Active Travel asks you to take a survey

#expeditioncruising

Complete Our Survey and Win



We really care about our customers at Active Travel, so we are always looking to improve our services in any way possible. To make sure that we’re offering you the very best of the best, then, we’d like to invite you to take our five-minute survey. This information will help us to streamline our services and understand better what you are looking for when planning your next holiday. After all, travel is about creating memories and we hope to help make sure those wonderful memories will last a lifetime. As a thank you for completing our survey, you will also go in the running to win one of 3 Lonely Planet coffee table books. The prize winners will be selected at random and you have to be in it to win it. So please complete our survey and allow us to make your next journey truly unforgettable.

Quality Advice, Variety of Channels



At Active Travel, we're constantly striving to ensure that we offer the finest content and advice to make your holiday experience the best it can possibly be. With that in mind, we focus on communicating with our loyal customers through a variety of different channels. Our website, for example, paints a vivid picture of 12 different holiday experiences. Covering a wide range of destinations, this allows you to search based on whether it's a relaxing holiday you're looking for, an active adventure, or a family friendly journey. Our newsletter also lets us share the latest deals and special offers, while our social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow us to update you in real time. Additionally, it is through these social channels that we can share our personal experiences and advice with you, providing inspiration for your next trip and beyond. Above all, we value our customers' point of view and invite you to connect with us via each of our different dynamic platforms.

Small Ship Expedition Cruising, an Adventure Like No Other

#expeditioncruising

Small Ship Expedition Cruising, an Adventure Like No Other There is something so wonderful about getting on board, being able to unpack and then see something new every day. At Active Travel, we especially love small ship expedition cruising, because it offers an intimate way to sail the seas in style. Whether you’re already experienced or brand new to Ocean Cruise Experiences, there is always something new to explore. Our once-in-a-lifetime small ship cruises take you to some of the world’s most unique destinations, including Iceland, Antarctica, North America, the magnificent islands in the Asia Pacific and beyond. Small ship vessels offer the perfect way to explore these regions. They offer access to remote islands and bays that the big ships simply cannot get close to. In this way, Small Ship Expedition Cruising really is an eye-opening experience. To find the perfect cruise for you, contact Active Travel and speak with one of our specialist consultants today.

Consider an India River Cruise

#expeditioncruising

Go With the Flow, Try an Exotic River Cruise



"At Active Travel, our fascination with exotic river travel began more than two decades ago. Now we are proud to offer the most comprehensive range of river cruises, including in the Assam and the Bengal regions of north India. Through our partnership with Assam Bengal Navigations, we are now taking bookings for both of these unique journeys. Try the Brahmaputra Taster, for example, which is a four-night cruise that offers a fascinating introduction to Assam. Here, you'll enjoy visits to villages and to the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, where you will drive out on safari in search of the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros. Or perhaps The Holy Ganges Upstream Bengal Cruise is more to your taste? To find out what’s available."

enquire with Active Travel.

Epic Icebreaker for an Epic Price - save up to $20 000 USD!

#expeditioncruising

A once in a lifetime icebreaker expedition opportunity has now become available. It truly is a special that those with an interest in Polar expedition travel won't want to miss out on!

Travel aboard powerful icebreaker Kapitan Klebnikov as she tackles the remote and ice-filled waters of the Arctic. In addition to being a very capable icebreaker, the icebreaker is also equipped with helicopters allowing the ultimate in exploration.

There's no better time to experience the Arctic. Book now and save 25% per voyage on the following explorations aboard the Klebnikov:

Ultimate Northwest Passage
Or the Best of the Canadian Arctic.

Alternatively, combine the two expeditions and travel the full Northwest Passage route from Greenland to Anadyr, Russia via the remote shores of Ellesmere Island.

This experience was US$58,990pp twin share. But for a limited time we are pleased to present you with the opportunity of securing 35 days aboard the legendary Icebreaker Kapitan Klebnikov for just US$38,087pp twin share, saving a whopping $20 000 USD.

With a special such as this, cabins are sure to sell out, so enquire today with Wild Earth Travel! Email info@wildearth-travel.comfor more information or call 1800 107 715 or 0800 945 3327 today.

(Discounts apply to new bookings only, selected cabin types, and are subject to availability. Contact us for a full list of ts&cs).

Special last minute deal on Indian River Cruises

#expeditioncruising

* Buy one - get one free - Book by February 26 *

Summary: Two passengers can journey through India by river this April for the price of one as part of a special, last-minute offer released by Active Travel. Alternatively, passengers travelling solo can cruise without paying a supplement. Experiences include riding rickshaws, visiting tea gardens and seeing fabled lands from the comfort of a deluxe river ship. Two cruises are available from US$1415 for two people. Offer valid for bookings made by February 26, 2016. For more information, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

Full details: Australians can ‘buy one, get one free’ for cruises this April on two of Asia’s major rivers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, thanks to a new deal offered by Active Travel, an Australian travel agency specialising in Asian river cruising.

