HIGHLIGHTS
- Opportunities
to see many of the Arctic's iconic species including polar bears, musk
oxen, walruses, belugas and many more
- Travel
above the Arctic Circle
- Expert
naturalist guides offer on-shore nature interpretation and lectures
throughout the voyage
- Shore
landings by Zodiacs
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
Mandatory Transfer Package Details:Flight
Package
Cost: USD 1,995 per person
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
Mandatory Transfer Package Details:Flight
Package
Cost: USD 1,995 per person
ITINERARY
Day
1: Ottawa (Ontario) to Iqaluit (Nunavut)
We
depart Ottawa this morning on our scheduled flight to Iqaluit, Nunavut,
situated on Baffin Island. Upon arrival into Iqaluit we enjoy a walking
tour of the town and board our expedition ship, RCGS Resolute, in the
afternoon. After settling into our cabins and exploring the ship, we
meet our expedition team and fellow passengers. Excitement is in the
air as we enjoy a welcome cocktail and cast off, setting sail for the
remote Canadian Arctic and West Greenland.
Day
2: Monumental Island
Located
in Davis Strait, Monumental Island is a known location for walrus. We
explore by zodiac along the shoreline looking for these fascinating
creatures. Watchful eyes may locate smaller pups within the masses. We
sometimes encounter polar bears in this vicinity. They have been known
to chase walrus off their haul out and into the water. As we continue
our journey, why not visit the bridge and learn about the operations of
our modern research vessel? Throughout the coming days and rest of the
voyage, our onboard experts educate us with a series of presentations
on the environment, wildlife and history of the Arctic and the
locations we plan to visit.
Day
3: Pangniqtuuq (Pangnirtung) and Auyuittuq National Park
Nestled
in the heart of Cumberland Sound and the western gateway to Auyuittuq
National Park, the village of Pangnirtung is beautifully situated
between the mountains and the sea. This remote community is a
well-known center for traditional and contemporary arts and crafts
– including carvings, prints and colorful textiles. In
addition, the Angmarlik Visitor Centre has a wonderful interpretive
display featuring the lifestyle and history of the Thule and the modern
Inuit.
Day
4: Cape Mercy
Marking
the northern headland of Cumberland Sound are the dramatic cliffs of
Cape Mercy. As the Baffin Bay middle ice recedes throughout the summer,
the stretch of Baffin coast from Cape Mercy to Cape Dyer is a great
place to find polar bears coming ashore. We explore this region
planning to hike the shoreline ridges, paddling the bays and zodiac
cruising through the ice on the lookout for Arctic wildlife.
Day
5: Sunshine Fjord
Sunshine
Fjord straddles the Arctic Circle at 66° degrees, 33 minutes
north of latitude. Depending on the weather we may cruise across the
Circle on the ship, cross it by zodiac or, the more active option,
maybe crossing the Circle on foot. Whichever way, it’s a
thrill to be above the Arctic Circle at last. Sunshine Fjord offers
terrific hiking opportunities and we have a number of great routes in
mind. You may wish to take the extended hike, gaining elevation and
offering wonderful views of our surroundings. Or choose to take the
less strenuous option along the shoreline. For the sea kayakers, the
sheltered waters of the fjord provide great conditions for paddling.
Day
6: Davis Strait
Ice
conditions along the Baffin coastline will dictate our navigation
today. This is a fascinating transition zone to explore due to the rich
and varied wildlife species we expect to encounter along the ice edge.
We keep a lookout for bearded, hooded and ringed seals and walrus. Not
surprisingly, polar bears are often found in the vicinity. With such a
rich abundance of food sources in close proximity, these are rich
hunting grounds. It is also not uncommon to see bowhead whales cruising
along the edges of the ice. If conditions allow, we launch the zodiacs
and explore through the ice floes on the lookout for wildlife.
