HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy
thrilling Zodiac cruises and keep an eye out for whales, caribou, and
nesting bird colonies
- Hike
through remote Inuit land while looking out for polar bears
- Experience
dramatic scenery of Torngat Mountains National Park
- At
L'anse Aux Meadows, visit the remains of 11th-century Viking settlement
- Kayak
amongst South Greenland's most spectacular fjords and glaciers*
- Maybe
spot Aurora Borealis in South Greenland and northeast Canada!
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | Stateroom Triple | Stateroom Twin | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Balcony Suite | Junior Suite | Captains Suite |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | (Starting from) Stateroom Triple | (Mid-range) Balcony Stateroom A | (High-end) Captains Suite |
ITINERARY
Day
1 – Reykjavik, Iceland
In
Reykjavik, make your own way to our group hotel. The remainder of the
day is at leisure.
Day
2 – Reykjavik, Iceland
Drive
to Thingvellir National Park, a historical area where the Icelandic
Parliament was founded in the 10th century. After enjoying a walk
amongst the unique landscape of Thingvellir, continue to Gullfoss, a
magnificent waterfall, considered to be one of the most beautiful in
Iceland before transferring to the pier to board the Greg Mortimer in
the late afternoon.
Day
3 – Westman Islands, Iceland
The
Westman Islands are situated just off the south coast of Iceland. The
main island, Heimaey, has a population of about 4,000. Heimay's main
attractions are accessible on foot and you have the option of a guided
walking tour including a visit to Eldfell volcano. Alternatively,
discover the main attractions of the island on a city tour including
Herjólfsdalur valley, to see the ruins of old Viking houses,
drive Helgafell and ldfell volcanoes, and visit the Eldheimar museum
that features specific exhibitions dedicated to the volcanic eruption
that created Surtsey Island, a UNESCO world-heritage site.
Days
4 & 5 – At Sea
As
we cross the Greenland Sea, our series of informative onboard lectures
continues. Enjoy presentations about volcanology and geothermal
activity, Greenland's massive ice shelf, sea ice, glaciers and
icebergs. Sea days also offer a great opportunity to get to know your
fellow travellers and expedition team.
Day
6 – Prince Christian Sound, Southeast Greenland
We
enter magnificent Prince Christian Sound - a famous channel in Southern
Greenland connecting the Labrador Sea with the Irminger Sea. It is
around 100 km (60 miles) long and can be as narrow as only 500 metres
(1,600 ft) wide. The fjord is surrounded by steep mountains, reaching
over 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) high. Many glaciers go straight into its
waters where they calve icebergs. Enjoy a slow ship cruise through the
sound soaking in the splendid scenery, great for photography. At
Kangersuneq Qinngorleq fjord, weather permitting, we may take a Zodiac
cruise and kayak at the glacier. At the southern part of the sound,
pass Appilatoq, a tiny settlement famed for the extraordinary sharp
mountain peaks that surround it, a delight for photographers.
Day
7 – Tasermiut Fjord, Klosterdal, Nanortalik, South Greenland
Tasermiut
fjord is known as one of the most beautiful fjords in Greenland for its
majestic mountains and lush valleys. At Klosterdal, we find ourselves
amongst the three giant mountains of the area: Napasorsuaq, Ketil, and
Nalumasortoq, where we may go ashore for a hike into the valley or
explore the area by kayak. Sail through the fjord towards Nanortalik,
an area with a landscape unlike other areas in the country featuring
deep fjords, small woodlands and grasslands, and rugged mountainside
cliffs. Receive a very warm welcome from the local community who have
opened up their town for you to explore. Visit Nanortalik Church, a
wooden, Danish Lutheran church built in 1916, and Nanortalik Museum
with exhibits featuring summer tents, kayaks and the oldest cargo boat
ever discovered.
Day
8 – Narsarsuaq and Uunartoq, South Greenland
Narsarsuaq
offers easy walks, which include Norse ruins, Inuit graves, and old
farm houses. Paddlers may also have the opportunity to explore the
little peninsular on kayaks. Uunartoq island is located halfway between
Qaqortoq and Nanortalik. Hot springs are abundant in South and West
Greenland, but Uunartoq island is home to the only hot springs in the
country that are warm enough to bathe in. What's unique about Uunartoq
is that the hot springs are in a completely natural environment in the
middle of a grassy field. People have appreciated Uunartoq's remedial
springs for more than 1,000 years and now you can too. Aside from
soaking in the thermal springs, there are plenty of opportunities to
explore the remnants of 500 years of different building styles and
communal graves in the area.
