Greenland and Baffin Island

The Ultimate Arctic Island Exploration


Canadian Arctic and Greenland
© HUR

Duration: 20 days
Starts: Copenhague, Denmark
Ends: Copenhague, Denmark
Language: English speaking voyage

*The itinerary starts and ends with a charter flight Copenhague-Kangerlussuaq-Copenhague


Included
Optional


This voyage begins and ends in western Greenland and attempts to circumnavigate Baffin Island through the entrance of the legendary Northwest Passage. This vast, remote region is a pure and beautiful landscape of icebergs, sea cliffs, and mountains, and home to a wealth of wildlife, including whales and polar bears. You’ll also have many opportunities to meet modern Inuit communities and learn about their culture.

Itinerary

© HUR
© HUR
© HUR

Day 1 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - Toward the World’s Largest Island
Starting with a flight from Copenhagen, you arrive late in the evening at the international airport in Kangerlussuaq. After a transfer to the port and embarkation on your expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen, we will sail almost the entire length of the fjord (118 miles) before reaching the open sea.

Day 2 Sisimuit, Greenland- `The People Living in a Place of Fox Dens’
Sisimiut is the second largest town in Greenland, situated 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle. It is a modern, growing settlement with a history that goes back 4,500 years. For example, its name means `The People Living in a Place of Fox Dens.´ There are a variety of optional excursions to discover the area.
Optional Excursions
-Sisimiut - Kayak Demo and Museum visit *Included. Sisimiut is Greenland's second largest town with approximately 5.500 inhabitants. That's almost 4 times smaller than the Capital, Nuuk.
-City tour by bus. If you want to comfortably experience all of Sisimiut in a short amount of time, this sightseeing tour by bus is the perfect excursion for you.
-Sisimiut Town Walk. Sisimiut is Greenland's second largest town with approximately 5.500 inhabitants. That's almost 4 times smaller than the Capital, Nuuk.
-Hike to Palasip Qaqqaa. Join a challenging summit hike and be rewarded with an amazing panoramic view!

Day 3 Ilulissat, Greenland - Where Icebergs are Born
This small town is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the mouth of the fjord you can see enormous icebergs that have run aground. These ice masses originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. Join one of our many excursions here.
Optional Excursions
Ilulissat - Walk to the Icefjords*Included. Hear the ice cracking in the distance?
Boat trip to the ice fjord. Ilulissat is renowned for its breathtakingly beautiful ice fjord - best experienced by boat. Get close to nature and experience the ice that leaves visitors speechless in wonder.
Hike to Holms Bakke. Hike through spectacular surroundings as we take you to Holms Bakke – a traditional hiking trip for locals. Experience Inuit culture, see incredible icebergs and learn about local flora and fauna.

Day 4 Labrador Sea -Crossing the Davis Strait and up into Baffin Bay
This strait was named after English explorer John Davis, who searched for a route through the Northwest Passage between 1585 and 1587. Wind down and watch the waves aboard the ship or enjoy a lecture from the Expedition Team as we head north toward Baffin Island.
Join the Expedition Team for amazing adventures.

Day 5-16 Canadian Eastern Arctic - Exploring and Attempting to Circumnavigate Baffin Island
After crossing the Davis Strait and sailing up through Baffin Bay, we arrive at the northern part of Baffin Island and the entrance to the legendary Northwest Passage. From here, we start our exploration of the Canadian High Arctic and attempt to complete a circumnavigation of Baffin Island, provided the elements work in our favor. Unpredictable ice conditions in this remote region mean that this attempt is a true expedition – we don´t know if we will complete the full circumnavigation, but we do know the attempt will be a great adventure.

Along the way, we aim to land at sites that are linked to early exploration history, visit traditional Inuit communities, and hope to spot Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, foxes, whales, seals, and large colonies of seabirds. There will also be opportunities for small explorer boat cruising between ice floes, and in true expedition style, we will go ashore and experience the pristine wilderness first hand.

The ship captain and Expedition Leader will continuously assess the current weather and sea conditions, adapt activities accordingly, and adjust the itinerary to where the sea ice allows us to go. Like all true explorers, we respect and work with nature, not against it.

