Itinerary

Day 1 Halifax - Capital of Nova Scotia
Your journey starts in Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. There are red-brick heritage buildings, parks, a landmark citadel, some world-class museums, and a seafront boardwalk. We definitely recommend spending more time exploring Halifax with our Pre-program before embarking MS Fram.

Day 2 Louisbourg - Where the Past Is Present
We head for the large island of Cape Breton to reach Louisbourg, home to the historic Fortress of Louisbourg. At this National Historic Site, you can experience what life was like in the bustling French fortified town in 1744, which was then one of the largest European fortifications in North America.
Optional Excursions
The Fortress of Louisbourg. * Included. Enjoy a visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg on your own time with this all-day, at-leisure shuttle.
Coxhealth Mountain Trail. Board your transfer with fellow travellers as you embark on a hiking tour where the only schedule that matters is your timetable and goal is to make your hiking trip a happy one.

Day 3 Cheticamp - Deep Acadian Traditions
This traditional fishing village dates back to 1785 and is an Acadian community that has managed to maintain age-old French traditions and culture. Nearby Cape Breton Highlands National Park offers spectacular sea views, as well as valleys and forests where moose, black bears, and bald eagles can be found.
Optional Excursions
Cheticamp At Leisure. *Included. Discover the town of Cheticamp, a busy fishing village with a thriving Acadian culture.
Cape Breton Highlands and Lunch. This full-day Cabot Trail excursion will give you a taste of the scenic beauty of Cape Breton Island by driving the full 184-mile loop.
Highlights of Cheticamp. The famed Cabot Trail should be on everyone’s bucket list and today you can experience this must-drive highway!
Hiking the Highlands. Experience the exquisite beauty of the Cape Breton Highlands on this half-day hiking adventure along one of the best trails in Eastern Canada!

Day 4 Magdalen Islands - Home of the Madelinots
Twelve islands make up the sand archipelago called Îles de la Madeleine. The coastline here is made up of iron-rich red and grey sandstone cliffs that have been shaped by wind and waves to form picturesque bays, which are dotted with multi-colored houses. We dock in Cap-aux-Meules, home to more than half of the archipelago’s population.
Optional Excursions
A Taste of Iles de la Madeleine. This is the perfect way to discover views and flavours of Iles de la Madeleine.
Cycling around Cap-Aux-Meules. Discover the Madeleine Islands by bike while learning about the history and the wildlife.
Within the heart of the Madelinot life and culture. A bus will bring you to the north end of the Magdalene Island, the Grand-Entree. Impossibly beautiful scenery, different shades of blue and green water, golden sand beaches, ever-changing sand dunes, the green of the hills contrasting with the red of the cliffs, await your discovery.

Day 5 Percé - Magnificent Views and Wonderful Wildlife
Percé Rock, with its natural arch lying just off the coast of this artist’s village, is best seen from the suspended glass platform at the UNESCO Global Geopark. Nearby, Bonaventure Island is one of the most accessible gannet colonies in the world. Rare North Atlantic right whales are known to visit the area as well.
Optional Excursions
Percé Sights & Geo Park. Embraced by the rich waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Perce village captivates with its beautiful scenery. Featured on National Geographic’s list of “must-see” places in the world, Perce is named one of the most beautiful villages in Quebec!
Percé - Cruise Around Bonaventure Island. You will cruise to Percé Rock and around Bonaventure Island sectors to see its gannet colony, the largest in the world and enjoy some time to explore Percé on your own.

Day 6 Havre-Saint-Pierre - Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
Famous for the largest concentration of limestone monoliths in Canada, the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve encompasses close to a thousand islands and islets sprinkled along 93 miles from east to west. We hope to board our small explorer boats and take to the waters to explore this unique landscape of geological wonders.
Optional Excursions
Ile Niapiskau. Departing from the Havre-Saint-Pierre marina, this scenic cruise brings you to île Niapiskau. Walk along a short loop trail with a Parks Canada heritage presenter who will help take you back in time to understand the presence of the amazing geological formations surrounding you.
Havre Saint Pierre by Foot. Past and present merge in this pedestrian tour that makes you discover the evolution of the magnificent village of Havre-Saint-Pierre.

