Adventure Associates' eNews - Sept 2015

#expeditioncruising
Madagascar - Kashmir - Ethiopia - more

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Wild Iceland and Scotland aboard Sea Spirit

#expeditioncruising

Rare voyage to the high Arctic aboard classic vessel

 

An in-depth exploration of Svalbard with Henrik Løvendahl

Adventure Associates is offering a rare 9-day expedition of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, the wildlife capital of the High Arctic, on board the historic 12-passenger ice-strengthened Swedish vessel M/S Malmö.

The M/S Malmö is a classic vessel built in 1943 for the Swedish National Maritime Administration and has been heritage listed since 2004. With just 12 passengers, it is more like travelling on a private yacht and offers an entirely different experience and perspective to that of larger and more conventional vessels. The compact size of the ship and the small number of passengers allows for a great degree of flexibility and wildlife viewing.

This special voyage is designed to offer travellers a quality exploratory wildlife program, aiming to spend as much time ashore as possible. The voyage will focus on the fjords and islands of North Spitsbergen, which offer abundant bird life and the chance to encounter polar bears and reindeer.

Prices for the Svalbard Explorer Voyage start from $9490 per person twin-share. This once-only voyage departs on 29 July 2014.

Danish-born Henrik Løvendahl is a highly qualified expedition leader and dive guide having worked in both the Arctic and Antarctic for the past 20 years. Henrik has also led trekking and mountaineering trips in the Himalayas and recently spent a winter in Svalbard working as a dog handler and dog sled guide. His love of the ocean and the extremes of the planet has resulted in a wealth of knowledge about the landscapes, ice, wildlife and history of these special places that he delights in sharing with guests.

For further information and bookings phone (02) 8916 3000 or visit www.adventureassociates.com

Adventure Associates under new management (again)

Leading adventure travel company, Adventure Associates, has been sold to explorer, mountaineer and adventure tourism industry pioneer, Greg Mortimer, in partnership with experienced explorers and adventure travel operators, Sue Werner and Henrik Lovendahl.

Greg Mortimer founded Aurora Expeditions in the early 1990s with his wife Margaret after working together on the Australian Bicentennial Antarctic Expedition, which he organised and led in 1988. He is the recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), three Australian Geographic Society medals and was the first Australian to climb Mt Everest and K2.

Both Lovendahl and Werner have a long history of adventure travel having worked with Mortimer at Aurora Expeditions and as expedition leaders in the Arctic and Antarctic for almost two decades. Collectively these three explorers have visited the polar regions more than 200 times, combining their wealth of knowledge with their passion for showing others the world’s most fascinating places.

One of Australia’s longest-running adventure travel companies, this year Adventure Associates celebrates 40 years of taking those with a spirit of adventure to the far corners of the world.

Dennis Collaton,
founder of
Adventure Associates

Industry veteran Dennis Collaton founded Adventure Associates in 1973 with the goal of making the company the pre-eminent tour operator to South America; which in those days was an emerging destination for travellers. In more recent years the company has created and expanded its portfolio to include more than 50 destinations: from the polar reaches to the depths of the Amazon jungle; under the keen eye of renowned adventurer Mike McDowell, founder of Space Adventures, Quark Expeditions and Deep Ocean Expeditions.

"I am delighted that Adventure Associates is in the experienced hands of Greg Mortimer,” said Collaton. “He, Sue and Henrik have shown a passion for exotic travel, and I’m sure they will keep Adventure Associates at the forefront of the adventure travel industry."

“Dennis’ original vision and Mike’s cutting-edge creativity in pushing the boundaries of adventure travel will continue to provide a great model for us," said Mortimer. "We will continue their good work by managing the business with the values that have made the company such a long-standing success: passion, integrity, and going ‘beyond the ordinary’.

“We are currently reviewing our tours to get back to the company roots of offering small group expeditions to extraordinary places on all seven continents; as well as continuing the company’s original focus on South America and Antarctica through our partnership with specialist agency Movidas,” said Mortimer.

Robyn Smith of Movidas, a boutique agency that specialises in travel to Latin, Central and South America, and a long-term former employee of Adventure Associates, will take on the role of Travel Manager for Adventure Associates.

Other specialist tours in the Adventure Associates portfolio include two voyages at the end of this year celebrating the centenary of the main science programs undertaken by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by Sir Douglas Mawson; camping with Emperor Penguins in Antarctica; diving the RMS Titanic; and in-depth journeys in the Russian Far East, Africa and Asia.

For further information on Adventure Associates tours and destinations contact +61 2 8916 3000 or visit www.adventureassociates.com

Still not too late to join an Antarctic cruise this coming season.