The special deal, for bookings made by February 26, 2016, allows two passengers to travel for the price of one. Plus, travellers cruising solo can sail without paying a single passenger supplement.

The seven-night Brahmaputra cruise begins in the city of Guwahati. Included are a visit to a tea garden and factory, a trip through the bazaars of Tezpur in cycle rickshaws and a memorable visit to Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site home to two-thirds of the world’s Indian rhinoceroses. Guests will cruise onboard Assam Bengal Navigation’s (ABN) Charaidew, which offers 12 air-conditioned cabins. The cruise departs April 16, 2016, and costs from US$1415 for two people sharing a twin cabin, thanks to the two for one offer.

The Ganges cruise will begin in Kolkata and explore the famous river, sacred to Hindus and essential to the everyday lives of millions. Passengers can take in the scenic countryside and villages while sailing aboard the river vessel, ABN Rajmahal. Including sites such as sixth century rock carvings, Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples and historic mansions, the itinerary is packed with places of cultural and historic interest. The Ganges cruise departs April 14, 2016, and costs from US$1995 for two people in a twin cabin, thanks to the special deal.

Passengers travelling solo can travel on either cruise without paying a single supplement.

Deals are subject to availability and fares include shore excursions and transfers as per the itinerary. Flights from Australia to India are extra and can be booked through Active Travel.

Bookings and details are available through Active Travel at www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

Visit the Breathtaking Arctic Regions

#expeditioncruising

Experience the magnificent Arctic with One Ocean’s unparalleled expeditions. This small-ship expedition company brings you the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the industry, as well as state of the art ships, where each passenger cabin boasts an outside view. Not only does the Arctic offer an abundance of birdlife and marine mammals, it also possesses unique fishing and celtic cultures. The soaring glaciers, breathtaking icebergs and unique Inuit settlements of both Canada and Greenland will all open your eyes like never before. An area rich in spectacular scenery, an adventure to the Arctic region is truly once-in-a-lifetime. So don't hesitate, set your sights on the Arctic and secure your place with Active Travel now.

Active Travel offers $1500 saving, plus two free nights hotel stay before Antarctica voyage

Save A$1500 Per Couple and Stay Two Nights For Free on Extended Antarctic Expedition

Australian polar travel specialist, Active Travel, is offering an international flight saving of A$1500 per couple as well as two free nights in Ushuaia for bookings on an 18-night voyage by ice-strengthened expedition ship to Antarctica this October.

This special offer, valid until sold out, applies for an October 23, 2015 departure and includes a A$1500 flight saving per couple, complimentary polar gear and two free nights' accommodation at Ushuaia, including breakfasts, before travellers embark on the 18-night 'Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica' round-trip cruise from Ushuaia - the most southern city in the world - aboard the expedition ship, Akademic Ioffe.

The in-depth expedition is the longest Antarctic itinerary offered by Active Travel, and guests will be accompanied by Active Travel founders, Robert Fletcher and Christine Pearson, who will share their love for the great white continent. The voyage will take passengers to the Falklands, home to a profusion of seabirds and migratory birds, and then the remote island of South Georgia where thousands of king penguins cake the shores. The itinerary includes a visit to old whaling stations and the grave of history's most famous Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The voyage continues south through the rugged South Shetland and South Orkney islands before reaching the coast of Antarctica where four days are spent exploring the great white continent and visiting scientific research stations and historic huts during daily excursions by the ship's zodiacs. The opportunity to spend a night camped on the ice may also be possible, weather permitting.

Including onboard lectures, meals and zodiac excursions, the 20-night package is available from US$14,495 per person, twin-share. Bookings will include two free nights' accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia prior to the cruise and a flight credit of A$750 per person flight credit to be used towards international flights to Ushuaia booked in conjunction with the cruise through Active Travel.

Other pre/post cruise accommodation and touring around South America can also booked through Active Travel.

Active Travel offers one of the most extensive range of Antarctic and Arctic adventures available to Australians in partnership with long-standing polar travel specialists, One Ocean Expeditions, which Active Travel pioneered in the Australian market in 2008.

For details, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

Journey to the bottom of the world - Chilean Patagonia by Land & Sea

Travellers can journey to the southern extremes of civilisation and beyond to the storied waters of Cape Horn as part of a new 11-day land and cruise tour to Chilean Patagonia next summer from Australian agency, Active Travel.

The 'Patagonia, Chilean Fjords and Tierra De Fuego' tour is valid for various departure dates between September 22, 2015, and April 2, 2016, and will begin in Punta Arenas, where guests will transfer to the luxury lodge, The Singular, near the town of  Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park for an all-inclusive, four-night stay.

The Singular will provide an ideal base to explore the highlights of Patagonia, including the famous Torres del Paine National Park, a World Heritage site noted for its jagged peaks and glaciers. Meals and wilderness excursions to Torres del Paine are included and the hotel's spas and pools will help guests relax and refresh at the end of each day.



