SPICE UP YOUR THOUGHTS THIS WINTER...
Our Ice and Spice tour combines the Baltic city of Lulea with a thrilling snowmobile expedition across the Lulea archipelago. Look out for reindeer and elk whilst weaving through the forested islands on your snowmobile and try your hand at ice fishing. Enjoy a rail journey into the Arctic Circle and a stay at the fabulous Icehotel where, after a night of sipping cocktails, you can look forward to a day of optional excursions such as husky sledging or even a reindeer safari.

Our adventurous 4-night break costs from £1062 per person based on twin share and includes scheduled flights. Departure dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6th January to 10th April 2005. Other dates are available on request. For more information or to book this holiday please contact our expert sales team on 01737 214 255 or visit www.discovertheworld.co.uk/sweden.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH WHALES
Read the latest below from Kevin Morgan, one of our expert guides on our Trail of the Whale and California Blues trips.

On the Trail of the Whale
'Our On the Trail of the Whale trip goes out of Gloucester, New England. Stellwagen Bank, a shallow bank between Cape Ann and Cape Cod, is renowned for inquisitive Humpback Whales. After all, the scientific name, Megaptera novaeanglidae, means 'great winged New Englander'. The Researchers from the Whale Centre always look forward to going on the Wildlife Encounters trips for a full day with whale enthusiasts.

Our sightings are usually excellent and we often see many types of behaviour during the trip including breaching, bubble feeding, bubble netting, close encounters, flipper slapping, gulp/lunge feeding, kick feeding, playing in seaweed, spyhops and suckling etc. We always get a great range of behaviours. For me it is the close encounters with the humpbacks that makes the Trail of the Whale trip so special – to be able to look right into the eye of a whale!'

California Blues
'As we continued on our way we came across a huge pod of 1000+ Risso's Dolphins and over the next hour we encountered lots of them as well as 100’s of porpoising Northern Right Whale Dolphins. In the calm conditions we had more sunfish, a Blue Shark, a Northern Elephant Seal - and more humpbacks. At one point we had Blue, Fin, Minke and Humpback Whales around us – and even an elusive Northern Fur Seal.'

To read his full feature on both these fascinating trips, click here. You can find out further information on these exciting trips by contacting our reservations team on 01737 218 802 or by visiting the website www.discovertheworld.co.uk/wildlife.

DISCOVER THE LIVING PLANET
New Destinations for Schools
In 2005 Discover the Living Planet, our educational visits department, will be introducing visits to West Greenland and North Sweden. Interested groups should contact Kelly Hammacott on 01737 214251 or study@discover-the-world.co.uk.

Our new Field Studies Officer
Discover the Living Planet has recently appointed Kelly Hammacott to help develop our schools' programmes. She is a recent Geography graduate from the University of Plymouth. Anyone interested in taking an educational visit, or who knows of an establishment that may wish to do so, should contact Kelly on 01737 214251 or study@discover-the-world.co.uk.

Come and see Discover the Living Planet…
Discover the Living Planet will be at the following exhibitions in 2005:
• Geographical Association in Derby
• Association of Science Education in Leeds

Why not come and meet the team and find out more about our expeditions, teachers inspection visits and more. For further information please contact 01737 214251 or email study@discover-the-world.co.uk.

Discover the Living Planet at the Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel Show 2005…
Tony Escritt, head of our field studies programme will also be speaking on Jordan at the Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel & Sports Show. His informative talk will take place on Friday 14th January at 4pm – don’t miss it!