Day
9 – Hvalsey church ruin and Qaqortoq, South Greenland
Hvalsey
Church is the best-preserved Norse ruin in Greenland.
‘Hvalsey' is old Norse for Whale Island. Christianity arrived
in Greenland around 1,000 and gradually churches began to be built.
Hvalsey itself was built in the early 14th century, but it was not the
first church built on this site. The overall Hvalsey site comprises
farm and church buildings. The church might have been built by
Scots-Norse stonemasons, as similar structures are found in Norway and
Orkney. After exploring Hvalsey ruins, we continue to Qaqortoq, where
our Zodiacs take us ashore. Qaqortoq is the capital of South Greenland,
and the town offers many cultural activities and just walking around,
you will experience the “Man and Stone” art
project, designed to transform the town into an open-air art gallery.
Other activities may include a walking tour guided by local students,
watch a kayak performance, sample local delicacies, or simply stroll
around the picturesque lake.
Days
10 & 11 – At Sea
After
a busy first week, enjoy some down time to attend informative and
entertaining lectures ahead of our arrival into Canada's spectacular
and remote East Coast. Our team of experts may present on the
incredible geology or the rich wildlife found in the Torngat Mountains
National Park.
Day
12 – George River (Kangiqsualujjuaq), Newfoundland &
Labrador, East Coast Canada
Kangiqsualujjuaq
(George River) is the easternmost village of Nunavik region in Quebec
province. For adventure and nature lovers, the surroundings of
Kangiqsualujjuaq are full of natural attractions and common wildlife
found of the area include Caribou, black bear, fox and wolf. About 100
km to the east of Kangiqsualujjuaq are the Torngat Mountains. We are
privileged to visit Kangiqsualujjuaq community, where you will meet
with friendly locals who are proud to show you their home and introduce
you to the distinctive characteristics of their cultural and linguistic
heritage, art and stories. Discover the splendid Autumn tundra on a
short hike. The world's largest caribou herds roam freely in Nunavik.
Days
13 & 14 – Torngat Mountains National Park,
Newfoundland & Labrador, East Coast Canada
Torngat
Mountains National Park is a mysteriously beautiful landscape
reminiscent of Earth a million years ago. It takes its name from the
Inuktitut word ‘Tongait', meaning place of spirits. It is
9,700 square kilometres of spectacular wilderness, a land of mountains
and polar bears, small glaciers, and caribou, where the Inuit hunt,
fish, and travel, as their predecessors did for thousands of years.The
Torngat Mountains are also home to some rock formations about 3.92
billion years old, making them the second oldest in the world!
Over
the next two days, we'll explore the deep fjords and channels by ship,
Zodiac cruising through some of the most spectacular and dramatic
landscapes found anywhere in the world, and getting out for hikes,
searching for wildlife, visiting archaeological sites. Weather
conditions and tides will determine our itinerary and landings during
our time exploring Torngat Mountains National Park. We may sail through
Eclipse Channel or Nachvak Fjord, a deep and narrow fjord stretching
more than 20 kilometres with rocky walls of the fjord soaring almost
900 metre above us at several points. Around the southern part of the
national park in places such as Saglek Fjord, we'll attempt look for
polar bears roaming the rocky shores of the outlying islands of the
park on their hunt for food.
Autumn
brings shorter days and when the sun goes down, look up. Chances are,
you'll see something to take your breath away – bright green
ribbons of light dancing and swirling across the night sky. You are in
the zone of the Aurora Borealis. Brilliant, exhilarating and utterly
unforgettable, the Northern Lights are the crowning glory to the
dramatically beautiful Torngats.
Day
15 – At Sea
As
we sail south to Nain, our onboard lecture series continues and you'll
learn about the history of Moravian missionaries as we sail south to
Nain. Spend your free time catching up on editing photos and relaxing
in the various public areas, stay active in the fitness centre or
unwind in the wellness centre.
Day
16 – Nain, Newfoundland & Labrador, East Coast Canada
Nain
is the most northern and largest community in Nunatsiavut. Founded in
1771 by Moravian Missionaries, Nain was an important outpost for the
missionizing efforts of the Moravians. Beautiful artefacts and
buildings built by the Moravians remain in the community to this day.