Travellers will then board the 200-passenger expedition ship, Stella Australis, and delve deep into the Chilean fjord country, cruising from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia in Argentina. Stella Australis features 100 comfortable cabin and all meals, onboard lectures and excursions ashore to penguin colonies and Cape Horn (weather permitting) are included on the four-night journey. Highlights of the journey  include Chile's breathtaking Pia Glacier and Glacier Alley and a walk ashore to the historic, 425m-high Cape Horn promontory.

The spectacular, four-night cruise ends in Ushuaia, the most southerly town on Earth. Two nights' included accommodation here with breakfast will allow guests to explore the frontier town at the bottom of the world before returning home or exploring the region further.

The 10-night tour can act as a stand-alone journey or can be combined with any of Active Travel's Antarctic cruises or tours to other parts of South America.

Including four nights at The Singular with meals and excursions, four nights' fully inclusive aboard Stella Australis and two nights in Ushuaia, the tour is available from US$5343. Gratuities, visas, insurance and flights are not included but flights and add-ons can be booked through Active Travel.

For details, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

New Pandaw Expeditions on Red River and Halong Bay in Vietnam

#expeditioncruising

Single Supplements Waived and Discounts up to 20% on New Pandaw Expeditions on Red River and Halong Bay in Vietnam



Single supplements have been waived and discounts of up to 20 per cent offered on nine new, deluxe river expeditions in northern Vietnam encompassing the beautiful Red River and famous Halong Bay with its 1500 dramatic limestone islands.

Available for bookings made until May 31, 2015, through Australian travel agency, Active Travel, which specialises in river cruises, the discounted, 10-night Pandaw river cruises operate between September, 2015, and October, 2016.

The new ‘Red River and Halong Bay’ sailings aboard the 32-passenger, colonially styled, RV Angkor Pandaw, which is hand-crafted in brass and teak, will set a course from Viet Tri near Hanoi along the Red River which has been a key trade route between Vietnam and China for centuries. The route along the upper stretches of the wild river takes passengers deep into highland Vietnam with its remote and sleepy tribal villages and rugged mountain scenery.

The itinerary then heads downstream along the little-known Da, Duon and Kingh Thay rivers in the fertile Red River delta region, with a visit to the bustling capital, Hanoi, where guests are taken on an excursion including the notorious Vietnam war prison known as the Hanoi Hilton, a water puppets show and the 1000-year-old Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius. Sailing past emerald green rice paddies, more authentic, craft-making villages are visited on the journey towards Halong Bay where the vessel anchors in a sheltered bay on the final and tenth night before a spectacular sail around the iconic bay the next day, visiting limestone caves and floating villages and schools.

The 10-night packages include land transfers from and to Hanoi, excursions, cooking classes and cultural performances onboard the vessel, local beer and spirits, soft drinks, a welcome cocktail, farewell reception, fruit and flowers on arrival, spa-branded toiletries, kimonos and slippers in staterooms and refreshing drink and cold towel after tours ashore.

A discount of 20 per cent and no solo supplements are available on RV Angkor Pandaw’s Red River and Halong Bay sailing on January 18, 2016, with fares starting from US$2600 per person (including the discount) for twin-share or solo passengers. A 15 per cent saving and no single supplements are available on a February 7, 2016, departure, with fares from US$2762.50 (including the discount) twin-share or solo. And a 10 per cent discount and no single supplements are also available for departures on September 30, 2015, and January 8, February 27, March 8 and 18, September 29 and October 19 in 2016, with fares from US$2925 (including discount) twin-share or solo. The deals are valid for bookings made before May 31, 2015, and are available until sold out. Airfares to Vietnam are extra.

For details, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

click to visit site

One Ocean Expeditions Antarctic Programs

#expeditioncruising



Leading polar cruise specialist, One Ocean Expeditions, is redefining Antarctic cruising by providing quicker access to the destination and increased time to experience the magic of South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and Antarctica with the introduction of new charter flights from Punta Arenas, Chile.

Exclusive to One Ocean Expeditions and new for this year, these journeys have been designed to enable adventurers and world travellers to get closer to the Antarctic continent for longer, in style and without lengthening voyage times.

Eliminating the crossing of the infamous Drake Passage can save over 48 hours and allows more time to access remote and untouched areas and to fully engage in the abundant choice of activities both on and off the expedition cruise ship. Activities such as wildlife viewing, ice photography and kayaking to name a few.

These new itineraries offer a small group experience of 70 passengers, allowing more flexibility to customize programs according to individual preferences and increased staff to guest ratio. In other words, less travel time with more experiences and individual attention.

Four new cruise itineraries, with departures from October 2015 through to March 2016, were recently launched on the One Ocean Voyager/Akademik Sergey Vavilov, each one with inspired new options.