Cute Adelie penguins

Have you ever thought ‘Why would I go to Antarctica?’ Well, you could join an exclusive club of people who have discovered the absolute magic of the white continent. It is an experience difficult to explain in mere words….the silence, the sounds, the air, the majesty… and the penguins! Join the club by taking one of the many different cruises we have to offer. We have trips of all styles and durations. For an introduction to the continent there are Antarctic Peninsula cruises departing from Ushuaia, Argentina. We also have fly/cruises departing from Punta Arenas, flying over Cape Horn and the Drake Passage to join your cruise from the Peninsula. For slightly more in-depth visit to Antarctica we offer cruises which reach the Polar Circle, the Weddell Sea and longer cruises which include the Falklands and stunning South Georgia.
And psssst…..
We also have some special expeditions coming up with visits to the Macquarie Island and Mawson’s Hut - watch this space for the official release of these expeditions.

READ MORE

Antarctica Deal from Groupon

Once in a Lifetime Seven-Day Fly and Cruise Expedition with All Meals, Drinks, Excursions and More for One Person from Adventure Associates

• Price for one person
• Seven-day Antarctica tour with Adventure Associates, with:
• Return flights from Chile to Antarctica
• Five-night Antarctic cruise
• One night at Hotel Rey Don Felipe, Punta Arenas
• All meal, drinks and excursions
• $200 return voucher for your next tour

Here's the deal:
http://travel.groupon.com.au/716376966-Adventure-Associates/

15% Off Arctic Cruise Combo

Click for details

Spitsbergen, Dutch for 'pointed peaks', has a human population and a Polar bear population that is roughly the same. It is one of the most unspoiled wilderness areas in the world. Although 60% of the land is covered with flowing glaciers, it has incredibly diverse scenery, including tundra, fjords and mountains from which it gets its name.

Titanic 100 Years Anniversary Expedition

The RMS Titanic was the brainchild of the famous White Star Line, which specialised in luxury passenger vessels, and Harland & Wolff, the Irish shipyard that designed and built her.

 

268 metres long, Titanic was not only the largest moving object ever built by man, she was also the most opulent. More than 14,000 labourers and craftsmen poured their hearts and souls into her design, construction and appointment, toiling on her for four long years.

 

On the night of April 14, 1912, the unsinkable Titanic, just days into her maiden transatlantic crossing, struck an iceberg and immediately began to take on water. Within a few short hours, the greatest ship in the world had come to rest on the bottom of the ocean, taking with her the lives of more than 1,500 people.

 

The mystique surrounding the Titanic disaster has diminished little over time. Each generation has held the memory close, preserving it in books, music and movies. Today, the story stands as modern myth: a luxurious dream ship brimming with the Gilded Age's celebrities and its steerage class; a technological wonder so sophisticated, so sound, as to be deemed invulnerable and 'unsinkable'.

 

To join in the 100 Year RMS Titanic Celebration

 

Contact our consultants to secure your place on board and be a part of history.

 

12 day Non Dive Expedition to the RMS Titanic fr $10,000

Optional Dive Expedition.

 

Departing July 2-14 St John's, Newfoundland

Departing July 13-25 St John's, Newfoundland

 

Go to www.adventureassociates.com

Free call 1800 222 141

Email us marketing@adventureassociates.com

 

Adventure Associates is Australian owned and has been operating since 1973. We specialise in small group and individual travel to unique destinations around the world.

 

Level 8, 309 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia

Ph: 02 8916 3000 - Toll Free 1 800 222 141

Email: marketing@adventureassociates.com

Website: www.adventureassociates.com

 

Adventure Associates is moving!

From Tuesday 14 June, Adventure Associates' new street (and mailing) address will be:

Level 8, 309 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Our phone numbers remain the same:
Phone: (02) 8916 3000
Toll-Free: 1800 222 141
mail@adventureassociates.com

New fax number to be advised

www.adventureassociates.com

Cruise Weekly: Is this the world’s most adventurous cruise?

Without doubt, there is one ocean liner that embodies the majesty and romance of the seas better than any other. Her most famous voyage was her only voyage and on the night of April 14, 1912, she struck a glancing blow on an iceberg at full speed, puncturing five of her watertight compartments. Three hours later, RMS Titantic, the grandest ship ever built, settled on the bottom of the ocean at a depth of some 4000m.