In smaller groups accompanied by local guides, you will be taken on a
walking tour visiting the town's key sites including the Moravian
church; Torngat Arts and Crafts Gift Shop; Illusuak Cultural Centre and
perhaps see a demonstration of stone carving by a local carver. Time
permitting, there may be a chance for a hike to Mount Sophie, escorted
by local Inuit bear guards as bears are frequent in the area outside of
town.
Day
17 – Hopedale, Newfoundland & Labrador, East Coast
Canada
Located
in the heart of Nunatsiavut, Hopedale is the legislative capital of the
Nunatsiavut Government. Originally known by its Inuktitut name
Arvertok, which translates to “the place of
whales”, the community was renamed Hopedale by Moravian
Missionaries arriving from Germany in 1782. Today, there remains an
incredible legacy of structures and artefacts from the Moravians in
Hopedale. Some of the oldest wooden-framed buildings in Canada still
stand in Hopedale. Take a walk through the Nunatsiavut Assembly
Building and learn about the local labradorite and seal skin materials
found throughout. Browse through the Moravian Mission Museum
Interpretation Centre to view three storeys of artefacts and written
materials collected since the late 1700's.
Day
18 – Battle Harbour, Newfoundland & Labrador, East
Coast Canada
Battle
Harbour is a restored, 19th-century fishing village on a small island
in the Labrador Sea. Regarded by generations as the unofficial capital
of Labrador, it was once the salt fish capital of the world and also a
government centre bringing medicine and supplies to Indigenous
communities to the north. Welcome to a place without power lines or
cell towers, without cars or paved roads, you can walk footpaths worn
by fishermen and merchants centuries ago. Spend a few hours in Battle
Harbour exploring the buildings and walking the trails on this island
with local, knowledgeable hosts. Hiking the island reveals its Arctic
vegetation and rock formations. In this sub-Arctic region, the dark
Autumn night sky is full of bright, gigantic stars occasionally joined
by the northern lights.
Day
19 – L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland & Labrador,
East Coast Canada
L'Anse
aux Meadows National Historic Site contains the excavated remains of a
complete 11th-century Viking settlement, the earliest evidence of
Europeans in North America. This and subsequent archaeological
discoveries proved Leif Erickson and crews of Norse explorers settled
here in Newfoundland and Labrador (or Vinland as they called it).
L'Anse aux Meadows was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978
and is the first authenticated Norse settlement in North America.
Wander the new world home of Leif Ericson and learn about the sagas and
technologies of the Norse that explored North America over 10 centuries
ago.
On
today's other shore excursion, learn the fascinating story of Dr.
Wilfred Grenfell, a young English doctor renowned for bringing medicine
and education to the Inuit and poor European settlers along the harsh
Labrador Coast.
Day
20 – Twilingate, Newfoundland & Labrador, East Coast
Canada
Twillingate
is known as the “Iceberg Capital of The World”
because of the many icebergs that flow past its shores from Greenland
in early spring and summer. Twillingate offers many features and
attractions that Newfoundland and Labrador outports are famous for:
stunning coastline, and historical and picturesque streets. Our shore
excursions today will use local guides and school buses (Long Point
Hike option available) to travel between the region's most popular
attractions: the Auk Island Winery, the Prime Berth, the Long Point
Lighthouse and the Twillingate Museum.
Day
21 – St John's, Newfoundland
After
a leisurely breakfast, bid your fellow travellers, new friends and
expedition team a fond farewell before disembarking in St. John's.
Since 1497, explorers, adventurers, pirates and all manner of seafarers
have found their way into the spectacular harbour of St John's. A
legendary seaport on the edge of the continent with a rich 500-year
seafaring history. St. John's is North America's oldest
European-settled city and is the capital of Newfoundland and a place
well worth spending a few days at the end of your voyage. Wander the
colourful Victorian streets with plenty of heritage shops, boutiques,
art galleries, fine restaurants, bistros, and pubs – just
steps from dockside.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Onboard
accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
- All
meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage
- Beer,
house wine and soft drinks with dinner
- Captain's
Welcome and Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house
cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages
- All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
- Educational
lectures and guiding services from expedition team
- Free
access to our onboard doctor for consultations relating to
sea-sickness. A standard fee of US $60.00 (reclaimable through your
travel insurance provider) applies for medical consultations not
related to sea-sickness
- A
3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
- Complimentary
use of muck boots during the voyage
- Comprehensive
pre-departure information
- A
printed photo book produced with photos from your voyage
- Port
surcharges, permits and landing fees
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Photography:
FREE
- Kayaking:
USD 1,270 per person