Finally back on the programme: explore Franz Josef Land in depth on this expedition far away from civilisation. This region in the Russian Arctic is inaccessible to most people. Many pioneering expeditions of the 20th century set out from Tromso and this is where the gateway to the Arctic Ocean will open for you too.

Look forward to a warm welcome in Russia as you explore Murmansk* or visit a nuclear-powered icebreaker*.

From Murmansk, the HANSEATIC nature will venture in the footsteps of William Barents and head for the deep bays of the rugged, elemental pair of islands that make up Novaya Zemlya. The sense of pure expedition continues to pervade here as you land with the Zodiacs. Striking mountains are framed by seemingly endless tundra. Mighty glaciers meet the sea with towering faces of ice. Impressive cliffs provide breeding sites for thousands of Arctic seabirds. The feeling of exploration soars with each nautical mile as the HANSEATIC nature presses on further. A breathtaking world awaits at the edge of the ice fields, which lay undiscovered until the end of the 19th century.

Icy and isolated, surreal and remote – a thrilling expedition lies ahead in the Arctic Ocean around Franz Josef Land. You may even discover something about yourself along the way. Explore the island group in exceptional detail with the HANSEATIC nature. The archipelago was discovered in 1873 by the Austro-Hungarian North Pole expedition led by Payer and Weyprecht, which was the first to step ashore on Wilczek Island. Almost 150 years later, you will make that very same step. Massive glacier fronts, interrupted by protruding mountain plateaus shape the remote terrain. The weather and ice will determine our course and ensure that you enjoy an unforgettable sense of expedition – including on Hall Island with Cape Tegetthoff. Here and throughout the cruise, you might be lucky enough to spot polar bears. The Zodiacs will take you to rocky needles created by volcanic activity and delicate carpets of moss with the yellow flowers of Arctic poppies. The glaciated south-east coast of Wilczek Land makes for a spectacular contrast. Apollonov Island is known for the walrus colony that rests on the beach here. The animals weigh around 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) and make an impressive sight from a respectful distance. The most northerly destination for your expedition is Rudolf Island. Only the pack ice and the Arctic Ocean lie between you and the North Pole. The Zodiacs will take you to a popular magnet for geologists on Champ Island: massive, perfectly spherical stones with diameters of up to 3 m (9.8 ft). Can you solve the puzzle of the geodes? Visit a former Soviet Arctic station dating back to the 1930s when you land in Tikhaya Bay. Cruising off Rubini Rock will reveal the striking basalt rocks where kittiwakes and thick-billed murres breed between colourful lichens. Bell Island takes its name from a bell-shaped mountain. Would you have expected to find the oldest building in the archipelago here? A wooden house built in 1881 in the vast wilderness of stone and snow is a small sign of civilisation – and is one of the lasting memories to take home from Franz Josef Land.

Your days of exploration in Norway are filled with the spirit of Fridtjof Nansen, the famous explorer and zoologist, as you watch the large seabird colonies while cruising off Hornoya. Find out about the 20th-century polar expedition and the history of trade with Russia at the museum in Vardo.

After these moving insights, enjoy the picturesque views in the fishing village of Skarsvag. As you cruise to North Cape*, the famous globe on the plateau not only marks the geographical end of Europe but also signifies the end of your cruise in one of the most remote corners of our planet.