Here are some of the places in the region that we plan to explore together:
-Pond Inlet: Picturesque Pond Inlet, called 'Mittimatalik' in Inuktitut, is a traditional Inuit community on Baffin Island. It overlooks Eclipse Sound and the mountains of Bylot Island and is known as a great place to see large pods of narwhal.
-Devon Island: Welcome to the largest uninhabited island on Earth. The only signs of human life are at the long-abandoned settlement of Dundas Harbour along with several archaeological sites from the Thule period.
-Prince Leopold Island: The sheer cliffs on this oval isle attract the largest number and greatest diversity of seabird species in the Canadian Arctic. Most commonly seen are thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, and black guillemots.
-Beechey Island: This is the final resting place for three members of the lost Franklin expedition that sailed into the Northwest Passage in 1845 but never returned. It is customary for explorers to stop and pay their respects, as Roald Amundsen did in 1903.
-Fort Ross: An abandoned Hudson’s Bay Trading post located at the southern end of Somerset Island, the storehouse here is still used as a shelter by occasional travellers, with bunk beds and shelves of canned goods.
-Igloolik: Located on a small island, this hamlet is an active and vibrant community, and considered a cultural center for the Inuit. It is also home to Artcirq, the only Inuit circus troupe in the world, who host an arts festival here every summer.
-Cape Dorset: This beautiful settlement, situated on a hill next to a bay, has earned international recognition for its many Inuit artists, inspired by the unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultural traditions here.
-Kimmirut: Named ‘the Heel’ for a distinctive rocky outcrop in nearby Glasgow Inlet, this is Baffin Island's southernmost Inuit community. The 400 people here still maintain the traditions carried out by their ancestors 4,000 years ago.
-Akpatok Island: The dramatic towering limestone sea cliffs here, with waterfalls cascading off the plateau above, are a key habitat for many migratory birds. Drifting ice floes also attract walrus, seals, foxes, polar bears, and whales.

Day 17-18 Labrador Sea - Across the Labrador Sea
We cross the Labrador Sea back toward Kangerlussuaq. Days at sea are spent at your leisure aboard the ship. Relax while gazing out at the view, learn more from the knowledgeable Expedition Team in our lecture series, or swap experiences of the expedition with your fellow explorers.

Day 19 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - The Reindeer Glacier
Returning to Kangerlussuaq, we take a trip to the Reindeer Glacier at the Greenland ice sheet, stretching 1,500 miles north and reaching heights of up to 10,500 feet above sea level. Enjoy a farewell barbecue meal aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen before disembarking and transferring to the airport for a late evening flight to Copenhagen.

Day 20 Copenhagen - Capital of Denmark
Arrive at Copenhagen airport early in the morning before you head home. Alternatively, extend your trip to explore how this trendy and thriving capital mixes royal history and modern architecture with sustainable living and a world-class restaurant scene.

Itinerary

Day 1 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - Toward the World’s Largest Island
Starting with a flight from Copenhagen, you arrive late in the evening at the international airport in Kangerlussuaq. After a transfer to the port and embarkation on your expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen, we will sail almost the entire length of the fjord (118 miles) before reaching the open sea.

Day 2 Sisimuit, Greenland- `The People Living in a Place of Fox Dens’
Sisimiut is the second largest town in Greenland, situated 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle. It is a modern, growing settlement with a history that goes back 4,500 years. For example, its name means `The People Living in a Place of Fox Dens.´ There are a variety of optional excursions to discover the area.
Optional Excursions
-Sisimiut - Kayak Demo and Museum visit *Included. Sisimiut is Greenland's second largest town with approximately 5.500 inhabitants. That's almost 4 times smaller than the Capital, Nuuk.
-City tour by bus. If you want to comfortably experience all of Sisimiut in a short amount of time, this sightseeing tour by bus is the perfect excursion for you.
-Sisimiut Town Walk. Sisimiut is Greenland's second largest town with approximately 5.500 inhabitants. That's almost 4 times smaller than the Capital, Nuuk.
-Hike to Palasip Qaqqaa. Join a challenging summit hike and be rewarded with an amazing panoramic view!

Day 3 Ilulissat, Greenland - Where Icebergs are Born
This small town is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the mouth of the fjord you can see enormous icebergs that have run aground. These ice masses originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. Join one of our many excursions here.
Optional Excursions
Ilulissat - Walk to the Icefjords*Included. Hear the ice cracking in the distance?
Boat trip to the ice fjord. Ilulissat is renowned for its breathtakingly beautiful ice fjord - best experienced by boat. Get close to nature and experience the ice that leaves visitors speechless in wonder.
Hike to Holms Bakke. Hike through spectacular surroundings as we take you to Holms Bakke – a traditional hiking trip for locals. Experience Inuit culture, see incredible icebergs and learn about local flora and fauna.

Day 4 Labrador Sea -Crossing the Davis Strait and up into Baffin Bay
This strait was named after English explorer John Davis, who searched for a route through the Northwest Passage between 1585 and 1587. Wind down and watch the waves aboard the ship or enjoy a lecture from the Expedition Team as we head north toward Baffin Island.
Join the Expedition Team for amazing adventures.

Day 5-16 Canadian Eastern Arctic - Exploring and Attempting to Circumnavigate Baffin Island
After crossing the Davis Strait and sailing up through Baffin Bay, we arrive at the northern part of Baffin Island and the entrance to the legendary Northwest Passage. From here, we start our exploration of the Canadian High Arctic and attempt to complete a circumnavigation of Baffin Island, provided the elements work in our favor. Unpredictable ice conditions in this remote region mean that this attempt is a true expedition – we don´t know if we will complete the full circumnavigation, but we do know the attempt will be a great adventure.

