The Arctic has an allure that grips many adventurers - whether it's the Inuit culture of the Canadian North, the incredible wildlife along the ice fringe, or the riveting history of exploration. Over the course of this 11-day voyage, cross the Arctic Circle as you explore, search for polar bears and bowhead whales, and take part in expanded off-ship activities, including extended hiking opportunities, snowshoeing, full-day photography excursions, and full-day sea kayaking.
Highlights
Hike, paddle, and cruise the coast of Baffin Island in search of wildlife
Cross the Arctic Circle by foot or boat in Sunshine Fjord
Take a walk on Greenland's ice cap with expert local guides
Immerse yourself in the culture and day to day life of remote communities
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Depart Ottawa this morning on your scheduled flight to Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Baffin Island. Upon arrival into Iqaluit take a walking tour of the town and board your expedition ship, Akademik Ioffe, in the afternoon. After settling into your cabins and exploring the ship, enjoy a welcome cocktail and cast off, setting sail for the remote Canadian Arctic and West Greenland.
Your first excursion is to visit Monumental Island. Located in Davis Strait, it is a known spot for spotting walrus. Explore by zodiacs and search the shoreline for these fascinating creatures. Watchful eyes may locate smaller pups within the masses. Taking your time in the zodiacs at this site allows for nature to take its course. Polar bears are often found here and have been known to chase the walrus off their haul out and into the water.
Nestled in the heart of Cumberland Sound, the village of Pangniqtuuq (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. The Angmarlik Visitor Centre features a wonderful interpretive display sharing the lifestyle and history of the Thule and the modern Inuit.
Marking the northern headland of Cumberland Sound are the dramatic cliffs of Cape Mercy. As the Baffin Bay ice recedes throughout the summer, this stretch of the Baffin coast is a great place to find polar bears coming ashore. Explore this region, planning to hike the shoreline ridges, paddle the bays, and zodiac cruise through the ice on the lookout for Arctic wildlife.
Sunshine Fjord straddles the Arctic Circle at 66 degrees, 33 minutes north of latitude. Depending on the weather you may cruise across the Circle on the ship, by zodiac, or maybe cross it on foot. Whichever way, it’s a thrill to be above the Arctic Circle. Sunshine Fjord offers terrific hiking opportunities, from long routes that offer wonderful views of your surroundings to less strenuous options along the shoreline. For the sea kayakers, the sheltered waters of the fjord provide great conditions for paddling.
Ice conditions along the Baffin coastline dictate navigation today. This is a fascinating transition zone to explore due to the rich and varied wildlife species you can expect to encounter along the ice edge. Keep a lookout for bearded, hooded, and ringed seals and walrus. 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, launch the zodiacs and explore through the ice floes on the lookout for wildlife. Eventually push into the broad expanse of the Davis Strait, charting an easterly course towards Greenland. From this point onwards, huge icebergs are present, making for incredible photographic subjects in the soft Arctic twilight.
Qeqertarsuaq is situated at the head of Disko Bay. The Inuit name for this location translates literally as ‘large island’. After the main landmass of Greenland, this is the territory’s second largest island. It is a place of great historic and geological interest. Eric the Red, the 9th-century Norse Viking, is believed to have used this island as a base for hunting, fishing, and exploration. Mineral deposits containing native iron and hot springs are another feature of the area. Explore the southern coast and visit the island’s principal settlement of Qeqertarsuaq, home to a small, hardy community.
If one word could sum up today’s experience it would be 'ice'. Even your expedition team members, with years spent exploring the Arctic and Antarctica, 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! Your approach to Ilulissat is always dependent on the amount of ice in and around the mouth of the fjord. Your Captain and officers are skilled ice navigators and your ship has one of the highest ice ratings of any vessel exploring Arctic waters.
Explore the fjord behind the town of Sisimiut before going ashore to explore. Characterized by colorful local houses, the town's backdrop is a towering granite peak. You can 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, as is walking around town with your camera capturing the picture-postcard setting.
Today 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 you 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. Your trip takes you through fabulous scenery and there’s a good chance of seeing muskox, reindeer and local birdlife. Expert local guides take you walking on the actual ice cap - a huge thrill for many. Later this afternoon, return to the ship and tonight your chefs prepare 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: Disembark in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
1 Breakfast
Your journey through the Arctic is all but complete as you disembark the ship and make your way to the airport. A charter flight returns you to Ottawa. A transfer is provided from the airport to a central location downtown.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Main Deck Triple
Twin Semi-Private
Deck 4. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and tall wardrobes with internal shelving for storage. Facilities are semi-private (one bathroom between two cabins) and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
Twin Private
Deck 4 and 5. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
Superior
Deck 6. Two lower berths, a sofa, a writing desk/chair and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
Shackleton Suite
Deck 4 & 5. One double bed, one sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, up-graded bedding, a writing desk/chair, IPod alarm clock, mini stereo, capsule coffee maker, mini bar. Private facilities. Large window that can be opened.
Notes
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
- Twin and superior cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.5 times the shared price, suites for 2 times the shared price. Single supplement is not available in triple cabins.
- Child and Youth Prices: 25% discount for young people aged up to 17 years, and 20% off for those aged from 18-21 years who can prove they are in full-time education.
Initial deposit is $1700 , and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
kevin Moore, our agent, is very knowledgeable about the tours and details, and researches quickly any follow up ?s.
Emory
4 months ago
Tilly was thorough and efficient in answering questions and getting us the right information to make a trip decision.
Nancy Turner
4 months ago
Clara Tort was fantastic to work with, very professional.
Dan Twomey
4 months ago
I've been working w/ Franny and Phen on the Heart of the Arctic Cruise next year. They've both been very friendly and helpful in answering my many questions as we work out the details for the trip. Thank you!
Nita Hoops
9 months ago
Love Adventure Life, Mary is very experienced in the cruise department. Their post follow up after booking is great too.