Ship-based Kayak Trips
From the wilds of Antarctica to the Arctic and Russian coasts
SOUTHERN SEAVENTURES
2011
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Southern Sea Ventures was founded by Al Bakker in 1988 when he first guided paddling groups in the Yasawa Islands in Fiji. You can now experience 24 different sea kayak trips around the globe. Our guides’ expertise ensures safe and comfortable holidays whether you choose a ship-based expedition or a kayak/camping trip.
Our guides have many decades’ experience of leading sea kayak trips all over the world. We work with a select group of partners to provide local expertise in culture, language and history of the regions we paddle through. Head Office | Sydney, Australia
Southern Sea Ventures Pty LtdPO Box 641 St IvesNSW 2075 Australia
ABN 66 003 487 090
[email protected] +61 2 8901 3287 F +61 2 8901 3297
HOW TO BOOK / DETAILED ITINERARIESOur booking form with terms and conditions and all trip itineraries are available to download from our website or contact the office for details.
Founder, Managing Director and Senior Kayaking Guide
Toby StorySenior Guide
Megan GroverSales Manager
Judd HillSenior Guide/Chef
Additional InformationGROUP SIZE Small groups, generally 8–12 participants.
MINIMUM AGE14 years for trips graded easy, 16 years for all other trips. Call if younger.
KAYAKSSingle and double kayaks with cockpits are used. Dry suits provided on all polar trips.
INSURANCETravel insurance is required for all trips and is a condition of booking.
CANCELLATIONS, CHANGES, TRANSFERS Please read the complete terms and conditions on the booking form before signing and returning it to us.
TRIP COSTSBased on ground costs and exchange rates at the time of printing this brochure (Sept 2010). We reserve the right to amend our prices if there are significant increases in ground or voyage costs and/or marked fluctuations in the exchange rate upon which the land content is based.
WEATHER Sea kayaking can be subject to inclement weather beyond the control of Southern Sea Ventures which may affect an itinerary. Please read the Weather clause in our detailed terms and conditions.
Southern Sea Ventures Team
The Kayak Experience
Start planning your kayak adventure now!
enquire about our kayak/camping brochure
Trip Calendar
Kayak/Camping Trips Fiji Yasawa Islands May–October
Fiji Blue Lagoon Mini Escape June
Fiji Expedition June, October
Australia Hinchinbrook May–November
Palawan The Last Frontier February, May
Tonga Vava’u January–December
Tonga Ha’apai July–November
Panama January–March
Turkey Remote Southwest September–October
Turkey Turquoise Coast June
Turkey Active Turkey April, May, September
Croatia Paddlers Gourmet June
Croatia Dalmatian Odyssey September
Croatia Highlights September
Croatia Cliffs, Caves & Griffon Vultures June
email us to request our kayak/camping brochure
Ship-based Kayak Trips Spitsbergen July–August
Greenland, Spitsbergen & Iceland August–September
Iceland & Greenland Explorer August–September
Antarctica November–February
Russia White Sea July
Russia Franz Josef land July–August
Russia Northeast Passage August–September
Russia Bering Sea Kamchatka September
Russia Ring of Fire September
South Georgia & Falklands November, January, February
South GeorgiaFalkland Islands
Panama
Greenland
Iceland
Spitsbergen
Croatia
Turkey
Palawan
Australia Tonga
Fiji
Antarctica
Franz Josef Land Northeast Passage
russiaWhite Sea Bering SeaKamchatka
Ring of Fire
Welcome to Southern Sea Ventures
To enjoy our holidays you should be moderately fit, appreciate the outdoors and have a sense of adventure. Trip grading is only a guideline and the difficulty will vary with weather conditions. We are always happy to discuss your paddling experience and suitability for a particular holiday, and to suggest appropriate tuition at home to prepare you for the sea kayaking trip of your dreams.
On our ship-based trips we sleep and dine on board. For our Arctic, Antarctic and Russian coast trips, some previous paddling is required. On the South Georgia, Falklands and Antarctic Peninsula voyage, a greater level of experience is recommended.
Grades AbilityEasy–Moderate Suitable for all abilities
Moderate Intermediate Prior paddling experience required
Moderate Plus Strong Intermediate Solid paddling experience is essential
from the wilds of Antarctica to the Arctic and Russian coasts
*see our kayak/camping brochure for details on our tropical and Mediterranean trips
Kamchatka Bears, Russia by Judd Hill
High Arctic and Antarctica Aboard Polar Pioneer
Spitsbergen Moderate
11 day voyages 8 to 9 days kayaking
Life explodes during the brief Arctic summer and sea kayaks are a superb way to view walrus, seals, reindeer and millions of migratory birds. Narrow ice-choked fjords, towering mountains and glacial vistas in the land of the midnight sun are backdrops to the home of the polar bear.
Cost from AU$7030
2011 Departures 11–21 Jul, 21–31 Jul, 31 Jul–10 Aug
Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland Moderate
14 day voyage 8 to 9 days kayaking
Explore the world’s largest fjords and fantastic geology. From Spitsbergen, a breeding ground for polar bears, we cross to the NE coast of Greenland. See twisted skylines of rock pinnacles capped with snow and ice. An amazing paddling experience as we watch for narwhals, musk oxen and arctic hares.
Cost from AU$8750
2011 Departures 10–23 Aug, 2–15 Sep
New Trip Iceland and Greenland Explorer Moderate
11 day voyage 6 to 7 days kayaking
Join us on a new voyage of exploration to Iceland and Greenland. From Westman Islands we cross Denmark Strait to Greenland’s wild south-east coast. We’ll paddle among enormous icebergs in fjords surrounded by rugged peaks and visit a traditional Inuit village. Be one of the fortunate few to follow Nansen’s footsteps on this inaugural trip.