The South Georgia In-Depth program says it all. It’s the first of its kind! The new 13-night voyage departs from Stanley in the Falklands, and gives guests seven consecutive days to discover South Georgia and the ‘greatest wildlife show on earth’. They will see king penguins by the hundreds of thousands; elephant seals fighting for territory to mate with their harems; fur seals mating, pupping and clustering the beaches; as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to giant petrels and skuas. Travelers will also pay a visit to the resting place of British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, along with many other historical sites rich in polar history.

Prices for the 13-night South Georgia in Depth program start from US$10,145 per person including flights Punta Arenas/Stanley, all food and accommodation onboard, plus zodiac excursions and landings, ship transfers and foul weather gear. Departure date 17 – 31 October 2015.

Falklands and South Georgia, the 14-night voyage departs from Stanley and offers eight full days in South Georgia. It encompasses the height of the Antarctic summer with young pups and chicks almost doubling the resident population along the beaches. A visit to Sea Lion Island is included on this voyage, with an opportunity to see diverse species and colonies of gentoo, magellanic and rockhopper penguins, cohabiting in harmony on the Falkland Islands, a British colony with a rich history.

Prices for the 14-night Falklands and South Georgia voyage start from US$12,995 per person including return flights Punta Arenas/Stanley, all food and accommodation onboard, plus zodiac excursions and landings, ship transfers and foul weather gear. Departure date 30 January – 13 February 2016.

Ultimate Antarctica Amongst Emperors and Kings, the 11-night voyage departs from King George Island and travels to Stanley via Antarctica and the Weddell Sea. The diversity of wildlife found on this voyage is unlike any other 11-night Antarctic itinerary. On this voyage guests will have the opportunity to view and photograph the gigantic and elegant king penguins ranging from 18-37 inches in height. The kings along with chinstrap, Adelie and gentoo penguins are abundant in this unique region. They have a gift to amuse photographers and curious adventurers. Pushing into the vast expanse of the Weddell Sea, there are miles of tabular icebergs to discover along with elusive emperor penguins, incredible landscapes and brilliant photographic opportunities. This cruise will also explore historical interest for both Sir Ernest Shackleton at Elephant Island and the Nordenskold expedition at Paulet Island.

Prices for the 11-night Ultimate Antarctica Amongst Emperors and Kings voyage start from US$10,595 per person including flights Punta Arenas/King George Island and Stanley/Punta Arenas, all food and accommodation onboard, plus zodiac excursions and landings, ship transfers and foul weather gear. Departures December 2015, January and February 2016.

Antarctic Peninsula Explorer and the Falkland Islands, the 10-night voyage departs from Stanley and sails to Sea Lion Island, an expedition stop rich in wildlife including elephant seals, sea lions, rockhopper, gentoo and magellanic penguins. Guests will explore the impressive western coastline of the Antarctic Peninsula, visiting many of the same locations as One Ocean Expeditions’ classic Antarctic Peninsula Adventure, such as Wilhelmina Bay, Errera Channel, Paradise Harbour and the flooded volcanic caldera at Deception Island.

Prices for the 10-night Antarctic Peninsula Explorer and the Falkland Islands voyage start from US$9,795 per person including flights Punta Arenas/Stanley and King George Island/Punta Arenas, all food and accommodation onboard, plus zodiac excursions and landings, ship transfers and foul weather gear. Departures December 2015, January and February 2016.

One Ocean Expeditions’ cruises provide flexibility and adaptability and memorable educational experiences both on and off the ship. Zodiac excursions led by a team of dedicated and knowledgeable staff are offered daily. Workshops of all kinds ranging from photography, history and marine biology to hiking, wildlife and visits to science stations are part of the daily program. There is something for all ages and fitness levels.


One Ocean Expeditions www.oneoceanexpeditions.com

Save AU$2500 Per Couple on Biggest-Ever Antarctic Program

#expeditioncruising

Includes new shorter itineraries to fly over the Drake Passage

Australian polar travel specialist, Active Travel, is offering flight savings of AU$1500 per couple for bookings made before April 30, 2015, on its biggest-ever range of Antarctic voyages for 2015-16.

Complimentary wet weather gear hire valued at AU$500 per person, will also be available to all passengers visiting the Antarctic, lifting the savings to AU$2500 per couple.

Active Travel’s biggest-ever program of Antarctic voyages offers eight tours between October, 2015, and March, 2016.

The Antarctica options include three new shorter fly and cruise itineraries from 11-15 days which will see travellers fly from Chile over the Drake Passage to meet their ship in the Falkland Islands or South Shetland Islands. This option cuts the time at sea, reduces the chance of cross-passage sea sickness, allows more exploration time on land and reduces the length of the tour.

These new itineraries include an 11-day ‘Antarctic Peninsula Explorer and the Falklands’ tour, offering a flight from Punta Arenas to Port Stanley in the Falklands, followed by a 10-night cruise aboard the ice-strengthened expedition ship, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, along the Antarctic Peninsula and then a two-hour flight from the South Shetland Islands back to Punta Arenas.

