Northwest Passage - In Franklin's Footsteps

Your itinerary begins in the Canadian city of Toronto, where after arriving independently you can make your way to the hotel for your overnight stay. The rest of the day will be at your leisure and you may wish to spend some time seeing the sights of this metropolitan and vibrant city.

After breakfast the following morning your transfer will take you to the airport for your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, the starting point for countless Arctic expeditions. Here your state-of-the-art expedition ship will be waiting for you, and you will transfer from the shore via Zodiac boat for your first taste of sea exploration. After boarding and settling into your comfortable cabin we will set sail through the impressive Kangerlussuaq fjord where some time on deck or in an observation lounge will reward in some exceptionally scenic shots as we embark on our expedition truly begins.

As we explore along some of Greenland’s enchanting west coast, our first stop is likely to be Maniitsoq, affectionately named “the Venice of Greenland” thanks to its situation in an archipelago intersected by meandering natural canals. Here we can enjoy a walk around the small town set scenically amongst a backdrop of imposing snow-capped mountains, and maybe take a Zodiac cruise in the surrounding waters searching for sightings of humpback whales.

We then plan to visit Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to take a walk through the streets to see the Hans Egede Church and statue as well as the famous Greenlandic mummies in the great museum. This will be a great day culture and history enthusiasts and who can learn more about Greenland’s intriguing past.

Throughout your expedition you will have the unique chance to fly aboard your ship’s two twin-engine helicopters and we will take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy flightseeing excursions...an unforgettable and unique experience!

Today we bid farewell the Greenland coastline and begin our sail across the Davis Strait towards the Canadian Arctic. As we sail you can enjoy the fantastic lecture and presentation programme delivered by your team of experts on Arctic history, geology and wildlife, spend some time on deck looking for seabirds and whales, or simply relax in the modern comforts of your brand-new expedition vessel.

Over the course of the next 10 days we will fully immerse ourselves in the enchanting Canadian High Arctic and the Northwest Passage. Exploring each day either by land, sea or air, you can look forward to fascinating shore visits, exciting Zodiac cruises and thrilling helicopter flights as we make our way up the east coast of Baffin Island. In true expedition style, your landings and visits will be determined by weather, ice and sea conditions, with your experienced crew charting a course each day for optimal adventures and experiences. Our first stop is likely to take us to the picturesque Inuit hamlet of Pangnirtung nestled beneath the jagged peaks of Mount Duval. Nicknamed the Switzerland of the Arctic, Pangnirtung is renowned for its traditional Inuit arts and crafts and we will enjoy a visit here to meet the locals and learn all about their craft-making skills before visiting the nearby uninhabited island of Kekerten.

For fans of hiking there will be excellent opportunities in Cape Mercy at the southern tip of the Cumberland Sound, and if you’re looking for that perfect iceberg photo then Qikiqtarjuak could be just the spot. Known as the iceberg capital of the world, we will hope to take a Zodiac cruise or helicopter flight for some fantastic views and to look out for the seals, whales and narwhals that are often spotted here in the icy waters. You may also wish to take an enjoyable hike to the top of the hill to see an Inuit inukshuk and gain some memorable views.

As we sail further north up Baffin Island’s east coast our next stops will bring us to the whale hotspot of Isabella Bay and the soaring cliffs of Sam Ford Fjord. We will then reach scenic Pond Inlet to visit its traditional Inuit community and learn about life here surrounded by beautiful glaciers, fjords and icebergs. Over the course of the next few days we will be making our way into the “Arctic Wildlife Highway” of the Lancaster Sound, the gateway to the fabled Northwest Passage and one of the richest marine habitats in the Arctic. Throughout our time in this area, multiple landing sites will bring us up-close to nature, culture and history, but the delights are not confined to shore excursions. Times on deck, in the helicopters and on Zodiac cruises will hopefully offer up some tremendous wildlife viewing, with likely sightings of numerous whales, walrus, seals, musk oxen and maybe even the iconic Polar bears and elusive narwhals! On land we will hope to visit one of the most impressive ancient Thule sites in the Arctic as we go ashore at Radstock Bay to see the well-preserved remains of buildings that offer a fascinating insight into how the pre-Inuit people thrived in the Far North, plus a notable Polar bear observation site. We will also visit the Canadian National Historic Site of Beechey Island to pay our respects at the graves of the members of Sir John Franklin’s 1845–46 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. We will also have great hiking opportunities at Dundas Harbour and see an actively calving glacier in Croker Bay.

Our final visits will bring us to Somerset Island where we can enjoy some whale watching and birding in Creswell Bay, as well as Fort Ross, the site of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s now-abandoned trading post, and Zenith Point which is the northernmost area of the continental landmass.

As our Northwest Passage voyage comes to an end, you will disembark in Resolute and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Toronto. Upon arrival in Toronto you will be transferred to the hotel for your overnight stay. The following morning it will be time to say goodbye to your fellow expeditioners as you check out and make your way homewards or onwards.