Eventually, we push into the broad expanse of the Davis Strait charting
an easterly course towards Greenland. From this point onwards, huge
icebergs will be present, making for incredible photographic subjects
in the soft Arctic twilight.
Day
7: Qeqertarsuaq (Disko Island)
Qeqertarsuaq
is situated at the head of Disko Bay. The Inuit name for this location
translates literally to ‘large island’. After the
main landmass of Greenland, this is the territory’s second
largest island and one of the ten largest islands on earth. This is a
place of great historical and geological interest. Eric the Red, the
9th century Norse Viking, is believed to have visited here using the
location as a base for hunting, fishing and exploration. Mineral
deposits containing native iron and hot springs are another feature of
the area. We explore the southern coast and visit the
island’s principal settlement of Qeqertarsuaq, home to a
small, hardy community.
Day
8: Ilulissat and the Jacobshavn Icefjord
If
one word could sum up today’s experience it would be 'ice'.
Even our expedition team members, with years spent exploring both the
Arctic and Antarctica, will take a moment to reflect on the awesome ice
sculptures that surround the ship in all directions. Truly one of the
wonders of the world, the Jacobshavn Icefjord – a UNESCO
World Heritage site - spews gigantic tabular icebergs out into Disko
Bay. The glacier that creates these stunning monoliths advances at over
40 meters per day, around 50 cubic kilometers of ice annually! Our
approach to Ilulissat is always dependent on the amount of ice in and
around the mouth of the fjord. Our Captain and Officers are skilled ice
navigators and our ship has one of the highest ice ratings of any
vessel exploring Arctic waters. Ilulissat was the hometown of Knud
Rasmussen, one of Greenland’s most famous early explorers.
The town is home to a pretty harbor with colorful fishing boats and
houses on shore.
Day
9: Sisimiut
We
will explore the fjord behind the town of Sisimiut before going ashore
to explore this beautiful location in the afternoon. Characterized by
colorful local houses, the town features a towering granite peak as a
backdrop. We hope to meet a few of the traditional Greenlandic kayakers
and to see a demonstration of ‘Eskimo rolling’ by
one of the former Greenland kayak champions. A small museum is another
interesting diversion. Or walk around town with your camera capturing
the ‘picture-postcard’ setting.
Day
10: Kangerlussuaq, Sondre Stromfjord and Greenland Icecap
Today
we sail into one of the longest fjords on the planet. Overlooking the
fjord sits the town of Kangerlussuaq, a key outpost on the west coast
of Greenland. An exciting day lies ahead as expert guides take us to
view and experience the vast expanse of the Greenland ice cap. Covering
roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland the ice sheet measures
approximately 1.7 million square kilometers. It’s the second
largest ice sheet on earth, second only to continental Antarctica. Our
trip takes us through fabulous scenery and there’s a good
chance of seeing Muskox, reindeer and local birdlife. Our expert local
guides will take us walking on the actual ice cap - a major thrill for
many of us. Later this afternoon, we return to the ship and tonight our
chefs will have prepared a special farewell dinner attended by the
ship’s Captain. It’s a wonderful time to celebrate
and reflect on a remarkable journey through the heart of the Arctic.
Day
11: Kangerlussuaq, (Greenland) to Ottawa, (Ontario)
Our
journey through the Arctic is all but complete as we disembark the ship
and make our way to the airport. A charter flight returns us to
Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. On arrival, we bid farewell
to our fellow passengers and our voyage comes to an end. A transfer is
provided from the airport to a central location downtown.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Itinerary/pre-departure
information
- Extensive
program of relevant educational presentations
- Experienced
team of naturalists and a resident photographer
- All
Zodiac excursions
- On
board welcome reception & dinner
- Farewell
Dinner hosted by the ship's Captain
- All
meals during the voyage
- Tea
and fresh snacks each afternoon
- Coffee,
tea, hot chocolate throughout the day
- Onboard
medical officer
- Access
to our special programs on board
- Use
of multimedia station
- Foul
weather gear set