The package is priced from US$9795 triple share and US$11,795 twin-share. Departures from Punta Arenas are on December 19, 2015, and January 9, February 13 and March 7 in 2016.

Antarctic bookings for the 2015/16 program made by April 30, 2015, will receive a flight credit of AU$750 per person, to be used towards international flights to South America booked in conjunction with the cruise through Active Travel. Complimentary hire of wet weather gear, including polar-rated waterproof jacket and pants and insulated rubber boots designed for walking, will also be offered to guests.

Pre/post cruise accommodation and touring around South America can also booked through Active Travel.

Active Travel offers one of the most extensive range of Antarctic and Arctic adventures available to Australians in partnership with long-standing polar travel specialists, One Ocean Expeditions, which Active Travel pioneered in the Australian market in 2008.

For details, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188. 

Massive Antarctica Voyage Program

#expeditioncruising 

 

Biggest-Ever Program of Antarctica Voyages for 2015-16

Save $1500 Per Couple on Flights

Leading Australian soft adventure company, Active Travel, is marking the launch of its biggest-ever program of Antarctica voyages for the 2015-16 summer by offering AU$1500 per couple for bookings made before February 27, 2015. The program from October, 2015, to March, 2016, features a mix of new  fly-cruise itineraries designed to meet a growing demand from Australians keen to experience the great white continent.

Active Travel offers one of the most extensive range of Antarctica adventures available to Australians in partnership with long-standing polar travel specialists, One Ocean Expeditions, which Active Travel pioneered in the Australian market in 2008. Active Travel also includes free hire of polar gear for its Antarctica-bound customers, saving passengers more than $1000 each.

New for the summer of  2015-16 are three new Antarctic and sub-Antarctic ‘air and cruise’ packages from 11-15 days which include flight sectors between Chile and the Falkland Islands and South Shetland Islands to cut the time at sea, reduce the chance of cross-passage sea sickness, allow more exploration time on land and reduce the length of the tour. These include:

* An 11-day ‘Antarctic Peninsula Explorer and the Falklands’ tour, including a flight from Punta Arenas to Port Stanley in the Falklands, followed by a 10-night cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula and then a two-hour flight from the South Shetland Islands back to Punta Arenas. The package is priced from US$9795 per person, triple share, or form US$11,795 twin-share. Departures from Punta Arenas are on December 19, 2015, and January 9, February 13 and March 7 in 2016.

* A 12-day ‘Ultimate Antarctica’ tour that begins with a flight from Punta Arenas to the South Shetland Islands, followed by an 11-night cruise to the Falklands via the Antarctic Peninsula and ending with a flight from Port Stanley back to Punta Arenas. Departing Punta Arenas on December 8 and 29, 2015, and January 19 and February 23 in 2016, the package is available from US$10,045 triple-share, or from US$12,045 twin-share, including the two air transfers.

* A 15-day ‘South Georgia in Depth’ package including one flight – from Punta Arenas to the Falklands - with passengers then spending 14 nights at sea, including eight days exploring the snow-capped peaks, stunning fjords and wildlife-rich shores of South Georgia Island, famous for its massive colonies of King penguins and elephant seals which jostle for space on the foreshore. The voyage, which ends in Ushuaia, Argentina, is available from US$10,145 triple-share and from US$11,245 twin-share, including the flight transfer. One departure is available on October 17, 2015.

Akademik Sergey Vavilov

 Two Falkland Island-based cruises can also be joined to make an extensive, new 22-day ‘Antarctica in Depth’ combo tour that highlights the sub Antarctic Islands as well as the continent itself, making this one of the longest and most comprehensive cruises ever, with an unprecedented 16 days spent exploring Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. Departing Chile on December 19, 2015, the combo tour begins and ends with flights between Punta Arenas and the Falklands and includes a ‘white’ Christmas and New Year in Antarctica, with almost 24-hour daylight. Aboard the Russian, ice-strengthened ship, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, the itinerary in Antarctica includes walks ashore with naturalist guides, visits to historic huts, cruising in zodiac boats to view spectacular icebergs and witnessing an abundance of wildlife species including seals, whales and penguins. The 22-day package is available from US$20,390 per person, triple share, or from US$24,790, per person, twin-share.

In 2015-16, Active Travel will also offer its biggest-ever range of pre and post-cruise add-on trips to South American destinations such as Patagonia. Iguassu Falls, Rio de Janeiro, Peru and the Galapagos Islands.

Antarctica bookings made by February 27, 2015, will receive a flight credit of AU$750 per person, to be used towards international flights to South America booked in conjunction with the cruise through Active Travel.All Antarctica cruises are aboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov and sister ship Akademik Ioffe. Pre/post cruise touring around South America can also booked through Active Travel.