Along the way, we aim to land at sites that are linked to early exploration history, visit traditional Inuit communities, and hope to spot Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, foxes, whales, seals, and large colonies of seabirds. There will also be opportunities for small explorer boat cruising between ice floes, and in true expedition style, we will go ashore and experience the pristine wilderness first hand.

The ship captain and Expedition Leader will continuously assess the current weather and sea conditions, adapt activities accordingly, and adjust the itinerary to where the sea ice allows us to go. Like all true explorers, we respect and work with nature, not against it.

Here are some of the places in the region that we plan to explore together:
-Pond Inlet: Picturesque Pond Inlet, called 'Mittimatalik' in Inuktitut, is a traditional Inuit community on Baffin Island. It overlooks Eclipse Sound and the mountains of Bylot Island and is known as a great place to see large pods of narwhal.
-Devon Island: Welcome to the largest uninhabited island on Earth. The only signs of human life are at the long-abandoned settlement of Dundas Harbour along with several archaeological sites from the Thule period.
-Prince Leopold Island: The sheer cliffs on this oval isle attract the largest number and greatest diversity of seabird species in the Canadian Arctic. Most commonly seen are thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, and black guillemots.
-Beechey Island: This is the final resting place for three members of the lost Franklin expedition that sailed into the Northwest Passage in 1845 but never returned. It is customary for explorers to stop and pay their respects, as Roald Amundsen did in 1903.
-Fort Ross: An abandoned Hudson’s Bay Trading post located at the southern end of Somerset Island, the storehouse here is still used as a shelter by occasional travellers, with bunk beds and shelves of canned goods.
-Igloolik: Located on a small island, this hamlet is an active and vibrant community, and considered a cultural center for the Inuit. It is also home to Artcirq, the only Inuit circus troupe in the world, who host an arts festival here every summer.
-Cape Dorset: This beautiful settlement, situated on a hill next to a bay, has earned international recognition for its many Inuit artists, inspired by the unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultural traditions here.
-Kimmirut: Named ‘the Heel’ for a distinctive rocky outcrop in nearby Glasgow Inlet, this is Baffin Island's southernmost Inuit community. The 400 people here still maintain the traditions carried out by their ancestors 4,000 years ago.
-Akpatok Island: The dramatic towering limestone sea cliffs here, with waterfalls cascading off the plateau above, are a key habitat for many migratory birds. Drifting ice floes also attract walrus, seals, foxes, polar bears, and whales.

Day 17-18 Labrador Sea - Across the Labrador Sea
We cross the Labrador Sea back toward Kangerlussuaq. Days at sea are spent at your leisure aboard the ship. Relax while gazing out at the view, learn more from the knowledgeable Expedition Team in our lecture series, or swap experiences of the expedition with your fellow explorers.

Day 19 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - The Reindeer Glacier
Returning to Kangerlussuaq, we take a trip to the Reindeer Glacier at the Greenland ice sheet, stretching 1,500 miles north and reaching heights of up to 10,500 feet above sea level. Enjoy a farewell barbecue meal aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen before disembarking and transferring to the airport for a late evening flight to Copenhagen.

Day 20 Copenhagen - Capital of Denmark
Arrive at Copenhagen airport early in the morning before you head home. Alternatively, extend your trip to explore how this trendy and thriving capital mixes royal history and modern architecture with sustainable living and a world-class restaurant scene.


© HUR
© HUR
© HUR


INCLUSIONS

Flights:
Coach-class flights between Copenhagen and Kangerlussuaq
Transfers:
All transfers in Kangerlussuaq including an excursion to the ice sheet and a BBQ dinner after the expedition cruise
Expedition Cruise:
Expedition cruise in a cabin of your choice
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner including beverages (house beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water) in restaurants Aune and Fredheim
À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
Complimentary tea and coffee
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
Complimentary reusable water bottle to use at water refill stations on board
English-speaking Expedition Team who organize and accompany activities on board and ashore
Range of included excursions
Onboard Activities:
Experts on the Expedition Team deliver in-depth lectures on a variety of topics
Use of the ship’s Science Center, which has an extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes
Citizen Science program allows guests to assist with current scientific research
Professional onboard photographer gives top tips and tricks for the best landscape and wildlife photos
Use of the ship’s hot tubs, infinity pool, sauna with floor-to-ceiling window, outdoor and indoor gyms, and outdoor running track
Informal gatherings with the crew such as daily recaps and preparation for the day to come
Landing Activities:
Escorted landings with small explorer boats
Loan of boots, trekking poles, and all equipment for activities
Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket
Expedition Photographers help with your camera settings before landings

EXCLUSIONS

International flights
Travel protection
Luggage handling
Optional shore excursions with our local partners
Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area

Notes:
All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
Excursions and activities are subject to change
Medical declaration form is mandatory
Please ensure you meet all visa entry requirements
No gratuities expected


* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

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