Day 7 At Sea Lectures and Scanning for Wildlife on Deck
The Expedition Team will continue the lecture program, covering topics like history, the great explorers, marine biology, wildlife, oceanography, and climate change. Spend some time on deck and look out for wildlife. In the Science Center, observe the samples gathered during this voyage up close with our state-of-the-art microscopes.

Day 8 Red Bay - Canada’s Hidden, but Rich, Maritime History
Preserved in ice-cold waters, the remains of several 17th century Basque whaling ships have led to the town being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the local museum that documents this interesting history or take the trail up to Tracey Hill for scenic views, and where, legends say, pirate Captain Kidd buried a treasure.
Optional Excursions
Red Bay - Red Bay Highlights Access. *Included. Want to get a feel for Red Bay’s local culture and history?
Coastal Labrador and Point Amour Lighthouse tour. Drive the coastal highway and visit the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada.
Red Bay Then and Now Historical Walking tour. Stroll through the intriguing village of Red Bay with local guides to provide insight into the history and culture of this remarkable community with a history of whaling.

Day 9-10 At Sea - Crossing the North Atlantic Ocean
Leaving the coast of Canada behind, we head out to sea, and set course for Greenland across a stretch of the North Atlantic. Our days at sea will be filled with lectures and you’ll have time to chat with fellow travellers, perhaps to share what you have seen and done so far.

Day 11 Kvanefjord - Exploration day Kvanefjord
We discover the beautiful region of Paamiut by sailing deep into the Kvanefjord. Our experienced captain and Expedition Leader will take advantage of the current weather and ice conditions to identify our activity for the day. This could be a hike ashore for a scenic view of the area, or possibly small-boat cruising or kayaking.

Day 12 Ivittuut - Muskoxes and a Norse Settlement
According to archaeologists, Vikings settled in this area more than a thousand years ago but didn’t remain here. Ivittuut is believed to be the last Norse settlement in Greenland, and also the first to be abandoned. Nowadays, the only inhabitants that might appear in the town are wandering musk oxen, which normally graze in the nearby plains.

Day 13 Quassiarsuk - Fertile Farmland and Viking History
Busy farmsteads of green fields dotted with white sheep contrast with the icescapes in the nearby sea. Join a guided walk through the settlement, including a visit to the reconstruction of Viking Erik the Red’s longhouse and the church that Erik’s wife Tjodhildur had him build following his banishment from Iceland.
Optional Excursions
Qassiarsuk - Erik the Red Settlement Walk. * Included. Walk in the footsteps of the Norsemen on this tour through an open-air museum. Hear interesting Viking history in a place where Norse culture meets modern day Greenland.
Qassiarsuk - Boat trip to Qooroq Ice Fjord. Explore the Qooroq Icefjord by boat. Glide through a fjord filled with stranded icebergs and scoop up 1,000-year old ice from the boat that you can enjoy later in a proper cocktail on the rocks!

Day 14 Qaqortoq - Picture-Perfect Greenlandic Town
Many consider Qaqortoq one of the most beautiful towns in Greenland for its colorful houses and photogenic setting. It is the biggest town in South Greenland, with some 3,000 inhabitants, but still easy to explore on foot. You can also join one of our optional excursions to get even more insight into local culture.
Optional Excursions
Qaqortoq - Great Lake Walk * Included. Qaqortoq rises quite steeply over the surrounding fjord system and is best discovered on foot, which says something about its small size
Kaffeemik. Take part in a traditional Greenlandic kaffemik, where a local family serves a large selection of specialty food dishes. And of course, a pot of coffee. This is an authentic experience, which lets you learn more about living like a Greenlander.
Great Greenland Tannery. Visit Great Greenland, the only tannery in Greenland, and see how hides and furs are processed. You will also learn about the old hunting traditions, which are an important part of Greenlandic culture.

Day 15-16 Irminger Sea - Heading to Iceland
After exploring exhilarating Greenland, we set course to Iceland. Spend the days at sea recapping your experiences, having fun in the Science Center or just relaxing on deck, looking at the seabirds which follow our ship, or maybe even spotting whales.

Day 17 Reykjavík - The Stylish Capital of Iceland
You arrive in the northernmost capital city in the world early in the morning. The name Reykjavík means 'Smokey Bay,' so called because of the steam that rises from its many natural hot springs. It is well worth booking a Post-program to explore the geysers, mountains, glaciers, and geothermal hot springs before heading home.

© Andrea Klaussner

© Andrea Klaussner

© Andrea Klaussner