For details of the Antarctica packages, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

Northwest Passage: A trip back in time

#expeditioncruising

Antarctica air and cruise tours- less time at sea - Save A$750

Australian agency, Active Travel, is offering AU$750 off international flights for every traveller who books one of 10 Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands voyages sailing from October, 2015, to March, 2016. Among the tours are three new air and cruise packages that include 'shortcuts' by plane to reduce the sailing time to the polar region and allowing passengers more time to explore the Antarctic Peninsula and also South Georgia, which boasts more wildlife per square metre than any other place on Earth.

The air credit offer is valid for 2015/16 Antarctica earlybird bookings made with Active Travel before November 30, 2014. The adventures are run by longstanding, polar travel specialists, One Ocean Expeditions, which Active Travel pioneered in the Australian market in 2008.

The three new Antarctic and sub-Antarctic 'air and cruise' packages range in length from 11-15 days and all include flight sectors to cut the time at sea, reduce the chance of cross-passage sea sickness, allow more exploration time on land and reduce the length and cost of the tour.

The three new voyages are aboard the Russian, ice-strengthened ship, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, with the maximum passenger load lowered from 92 to 70 passengers, allowing for more personal service and attention.


​
Active Travel's first new package – the 11-day 'Antarctic Peninsula Explorer and the Falklands' – starts with a 90-minute flight from Punta Arenas to Port Stanley in the Falklands, followed by a 10-night cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula and then a two-hour flight from the South Shetland Islands back to Punta Arenas. The itinerary in Antarctica includes walks ashore with naturalist guides, visits to historic huts, cruising in zodiac boats to view spectacular icebergs and witnessing an abundance of wildlife species including seals, whales and penguins. Including the two flight transfers, the package is priced from US$9795 per person, triple share, or form US$11,795 twin-share. Departures from Punta Arenas are on December 19, 2015, and January 9, February 13 and March 7 in 2016.

A 12-day 'Ultimate Antarctica' tour begins with a flight from Punta Arenas to the South Shetland Islands, followed by an 11-night cruise to the Falklands via the Antarctic Peninsula and ending with a flight from Port Stanley back to Punta Arenas. Departing Punta Arenas on December 8 and 29, 2015, and January 19 and February 23 in 2016, the package is available from US$10,045 triple-share, or from US$12,045 twin-share, including the two air transfers.

The third package – the 15-day 'South Georgia in Depth' – includes one flight – from Punta Arenas to the Falklands, with passengers then spending 14 nights at sea, including eight days exploring the snow-capped peaks, stunning fjords and wildlife-rich shores of South Georgia Island, famous for its massive colonies of King penguins and elephant seals which jostle for space on the foreshore. Only 30 scientists live on the remote and rugged island in the southern Atlantic Ocean. The voyage, which ends in Ushuaia, Argentina, is available from US$10,145 triple-share and from US$11,245 twin-share, including the flight transfer. One departure is available on October 17, 2015.

Flights from Australia to South America are extra. Bookings made for the cruises before November 30, 2014, will receive a flight credit of AU$750 per person, to be used towards international flights booked in conjunction with the cruise through Active Travel. Pre/post cruise accommodation can also booked through Active Travel.

For details of the Antarctica packages, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

Northwest Passage Voyage - Following Franklin

Sailing in the Wake of Northwest Passage Explorer Sir John Franklin

2015 Arctic Voyage to Discovered Site of Missing Vessel

An Arctic voyage visiting Canada's fabled Northwest Passage where one of explorer Sir John Franklin's ships was discovered this month after a 170-year search is available through Australian tour company, Active Travel.

The discovery of the missing wreck 11m below remote Victoria Strait near King William Island has been described as one of the greatest archaeological events of the past 100 years, with the find solving one of maritime history's greatest mysteries. The British vessels, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, were last seen in ice-clad Baffin Bay in 1845, with Australians able to visit the area themselves aboard a polar expedition ship in 2015, 170 years since Sir John Franklin's expedition vanished.

Active Travel is a partner with One Ocean Expeditions, the exploration cruise operator in the Canadian Arctic which helped uncover one of Sir Franklin's ships this month. The ship used in the search, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, is a sister ship to the Russian ship that Active Travel customers can sail aboard to the same region in 2015.  

Active Travel's 13-day Northwest Passage Voyage from Greenland on August 12, 2015, aboard the Russian icebreaker, Akademik Ioffe, will take passengers deep inside the Arctic Circle, beginning with the fjords and frontier settlements of Greenland before the journey charts Sir Franklin's final path through the isolated islands of the Canadian Arctic, including King William Island.

Zodiac excursions ashore will allow passengers to meet the local Inuit people and look for wildlife including polar bears, seals and beluga whales

The voyage of a lifetime ends at Cambridge Bay from where passengers will be flown back to Edmonton. The 13-day voyage is priced from US$9995 per person, twin-share, including onboard meals, land excursions, Arctic weather gear and onboard lectures.