Cost from AU$7030
2011 Departure 23 Aug–2 Sep
Antarctic Peninsula Moderate
9–12 day voyages 5 to 7 days kayaking
Antarctica is the most humbling and powerful place on earth; to see it by kayak is an experience of a lifetime. Each day holds unexpected wonders, from encounters with whales to serene paddles through narrow fjords dwarfed by enormous icebergs. Each trip is guaranteed to have new and exciting experiences.
Cost from: 9 day US$6725 / 10 + 11 day US$7075 / 12 day US$7330New 9 & 10 day voyages include one way flight between the peninsula and Punta Arenas.
2011/12 Departures antarctic peninsula 11 day 28 Nov–8 Dec
12 day 8–19 Dec *12 day voyage includes one extra day kayaking (Ushuaia to Ushuaia)
across the circle10 day 19–28 Dec Ushuaia to King George Island, includes flight King George Island to Punta Arenas
9 day 28 Dec 2011–5 Jan 2012 King George Island to Ushuaia, includes flight Punta Arenas to King George Island
SHIP-BASED KAYAK TRIPSOur ice-strengthened expedition ships, Polar Pioneer and its sister ship Akademik Shokalskiy, provide a comfortable base for our paddlers. Accommodating 54 passengers, a maximum of 12 may select to kayak during the voyage. Accommodation is simple yet comfortable; all cabins have outside portholes. The ship has medical services, a library, cosy bar and qualified chefs. Onboard lectures by naturalists and historians unlock the mysteries of the areas we visit. For the full list of inclusions plus detailed itinerary and destination information, please refer to our trip notes. These can be downloaded from our website www.southernseaventures.com.
High Arctic and Antarctica continued
South Georgia, Falklands and Antarctic Peninsula17 day voyage 9 to 11 days kayaking Moderate Plus
Combine the teeming wildlife of the sub-Antarctic islands with the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula. South Georgia’s snow-capped peaks tower above abandoned whaling stations reclaimed by fur seals, elephant seals and king penguins. Wandering albatross and countless seabirds soar overhead while orcas and humpback whales forage nearby.
Cost from US$11,140New Includes one way flight between Santiago and Port Stanley
2011 Departure 12–28 Nov Port Stanley to Ushuaia, includes flight Santiago to Port Stanley
2012 Departures 5–21 Jan Ushuaia to Port Stanley, includes flight Port Stanley to Santiago21 Jan–6 Feb Port Stanley to Ushuaia, includes flight Santiago to Port Stanley
Russian Arctic, Bering Sea and Kamchatka Aboard Akademik Shokalskiy
New Trip Secrets of the White Sea Moderate
10 day voyage 7 to 8 days kayaking
Kayak in the midnight sun! Join us as we paddle 12th century Pomor sailing routes, discovering the many bays and islands of the Barents and White Seas. Unique local animal life, prehistoric and medieval sites plus the World Heritage listed Solovetskiy archipelago draw us through a stunning high Arctic landscape.
Cost from US$7675
2011 Departure 17–26 Jul
New Trip Voyage to the End of the Earth Moderate
Franz Josef Land 14 day voyage 7 to 8 days kayaking
Be among the very few to kayak in Russia’s Arctic National Park. Extremely remote, the archipelagos of Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land offer exciting paddling opportunities. Dramatic cliffs swarming with sea birds, drifting icebergs, walrus, seals and one of the world’s main denning areas for polar bears make this a trip not to be missed!
Cost from US$8980
2011 Departure 26 Jul–8 Aug
New Trip Across the North East Passage Moderate
26 day voyage 20 days kayaking (approximately)
Paddle on top of the world! Late summer as the pack ice breaks up, we navigate through the difficult NE Passage. Paddle where few foreigners have been and discover the extensive islands, rivers and sea cliffs of northern Siberia. Remote indigenous communities and extensive wildlife nature reserves ensure every day is an adventure.
Cost from US$16,150
2011 Departure 10 Aug–4 Sep
New Trip Bering Sea Explorer Moderate
Chukotka & Kamchatka 12 day voyage 8 to 10 days kayaking
Discover Russia’s most spectacular wilderness as we explore the Chukotka Peninsula, Commander Islands and Kamchatka. Volcanoes tower above us as we kayak in coastal rivers, visit pristine nature reserves and traditional fishing villages. Profuse wildlife with bears, sea otters, whales and sea lions combined with soaring eagles and untold sea birds, make for unforgettable paddling.
Cost from US$8225
2011 Departure 5–16 Sep
New Trip Ring of Fire Moderate
Kamchatka & Kuril Islands13 day voyage 9 to 11 days kayaking
Experience adventure kayaking in the Kamchatka wilderness and volcanic stepping-stones of the Kuril islands. Paddling in these secluded islands is a privilege few have experienced. We’ll share the water with inquisitive seals and sea otters whilst the air is alive with thousands of sea birds. The diverse wildlife, dramatic sea stacks and towering skyline make for an amazing kayak trip.
Cost from US$8125
2011 Departure 16–28 Sep
Sea Kayak Adventures
For questions or to receive our email newsletter, email us at [email protected]
Greenland Ice Sculptures by Alan Burger
Arctic Pack Ice
Ice strengthened ships
Antarctica
Kuril Islands, Russia
Elephant Seals, South Georgia
Ice maze by Peter Hall