BOAT RIDES WE LIKE

This selection of  boat rides that we like is not a scientific selection or even a graded one – it’s a serendipitous list of travel ideas; some of them can be added together or mixed one with another where geography, or an aircraft allows. If you just want to book something yourself that’s fine, but if you want us to design something into a wider itinerary just let us know.

“If you don’t know where you want to go or what you want to do, they’ll talk to you until they understand what appeals to you. Then the ideas come tumbling out, many of them from their own experience. They know the pitfalls and the practicalities of unusual travel adventures.”

Simon James

Antarctic

Western Peninsula – From Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, across the Drake Passage to the South Shetland islands – penguin rookeries and southern elephant seals - then to the Antarctic Peninsula, - try polar plunges, paddle the ice-floes in a kayak, and take a helicopter trip over the white wastelands. Two excursions a day going ashore or riding around the icebergs.

Weddell Sea

A two-week cruise from Ushuaia, not to the more popular west, but heading instead to the east, to the Weddell Sea. It’s a more demanding trip, with vast ice-floes, huge icebergs and unpredictable seas, but there’s a lot to see amongst the waves. Blue, humpback and fin whales, leopard seals, Weddell and crabeater seals crawl out onto ice floes.  Here, too, baleen whales feed on the swarms of krill and seals and penguins occupy the ice, with some 200,000 nesting on Paulet Island alone. Helicopter side trips in search of the wildlife add to the adventure. For a touch of history there’s Dundee Island where, near an abandoned research station, colonies of elephant seals patrol.

Arctic

North West Passage – an exciting journey connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Once this was a route impossible for the traveller to contemplate, but since 2007 the Arctic pack ice has melted sufficiently to allow Aug to Sept ice-strengthened vessels to complete the trip. There is a shorter voyage which loops around from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, to see Narwhal and meet Inuvit, but the full trip through the North-West passage to Nome in Alaska gives better bragging rights.

North East passage – Tromso in Norway to Nome in Alaska. Lesser known than the North West Passage, this is the Russian equivalent, traversing from the Bering Strait to the White Sea. Off-limits until 2014 it is now possible. Highlights include the ice flows of the Kara and Berents Seas whilst for wildlife there are walrus and polar bears, along with Franz Joseph Land with its birdlife.

North Pole – Starting from the Russian port of Murmansk, the ain of this trip is to stand at 90*N. Travel is by a no-frills nuclear powered Russian ice-breaker, sailing from Murmansk in summer – June-July – on a 2-week voyage. Polar plunges and hot-air balloon excursions or helicopter fly-offs from the ship are part of the experience before you plant your feet on the North pole. NEED TO COMBINE THIS WITH THE EXISTING MURMANSK VOYAGE –

Russian Arctic cruise – Usually starts from Anadyr, Russia. Follows the Chukotka coastline and the islands off-shore. This route is Impenetrable in winter, but the summer thaw allows a brief window of opportunity in August and September. There is a people aspect to the trip as its possible to visit the Inuit villages of Cape Dezhnev whilst Wrangel island is a polar bear breeding ground – during the isolated winter days there are up to 400 there. – Also the island boasts Arctic foxes, walruses and the odd mammoth bone.

Cruise North-East Greenland – in summer – Jun to September – cruises run the length of the North-east cost, the remotest part of Greenland. Take zodiac excursions past icebergs to the ruins of old Thule winter houses at Sydkap; the Thule were the forerunners of the present-day Inuit people. Treks ashore offer the chance to see musk oxen and gaze at the Northern Lights.

North West Greenland – Try the UNESCO-listed ice-fjord of Ilulissat, where icebergs galore drift past. Its situated on an inlet of Disko Bay – ships sail out past the monster icebergs up the Davis Strait. The world’s most northerly indigenous community lies at Siorapaluk just 1400 kms from the N Pole. Visit Devon and Ellesmere islands with Thule ruins, and polar bears on the ice floes.

Canada

Rideau Canal, Ontario. Take a leisurely week on board a narrowboat, chugging along this UNESCO listed waterway, that dates back to the 19th century.

Chile

Stay on board a small expedition ship…helicopter trips from the vessel to heli-ski, or for heli-fly-fishing… using jetboats and RIBS… trekking and kayaking… an adrenalin-fuelled stay in Patagonia.

Ecuador

Wildlife cruise in Galapagos.

Greece

Island hopping for a week on your own private yacht. The crew do the work; you do the relaxing…

India

Houseboats in Kerala. The Kerala Backwaters offer a leisurely 3 or 4 days meandering slowly through the mangroves and past paddies and island villages, aboard a kettuvalam, a converted barge with comfortable accommodation. Elegant slow travel at its best, time on a houseboat is a great addition to a touring itinerary in southern India.

Maldives

Luxury Yacht week. Spend a week aboard a luxury yacht, a floating resort with four decks, but just 19 cabins – 10 cabins and 9 suites. With a crew of 30 to look after 40 guests, the crew to guest ratio is exceptional. The week is ideal for divers accompanied by non-diving partners, as on board there is a spa, a gym, a jacuzzi and even an open-air cinema, for anyone not attracted to time in the water. But for most guests the main attraction is the diving, as the yacht holds PADI 5 Star Dive Resort status. Diving details depend on guests’ Certification level, but all diving is from the 19metre dive-boat which accompanies the yacht. There’s the chance to see various shark species, including the giant whale shark, as well as manta rays, whilst above water there’s time to explore deserted islands and local villages.

Madagascar

Dhow sailing in Madagascar

Philippines

Bangka voyage. The word ‘bangka’ translates as ‘boat’and refers to the ubiquitous local vessels that sail around the islands of the Philippines. Typically, a bangka will have a narrow double-ended hull and 1 or 2 outriggers and depending on size might be paddled or might use an engine. A private trip on a bangka, sailing between October and November or March and August, is a basic experience. Nights are spent ashore in basic huts, and days are spent sailing, lazing and lunching on deserted beaches. There’s a chef who will cook up local seafood - think calamari and garlic prawns around a campfire. Trips start from El Nido island and a private voyage with a local islander crew provided is usually 3 or 5 days, with no fixed timetable or itinerary. With travel time between the outside world and El Nido, a week will be needed. Perfect as a get-away from civilisation but your party must be prepared for very basic conditions. Preceded and followed by a night or two in a 5-star hotel of course.