Western Arctic Special – Canada & Greenland

Your Arctic expedition will begin in the Canadian city of Toronto where after arriving independently you can make your way to your hotel for your overnight stay. You may wish to arrive a couple of days early to allow more time to sample some of this vibrant city’s many delights.

On the morning of day 2 you will join the transfer to the airport for your private charter flight to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. In the afternoon you will board your ship and settle in to your comfortable surroundings as we set sail through the scenic Sondre Stromfjord, one of the longest fjords in the world. Your experienced expedition crew will brief you on what’s ahead as you embark on your Arctic adventure.

Our first full day on board will be spent at sea sailing across the Davis Strait towards Eastern Canada. Take the time to relax and enjoy the comforts of your expedition ship, watch a movie, sip on a cocktail from the bar or simply take advantage of the chance to put your feet up before the adventures that lie ahead. You can join interesting presentations and talks about the wildlife, geology and history of the Arctic, whilst on deck the nature experts onboard can help you to identify the seabirds and whales that may be following the ship.

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 reach the shores of Baffin Island we will get ready to enjoy three days of exciting exploration of the island’s scenic east coast, with each day bringing a new adventure and unforgettable experience. As with all Polar expeditions, our route taken may be dictated by weather and sea conditions, but as we explore around the fifth-largest island in the world there are numerous landing sites we will aim for to give you an in-depth insight into the island’s fabled past and scenic delights.

Our first landing is likely to be on Broughton Island where we will visit the Inuit community of Qikiqtarjuaq to meet some of the friendly locals and enjoy a walk to see beautiful vistas of the Davis Strait. There will also be opportunities to support the community by purchasing some of their unique crafts, jewellery and artworks. We will also hope to sail into Isabella Bay as well as the Sam Ford Fjord, one of the most isolated places in the world. Here you will enjoy some fantastic photo opportunities as we sail by the magnificent coastline carved by ancient glaciers and towering granite cliffs rising majestically out of the sea.

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 and in Zodiac cruises will hopefully offer up some tremendous wildlife viewing, with likely sightings of numerous whales, walrus, seals 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. 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, before making our way to the glacier-covered Coburg Island. Here we will find the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area which plays host to steep coastal cliffs teeming in birdlife such as Brünnich’s and black guillemots, northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes amongst many more distinctive seabird species.

This enjoyable day at sea will see us spend our last day in Canada pushing as far north as possible into the Smith Sound between Ellesmere Island and Greenland. Exploring both sides of this uninhabited passage, you can experience some exciting navigation as your captain expertly steers your ship northwards and over to Greenland’s west coast. Be sure to spend some time on deck soaking up the spectacular scenery and Arctic silence, and getting an interesting sense of life this far north.

As we arrive back in Greenlandic waters we will spend the next six days enjoying an in-depth exploration along the stunning western coastline, with our first stops being in the remote northwest where huge icebergs and imposing glaciers dominate the landscape. We will hope to visit Qaanaaq, formerly known as Thule, where the local Inuit will be happy to meet us and tell us more about their traditions and cultures and offer an insight into life close to the top of the world. On the water we can enjoy some more thrilling Zodiac excursions as we discover the iceberg-filled Melville Bay. This will also be a great spot for the kayakers to enjoy some unforgettable paddling excursions. Please note, kayaking incurs an additional charge and should be booked in advance.

These next three to four 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. Firstly, we will visit 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.

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.

About a mile above the Arctic Circle we will reach the scenic hallow of Itilleq and the penultimate stop 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.

Having sailed through the scenic Kangerlussuaq fjord overnight, arrival into Kangerlussuaq port will sadly signal the end of our voyage. After disembarkation and a fond farewell to the crew you will join your transfer to the airport for your charter flight back to Toronto. Upon arrival in Toronto you will be transferred to a nearby hotel for an overnight stay and in the morning you can choose to either head to the airport for your homeward flights or spend some further time in this welcoming city.