Sail the Arctic, Become a Navigator with Quark Expeditions

Kapitan Khlebnikov cruising the Arctic.

Photo courtesy of Quark Expeditions.

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary this summer, Quark Expeditions has a voyage aboard the venerable Kapitan Khlebnikov that fits the bill.  Aside from sailing the fabled Northwest Passage in the Arctic, passengers are also able to learn how to properly navigate a vessel, eventually earning their navigation certificate upon completion of the voyage.

Quark has partnered with the Starpath School of Navigation to offer guests aboard the 23-day Arctic Passage voyage departing August 22, 2011 from Kagerlussuaq, Greenland.  Tracing the route discovered by famed polar explorer Roald Amundsen in 1903, Kapitan Khlebnikov sails through some of the most deeply mysterious and relatively unexplored regions in the world. 

The full itinerary, starting with flights departing from Ottawa, Canada:

• Day 1 Ottawa, Canada
• Day 2 Embarkation Day: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
• Day 3 Sisimiut, Greenland
• Day 4  Ilulissat Isfjord, Greenland
• Day 5  Baffin Bay
• Day 6  Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut
• Day 7-8  Devon and Beechey Islands
• Day 9  Prince Regent Inlet, Nunavut
• Day 10  Bellot Strait, Nunavut
• Day 11  Victoria Strait, Nunavut
• Day 12  Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut
• Day 13  Johansen Bay, Nunavut
• Day 14  Ulukhaktok (Holman), Northwest Territories
• Day 15  Walker Bay, Northwest Territories
• Day 16  Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories
• Day 17  Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island) Yukon
• Day 18-19  At sea
• Day 20-22  Chukotka Peninsula, Russia
• Day 23/22  Anadyr, Russia
• Day 23  Anchorage, Alaska, USA

 The bridge aboard Kapitan Khlebnikov, where navigation takes place.

Photo courtesy of Quark Expeditions

In addition to the Northwest Passage transit, guests are able to participate in a program designed to teach them the ins and outs of proper marine navigation.

The course begins at home with an online component before embarkation begins.  Once aboard, participating guests will have lectures, private tutoring, and hands-on navigation opportunities.  Post-expedition training will also be available, and guests will have access to the full Starpath online course library.

For full details on this exciting voyage, including pricing and accommodations, be sure to visit the dedicated page on Quark's website.