Northwest Passage - Franklin's High Arctic

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 Resolute in Arctic Canada. Here your state-of-the-art expedition ship will be waiting for you, and after a brief exploration of this small town 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 into the Northwest Passage and our expedition truly begins.

Over the course of the next four days we will 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 through the passage across the north 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 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. This will be an important stop on the expedition and the perfect introduction to Franklin, who will learn even more about as the trip goes on.

In the Lancaster Sound, one of the richest marine habitats in the Arctic, 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 have great hiking opportunities at Dundas Harbour and a Zodiac cruise along an actively calving glacier in Croker Bay.

In the hamlet of Arctic Bay we will go ashore to learn about the Inuit community’s traditional way of life, and cruise alongside the area’s soaring cliffs that are teeming with seabirds. Our final stop in the Canadian Arctic will take us to Grise Fjord, an another Inuit community that is home to about 150 residents and a monument to the first Inuit settlers.

Throughout your expedition, both in Canada and Greenland, 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!

As we bid farewell to Canada and we will now spend two days at sea sailing as far north as possible through Smith Sound. We will hope for as many landings as possible as we push forward through this uninhabited passage between Ellesmere Island and Greenland, with further exploration made even more likley by your ship’s impressive capabilities.

Our first stop on mainland Greenland will take us to Qaanaaq where we will go ashore to meet the local Inuit community, hear stories about their culture and traditions, and visit the interesting museum. Formerly known as Thule or Ultima Thule, Qaanaaq is one of the northernmost towns in the world.

The following day will be spent at sea sailing along Greenland’s exceptionally scenic west coast. Onboard lectures and presentations by your expert team will introduce you to the history, wildlife and geography of this fascinating land, and some time on deck should reward in seabird and whale sightings.

These next five days are likely to be some of the most exciting of the whole trip as we immerse ourselves further in the striking beauty of west Greenland. Discovering dramatic fjords and mountains, mighty glaciers and vibrant communities, each day will bring a new adventure that will live long in the memory and fully confirm Greenland’s status as one of the most remarkable places on the planet. Our first stop is likely to be Nuussuaq, a traditional hunting and fishing village and the only mainland community in the Upernavik Archipelago, before visiting the traditional Inuit town of Uummannaq. The awe-inspiring backdrop of the huge heart-shaped mountain that rises up dramatically behind the colourful houses of the town makes this one of Greenland’s most picturesque places.

Next up is the archaeological site of Qilaqitsoq where you can visit the ruins of an ancient settlement and see where the famous eight fully dressed mummies which date back to 1475 A.D and are now on display in the Greenland National Museum in Nuuk were found. Later you will want to spend some time on deck or in one of the observation lounges as we sail past the jagged, blue-tinged glacier known as Eqip Sermia, one of Greenland’s most striking and iconic sights. We will hope to hop into the Zodiacs or helicopters here for an even more up-close view.

From one iconic location to another, next up is the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord. Here you can witness a world of ice where the scenic town lies amongst the spectacular backdrop of Jakobshavn, one of the world’s fastest-moving glaciers. Photo opportunities here are endless and your day exploring here will certainly be one to remember as you enjoy Zodiac cruises around the towering icebergs and a walk through the town right to the Icefjord.

In Sisimiut we will go ashore to see the oldest surviving church in Greenland, take a walk around the historic town and enjoy a traditional kayaking demonstration from the locals. There will also be time for some hikes in the surrounding mountains before making our way to the scenic hallow of Itilleq and the final excursion on our thrilling Arctic cruise. Here you can go ashore to meet the friendly locals, take a walk around the colourful wooden houses and learn about how the town is the southern limit of the Greenlandic sled dog. You may also wish to take a memorable hike in Itilleq Fjord.

Having sailed through the scenic Kangerlussuaq fjord to arrive in Kangerlussuaq town, our Northwest Passage voyage comes to an end and you will disembark by Zodiac 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.