Charter flights from Ottawa to Greenland at the start of the voyage and back to Edmonton at the end of the cruise are an extra US$1990 per person return.  Return flights from Australia to Canada are additional and can also be booked through Active Travel.

For bookings, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

Antarctica Last Minute Savings

#expeditioncruising

$750 off flights on 2014 Early Season Antarctica Voyages

Save on earlybird fares

Receive $750pp off your international flights when you book selected Antarctica voyages by 30 September 2014. Discount is applicable to the 3 Nov, 19-day Falkland Islands & Antarctica voyage, the 8 Nov, 13-day Active Antarctica Off the Beaten Track voyage and the 10 Dec, 10-day Antarctica Peninsula Adventure.

Click here for more info.

Antarctica voyage deal - save $750 with Active Travel

Savings of AU$750 on Antarctica Voyages

Australian tour company, Active Travel, is offering AU$750 off international flights for every traveller who books their 'Active Antarctica' or 'Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica' voyages before October 10, 2014.

Both voyages will depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, in November, 2014, before sailing to the white continent to see towering icebergs, pristine snowscapes, scientific research stations and abundant wildlife.

The 19-day 'Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica' voyage aboard the Russian scientific ship, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, will first stop at the islands of the West Falkland Archipelago, home to many sea birds, including penguins and black-browed albatross, before visiting the brightly painted historic streets of Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. The island of South Georgia, with its rugged, snow-covered mountains will be visited next, including the grave of the most famous Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The ship will then journey on to Deception Island, where guests can, weather-permitting, visit the flooded volcanic caldera, walk to the highest points of the crater rim and explore an abandoned whaling station. The mainland of Antarctica is the next destination, where travellers will be greeted with the spectacular sight of the huge icebergs and Antarctic ice sheet, and perhaps even set foot on the continent itself.

In addition to shore excursions and zodiac cruises with expert guides, a comprehensive ship-based lecture series will be offered to deepen guests' knowledge of Antarctica and its surrounds.

The 19-day tour departs from Ushuaia on November 3, 2014, and is priced from AU$13,695, twin-share, or AU$11,995, triple-share, including all excursions, onboard meals and Antarctic weather gear. Bookings made for this voyage before October 10, 2014, will receive a flight credit of AU$750 per person, which can be used on flights to Argentina booked with Active Travel.

The action-packed 'Active Antarctica - Off the Beaten Track' expedition is focused around a range of outdoor activities, including ski touring, snow shoeing, overnight sea kayaking, camping on ice and hiking - all set to the stunning surrounds of icebergs and ice shelves.

The 13-day expedition aboard Akademik Ioffe will also include visits to an active scientific research station and historic huts at Port Lockroy and Wordie House, a full day of photography with an on-board professional photographer and a comprehensive ship-based lecture series.

The adventure expedition departs from Ushuaia on November 8, 2014, and is priced from AU$9595, twin-share, or AU$7095, triple-share. Transfers to and from the ship, all zodiac excursions, onboard meals and Antarctic wet wear gear are included. Sea kayaking, ski touring, snow shoeing and field photography will attract an extra cost. Bookings made for this expedition before October 10, 2014 will also receive a flight credit of AU$750 per person. Conditions apply.

For details of the Antarctica packages, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

* Flights to/from Argentina are not included in packages. Pre/post cruise accommodation can also booked through Active Travel.

Antarctica and Arctic Info night in Canberra. RSVP now.

#expeditioncruising

click to enlarge

Hello Expeditioners

Join us at Active Travel HQ for a fascinating evening where you will learn about all the amazing things you will see and experience on a voyage in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Hear stories from seasoned Antarctica travellers and be inspired by the incredible photos of these alien yet beautiful lands.

Those who attend will enjoy exclusive deals for bookings on both Antarctica and Arctic voyages.

WHEN: Tuesday 2 September

TIME: 6:00pm for a 6:30pm presentation start

WHERE: Active Travel HQ, 133 Mode3, 24 Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

If you would like to attend please RSVP by Friday 29 August by following the link below.

RSVP Here

We hope to see you on the night!

 

New Arctic Cruises for Australians - Save $1000 with Active Travel

Explore the Arctic and Save Up to $1000 on Flights

Earlybird Offer Valid to September 30, 2014

Active Travel is offering up to $1000 off international flights to travellers who book one of eight expedition voyages to the Arctic in 2015.

The offer is valid for bookings made before September 30, 2014, with travellers who book an Arctic voyage from Scandinavia receiving A$500 each off their international flights booked through Active Travel and those who book an Arctic Greenland and Canada voyage receiving A$1000 each off their flights from Australia.

The eight voyages, from 10-13 days, will take adventurers deep into the high Arctic during the northern summer months of June to August when the sun shines up to 24 hours a day.

All eight voyages take passengers to remote islands in the Arctic Ocean, which are covered in snow and ice for much of the year but burst to life with colourful wildflowers in the brief summer months. Wildlife, including polar bears, foxes, walruses, seals and beluga whales, are active and visible. All voyages include guided excursions ashore by zodiac inflatable boats to visit isolated communities and spot wildlife. Onboard lecturers also recount tales of heroic exploration by early Arctic pioneers.

