WildWings announceS "The Pacific's Ring of Fire"

A new wildlife voyage planned for summer 2007 onboard the 48-passenger
expedition cruise vessel Spirit of Enderby
Experience the 'wild frontier' feeling on WildWings' fourteen-day 'Ring
of Fire' voyage sailing onboard the Russian-flagged, 'Spirit of
Enderby', and visiting prime expedition sites along the geologically
active arc that stretches from the Kuril Island chain across to the
Kamchatka Peninsula - a region that practically percolates with
geothermal activity.

As pioneers to this region in the mid-nineties, WildWings are pleased
to introduce their new itinerary featuring the area's many active
volcanoes, huge calderas, geysers and natural thermal springs, as well
as lush forests, salmon filled rivers, mountain ranges, remote lakes,
rocky coastlines and vast tundra.

Combined with a potentially mouth-watering species list including
spectacled and Brunnich's guillemots, whiskered and rhinoceros auklets,
tufted and horned puffins, and white-billed and Pacific divers. Some of
Japan's unique birds are also anticipated such as Japanese cranes,
Blakiston's fishing owl and mountain hawk eagle.

Mammals should also be in good supply with potential sightings of
killer, sperm, humpback and fin whales, as well as Pacific and
white-sided dolphins and, a particular Wildwings' favourite, the
seemingly turbo-charged Dall's porpoise.

Passengers will embark the 48-passenger ship, 'Spirit of Enderby', in
the port of Korsakov, on the southernmost tip of Sakhalin, and set sail
for the Kuril Islands (known as 'Thousand Islands Archipelago' in
Japanese), the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander Islands.

The Kuril Islands Stretching over 1000 kilometres north-east from Japan
to Kamchatka, the Kuril island chain separates the Sea of Okhotsk from
the north Pacific Ocean. The itinerary includes seven days exploring
the islands including Iturup, where there will be a chance to meet and
enjoy the hospitality of the local Russian people; Shimushir, where a
huge caldera gives easy access to the spectacular slopes of Karlomyy
volcano; Raikoke, where unbelievable numbers of northern fulmars nest
and Stellar's sea lions breed; Matua, where there are military remains
from the Japanese occupation in World War II; Yankicho and Piponkicha,
where there are hot pools to soak in; Onekotan, where a carpet of
wildflowers surrounds the Black Lake lying in the lee of Volcano Nemo;
Paramushir, where there is a known population of Asian brown bear and
Atlasova, where an almost perfect volcanic cone rises sheer out of the
sea to a height of 2339 metres, the highest volcano in the Kuril chain.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is the northern link in the Kuril-Kamchatka
Islands arc and has the highest density of volcanoes and associated
volcanic phenomena in the world.

The Zhuponavo River region on the Peninsula offers superb opportunities
for birding and nature walks. The shallow, meandering river is
negotiated using the ship's 'naiads' - aluminium-hulled inflatable
boats that are unique to the 'Spirit of Enderby'. Keeping a watchful
eye for brown bears, the birders will thrill at the potential to see up
to 40 species of bird including 'Siberian' species such as the
yellow-breasted bunting, black scotor and far-eastern curlew.

The Peninsula is the breeding ground for the ultimate raptor - the
majestic Steller's sea eagle, the largest eagle in the world and, in
the mature birch forest along the Zhuponavo River, there is a good
chance of finding a Steller's sea eagle's eyrie.

The Commander Islands are a group of four islands lying east of the
Kamchatka Peninsula. Famous for being the only place where the extinct
Steller's sea cow was ever recorded, the islands are steeped in history
and were named after Commander Vitus Bering, the legendary explorer who
was the first to observe that Asia and the Americas are separate
continents.
A simple tombstone on the largest of the islands, Bering Island, marks
his grave. Harbour seals, Steller's sea lions and northern fur seals
will all be seen around the islands.

The voyage will end in Kamchatka's only city, Petropavlovsk, set in
Avacha Bay and ringed by smoking volcanoes.

The voyage to the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander
Islands departs from Korsakov on 9 June 2007 and returns to
Petropavlovsk on 22 June 2007.

Price from £3389 per person sharing a twin cabin. Price includes
voyage with accommodation as booked, all meals onboard the vessel, all
shore excursions, lectures and services of WildWings and ship's
expedition team, landing fees and port taxes. Price excludes
international flights, available from £700 per person.