be good for the environment or the business," said Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures founder. "As a company, we are always looking for ways to evolve, improve and lead from the front, so when the opportunity for this new ship presented itself, we knew we had to take it." Replacing Expedition will reduce the carbon footprint of each person onboard by up to 30%, Poon Tip said, based on an estimate from initial calculations. The ship, the Ocean Adventurer, has been chartered from SunStone, said G Adventures. Quark Expeditions chartered the ship for many years. G Adventures will give it the Expedition name in tribute to its previous "little red ship." The first sailings will be to Antarctica. The ship has 70 cabins and can accommodate 128 guests. It includes a restaurant, bar, presentation lounge, library, fitness area, outdoor hot tubs and an observation and sundeck. The cabins are G Adventures' "most modern and stylish accommodation options to date," the company said. Each cabin has either a porthole facing the ocean or a window, and guests can choose from suites with a double bed as well as twin and triple cabins.