Of special interest is Active Travel's 'Spitsbergen Off the Beaten Track' itinerary. This cruise begins in the frosty town of Longyearbyen on the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen which lies within the Arctic Circle half way between the tip of Norway and the North Pole. The Russian polar expedition ship, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, cruises over ten days through ice-filled waters along the island's coast. Along the way, zodiac trips take passengers to see glaciers and fjords up close and passengers will visit the tiny research settlement of Ny Alesund, which boasts a summer population of 120 and summer highs of five degrees centigrade. With 24 hours of daylight between April to August and lying at 79 degrees north, Ny Alesund is the northern-most community in the world, just 1200km from the North Pole.

The Spitsbergen Off the Beaten Track voyage is available from US$6695 per person, twin-share, including zodiac excursions, onboard lectures, all onboard meals and use of Arctic weather gear. Flights to Spitsbergen are not included and can be booked through Active Travel, with a A$500 per person air credit available for cruise bookings made before September 30, 2014. Also on offer are the optional extras of sea kayaking among the icebergs and the experience of snow shoeing.

A discount of A$1000 off return flights to Canada are available for bookings made before September 30, 2014, for the 12-Day 'Baffin Island and West Greenland – Off the Beaten Track' voyage. This round-trip voyage sails from the Baffin Island town of Iqaluit in Canada on July 22, 2015. The cruise aboard the Russian scientific ship, Akademik Ioffe, explores the mighty glaciers, deep fjords and indigenous communities of the eastern Canadian Arctic and the west coast of Greenland. Wildlife is abundant with possible sightings of polar bears and the woolly Arctic mammal, the musk ox. Sea kayaking is also available as an optional activity. The 'Baffin Island and West Greenland – Off the Beaten Track' cruise is priced from US$8995, per person, twin-share, ex Iqaluit, including Zodiac excursions, onboard lectures, all onboard meals and use of Arctic weather gear. Flights to Baffin Island are not included and can be booked through Active Travel.

For details of all eight Arctic packages, visit www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188.

The Canadian Arctic 2014: A New Search for Franklin's Lost Ships

170 years on and one of the world's most enduring maritime mysteries is still unsolved.

In 1845, Sir John Franklin's expedition left England for the remote Canadian Arctic amid much optimism. Their goal was to find the Northwest Passage, but it would become the greatest disaster in British arctic exploration. Franklin, his entire crew of 128 men and two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, disappeared into the vast wilderness of Canada's Arctic, while searching for a way through the fabled waterway.

This year, during the northern Summer, One Ocean Expeditions has been invited by the Canadian Government to join a new search for Franklin's ships.

Announcing the research expedition in Ottawa, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq said,

"Our Government has made the North a priority. The 2014 search for the Franklin ships not only provides the greatest opportunity yet for finding the historic Franklin vessels, it will contribute significantly to our Government's Northern Strategy. Information gathered on this expedition will provide benefits to Canadians in the areas of Arctic sovereignty, marine safety, environmental protection, science and technology, history and culture."

The 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition is the most ambitious to date, with more partners and more sophisticated technologies than ever before. The use of multiple platforms has the potential to significantly increase the amount of Arctic seabed mapped this summer. Ice and weather conditions permitting, the expedition could exceed significantly the amount of ocean floor scanned and mapped during any previous attempt.

Australian Manager for One Ocean Expeditions, Richard Cunningham explains,

"Various government departments, including Parks Canada and the Royal Canadian Geographic Society have been searching for the remains of the Franklin ships for the last seven years. This year, One Ocean Expeditions offered the use of one of its ships to work alongside three other research vessels. She is perfect for this type of research work and was designed for exactly this kind of mission. Her high ice classification allows her to work in areas the other ships cannot".

The Akademik Sergey Vavilov, currently operating in Spitsbergen, will re-position into the Canadian Arctic after completing the cruise season.

One Ocean Expeditions' Akademik Sergey Vavilov will work alongside vessels from the Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Arctic Research Foundation. A number of additional smaller vessels, along with autonomous and remote-controlled underwater vehicles, will be utilized. Together, these platforms, vessels and vehicles will enable the teams to deploy high-resolution multi-beam sonar and side-scan sonar in a carefully choreographed effort to survey and map the seabed while searching for evidence of Franklin's lost ships.

Limited berths are available to interested clients with the cost of participation being passed to the Royal Canadian Geographic Society as a donation.

Travellers interested in the history of exploration of the Canadian Arctic can travel through these very waters in 2015, with One Ocean Expeditions. The operator has just released its 2015 Canadian Arctic schedule including a 12-night voyage through the fabled Northwest Passage.

For further information contact ONE OCEAN EXPEDITIONS on 02 8096 8787 or email richard@oneoceanexpeditions.com