Kimberley Early Bird Special - Save 15%

Join Australian's premier small-ship cruise line Coral Princess Cruises to discover the remarkable Kimberley coast, one of Australia's most remote and spectacular wilderness areas. Cruise in unrivalled style and total comfort aboard the award-winning 'Coral Princess' or the state of the art flagship 'Oceanic Discoverer'. Both small-ships feature the facilities and amenities you have come to expect from much larger vessels, yet allow access to spectacular landscapes inaccessible to bigger ships. Experience the friendly and attentive service of our all-Australian crew and enjoy the finest of local dining as you explore the many natural highlights, stunning landscapes and ancient cultures of this seldom visited part of Australia. This truly is the cruise experience of a lifetime!

Our 10 night Kimberley expeditions cruise between Darwin and Broome and depart regularly between April and October 2010. Join us to explore the remote river gorges, rarely seen Aboriginal art, towering waterfalls and natural rugged beauty of this ancient coastline and our expert, all-Australian team of experienced guides and naturalists will acquaint you with the region's stunning natural scenery unique marine, bird and wildlife.

[More Info]

Cruise The Ring Of Fire

Kamchatka And Beyond

Including the Kamchatka Peninsula, Kuril and Commander Islands

Book before 30 April 2009 and receive US$1,000 discount off your selected option!



Cruise these little known and seldom visited regions on board the polar class passenger vessel Spirit of Enderby. Cruise accompanied by a world-class team of biologists and historians ensuring an experience of a lifetime. Limited to 50 passengers.

CRUISE ONLY:

10-21 July 20009

Priced from US$5,436

Airport and hotel transfers is Russia - One night's accommodation/meals prior to the cruise - 10 Night cruise - Free Russian Visa invitation letter (required for obtaining visa).

ESCORTED TOUR OPTION:

9-22 July 2009

Priced from US$8,367
Ex Seoul (South Korea)

Return flights to/from Seoul & Petropavlovsk - Two night's accommodation/meals prior to cruise (Additional cost if flight schedule requires additional nights) - 10 nights cruise - One night’s accommodation/meals after the cruise - Airport/hotel transfers in Seoul and Russia - Free Russian Visa invitation letter (required for obtaining visa) - Services of Russian/English speaking escort.

ESCORTED TOUR AND CRUISE:

7-24 July 2009

Priced from US$10,997. Includes additional days in Vladivostok and Kamchatka Regions - Fully escorted.

Return flights to/from Seoul & Petropavlovsk - 7 nights pre and post cruise accommodation - 10 nights cruise - All meals except 5 dinners and 5 lunches - Airport/hotel transfers in Seoul and Russia - All admissions as per final itinerary - Free Russian Visa Invitation letter (required for obtaining visa).

*All prices are twin share per person in US$ and subject to change without notice.

Contact our Expedition Cruise Experts on 1800 222 141 for complete details, itinerary and bookings.

Adventure Associates

New Life for Ms. Tydeman

Artists impression of rebuilt vessel

MV Plancius started her life in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named Hr. Ms. Tydeman. In June 2004, the vessel was taken out of active service for rebuilding.

Still under construction, but available for Polar expeditions in June 2009, the vessel will be completely rebuilt as a 112-passenger vessel and shall comply with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea), is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and will fly the Dutch flag.

The vessel will be comfortable and nicely decorated, but is not a luxurious vessel. Its voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel program, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel will fully meet the demands to achieve this.

M/V “Plancius” can accommodate 112 passengers in 54 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower in 4 triple private cabins, 40 twin private cabins (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters).

The vessel is manned by 30 international crew members (inc. 10 stewardesses/cabin cleaners), 6 hotel staff (4 chefs, 1 purser and 1 steward-barman), 6 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 5 guides-lecturers) and 1 doctor.

MV Plancius is operated by Oceanwide Expeditions and represented in Australia by Adventure Associates

Adventure Associates offers US$2000 air credit

IMMEDIATE antarctic NEWS : 20 January 2009

SEIZE THE MOMENT!

An amazing one-time offer subject to availability and until cabins are
sold, act now.

US$2,000 Air Credit

Travel to Antarctica has never been more attractive, call us for
information about this special end of season incentive. Book and pay
in full on any of the voyages mentioned below (subject to
availability) and receive a US$2,000 per person Air Credit towards the
cost of your flight to Ushuaia, South America to join the cruise.

Offer applies to NEW Bookings only made directly with Adventure
Associates. This special offer cannot be combined with any other
special offer/s available at this time.

Limited Cabin categories available on:-

Crossing the Circle –
15 Day cruise February 9 to 23, 2009 aboard Ocean Nova

Classic Antarctica –
12 Day cruise February 11 to 22, 2009 aboard Clipper Adventurer
12 Day cruise Feb 20 to March 3, 2009 aboard Lyubov Orlova

Antarctic Peninsula,South Georgia & Falkland Islands
20 Day cruise February 15 to March 6, 2009 aboard Akademik Ioffe
20 Day cruise February 21 to March 12, 2009 aboard Clipper Adventurer
20 Day cruise February 22 to March 13, 2009 aboard Ocean Nova

Call our Polar consultants NOW for availability and ask about the
Special Air Credit.

Contact Adventure Associates on 1800 222 141 for information or visit
www.adventureassociates.com

Early bird booking offer for Antarctica - Save US$500pp

Adventure Associates is pleased to announce an amazing
Early Booking offer for specific Antarctic Expeditions during the 2009-2010 season.
Save US$500* per person
and also receive
A complimentary night's accommodation
in a first class hotel with breakfast, in either Buenos Aires or Santiago en-route to Ushuaia to join your cruise of choice.
A complimentary half day tour to the Tierra Del Fuego National Park,
departing from Ushuaia prior to joining your cruise.

Full details

Alexandra Shackleton joins Epic Antarctica Expedition

The Hon. Alexandra Shackleton is Sir Ernest Shackleton's only granddaughter. Her father was Shackleton's younger son, Edward, who became Lord Shackleton.

Alexandra, a history graduate, is president of the James Caird Society, dedicated to preserving the memory of Sir Ernest Shackleton and honoring his leadership. She is a member of several Antarctic and Southern Ocean societies. Alexandra was a consultant on the television drama Shackleton, starring Kenneth Branagh. She has written several prefaces to books about her grandfather, and has spoken about his accomplishments around the world.

We are pleased to announce that Alexandra will be guest lecturer aboard Epic Antarctica: Semi-Circumnavigation aboard the giant icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov. She will share her insights into her grandfather's life and the drive to preserve the hut he built in the Ross Sea.

This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of this historic adventure. The 31-day expedition departs Ushuaia on 13 November ending in Lyttelton (Christchurch NZ) on 13 December 2008. Prices are from US$19,900 per person triple share.

Exalted adventurers truly captured the spirit of Antarctic exploration, with Scott and his crew perishing on that fateful return journey from the pole in 1912 and Shackleton performing his miraculous 1916 rescue - now the stuff of legend.

It is in this spirit that Adventure Associates has offered voyages to the frozen continent for nearly two decades. Thousands of expeditioners have enjoyed a true journey of a lifetime, often retracing the steps of these intrepid pioneers in the process.

[ Read More ]

From Fly-fishing in Patagonia to Luxury Amazon Cruising

Adventure Associates introduces two new ‘top-end’ products to its extensive Latin American portfolio.



The superb M.V. Atmosphere, a state-of-the-art expedition cruise vessel offers guests an unique opportunity of exploring Patagonia by air, land and water. Thanks to a first rate crew and a cutting edge air and water transport system, M.V. Atmosphere can deliver the thrill of fly-fishing, the majesty of whale-watching as well as bird-watching, nature photography and a varied selection of soft outdoor adventures in the southernmost corner of the world.
She was designed and carefully built to be the perfect means to explore the unseen Chilean Patagonia. Exclusive and intimate, she is manned by 32 crew and has a capacity limited to only 28 passengers. It carries aboard a six-passenger Bell 407 helicopter to airlift explorers to otherwise unreachable spots, six jet-boats to conquer the most recondite rivers of the Chilean Patagonia, a top-of-the-line Zodiac Hurricane boat to scout the coastline and an array of specialized watercraft such as portable zodiacs for heli-fishing operations and kayaks. Deluxe cabins for an 8-day cruise are from US$10,115 per person twin share, with complimentary transfers to and from Puerto Montt.

In tandem with this, is the new M.V.Aqua, the first luxury vessel ever to cruise the northern Amazon. She has 12 oversized guest suites, including four 180° panoramic master suites, featuring en suite sitting areas and generous outward-facing panoramic windows. The handsomely decorated, air-conditioned suites were designed by noted Peruvian architect Jordi Puig. Guests can socialise in the dining room, indoor lounge, on the observation deck and in the outdoor lounge. Gourmets, can enjoy fine dining deep in the Amazon jungle. Sound unlikely? Yet you will find it aboard the M.V. Aqua. You can gaze out at the great wilderness from the elegant comfort of the ship's dining room. Executive chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Lima's culinary stars, has created a menu that draws on both Peruvian and European influence. There are 3, 4 and 7 day cruise itineraries departing from Iquitos, with transfers provided from the airport to the wharf. Seven day cruises are from US$4,550 per person twin share.

Adventure Associates offerings range from exploration tours for the first time visitor and myriad choice for return travellers. For further information intending passengers should contact Adventure Associates on 1800 222 141 or visit their website at www.adventureassociates.com

Contact Davyyd Bressington for further information on (02) 8916 3007