High Arctic Expedition: Where Art Meets Land

A 15-day artistic and cultural journey through the northernmost reaches of Canada and Greenland. From the landscapes that inspired the "Group of Seven" to the Inughuit communities defying the ice, this voyage aboard the Ocean Nova explores the deep connection between light, geography, and human expression at the top of the world.


Canadian Arctic and Greenland
© ACA

Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
Starts: Ottawa, Canada
Ends: Toronto, Canada
Language: English speaking voyage

In the High Arctic, weather, ice, and community priorities guide every journey. Absolute flexibility is required.


Included


This expedition is a deep immersion into the aesthetic and soul of the High Arctic, linking polar exploration history with visual art. The journey begins in Qausuittuq (Resolute), exploring historic sites like Beechey Island before entering the life-rich waters of Lancaster Sound. Along the coast of Ellesmere Island and North Greenland, the landscape reveals itself as a living work of art: mountains rising from the sea, fjords resembling ice cathedrals, and light that transforms rock and water into compositions of breathtaking purity, evoking Lawren Harris’s Arctic visions.

The itinerary stands out for its focus on living culture and Inuit resilience in communities such as Aujuittuq (Grise Fjord) and Qaanaaq, where millennia-old traditions of dog-sledding and hunting coexist with the present. Travelers will cross the Kane Basin, visit mystical Kap York, and explore the Upernavik archipelago, ending in Nuuk. Every stop, from the wildflower oases in Alexandria Fjord to the volcanic black sand beaches in Qeqertarsuaq, is an opportunity to understand how the extreme environment has shaped not only survival but also the artistic identity of the North.

Highlights:
Visit Aujuittuq (Grise Fjord) and Qaanaaq, among the northernmost communities on Earth.
Exploration of Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island.
Landing at Kap York, a historic site known for its meteorite iron.
Sailing through the Icefjord and the basalt cliffs of Disko Island.
Visit Greenland’s oldest museum in Upernavik.
Educational programming focused on the intersection of art, history, and ecology.

Itinerary

© ACA
© ACA
© ACA

Day 1: Qausuittuq (Resolute), NU, Canada
The North Beckons
Arrival by charter flight from Ottawa. Orientation on the community's relocation history and embarkation under the continuous summer light.

Day 2: Beechey Island
Echoes of Exploration
Land on this National Historic Site housing the graves of Franklin’s men. Reflection on endurance and Inuit cultural memory.

Day 3: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island
Whales and Infinite Ice
Sailing through one of Canada’s largest marine protected areas. Landing on Devon Island to explore its glacial valleys and vast tundra plains.

Day 4: Aujuittuq (Grise Fjord)
The Place That Never Thaws
Meeting Canada’s northernmost community. Stories of resilience and tundra hikes with local hosts.

Day 5: Ellesmere Island
Mountains at the Edge of the World
Exploration of Ellesmere's rugged coastline. A landscape of ice caps and deep fjords evoking the stillness of classic Arctic paintings.

Day 6: Kane Basin
Where Continents Nearly Touch
Navigating the channel where Ellesmere and Greenland almost meet. Drifting ice and shifting light define this historic passage.

Day 7: Alexandria Fjord
An Arctic Oasis
Exploration of this sheltered valley where mosses and wildflowers bring color to the tundra against towering glacial cliffs.

Day 8: Qaanaaq, Greenland
Heart of Inughuit Culture
Visit one of the northernmost towns in the world. Learning about the vital bond between the community, animals, and sea ice.

Day 9: Kap York
Land of Meteorite Iron
Landing on shores where geology and human ingenuity intersect. Elemental formations that resemble Group of Seven canvases.

Day 10: At Sea
Crossing Greenland Waters
A day of lectures and workshops while sailing south. Spotting whales and seabirds from the deck.

Day 11: Upernavik
Archipelago of Islands and Ice
Visit Greenland’s oldest museum and walk among colorful houses at the Arctic’s edge. Stories of Knud Rasmussen’s Thule Expeditions.

Day 12: West Greenland
Cathedrals of Ice
Sailing among colossal glaciers and drifting bergs. A landscape of pure geometry in white and blue, ever-changing.

Day 13: Qeqertarsuaq
Volcanic Isle in Disko Bay
Visit to Disko Island. Black sand beaches, basalt cliffs, and hikes to waterfalls cascading from the high tundra plateau.

Day 14: Sisimiut Coast
The Rugged Western Shore
Coastal cruising past settlements clinging to the shore. Scenes of jagged peaks under the shifting Arctic light.

Day 15: Nuuk, Greenland
Capital and Cultural Heart
Journey's end in Greenland’s vibrant capital. Exploration of modern streets and art museums before the charter flight to Toronto.

Itinerary

Day 1: Qausuittuq (Resolute), NU, Canada
The North Beckons
Arrival by charter flight from Ottawa. Orientation on the community's relocation history and embarkation under the continuous summer light.

Day 2: Beechey Island
Echoes of Exploration
Land on this National Historic Site housing the graves of Franklin’s men. Reflection on endurance and Inuit cultural memory.

Day 3: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island
Whales and Infinite Ice
Sailing through one of Canada’s largest marine protected areas. Landing on Devon Island to explore its glacial valleys and vast tundra plains.

Day 4: Aujuittuq (Grise Fjord)
The Place That Never Thaws
Meeting Canada’s northernmost community. Stories of resilience and tundra hikes with local hosts.

Day 5: Ellesmere Island
Mountains at the Edge of the World
Exploration of Ellesmere's rugged coastline. A landscape of ice caps and deep fjords evoking the stillness of classic Arctic paintings.

Day 6: Kane Basin
Where Continents Nearly Touch
Navigating the channel where Ellesmere and Greenland almost meet. Drifting ice and shifting light define this historic passage.

Day 7: Alexandria Fjord
An Arctic Oasis
Exploration of this sheltered valley where mosses and wildflowers bring color to the tundra against towering glacial cliffs.

Day 8: Qaanaaq, Greenland
Heart of Inughuit Culture
Visit one of the northernmost towns in the world. Learning about the vital bond between the community, animals, and sea ice.

Day 9: Kap York
Land of Meteorite Iron
Landing on shores where geology and human ingenuity intersect. Elemental formations that resemble Group of Seven canvases.

Day 10: At Sea
Crossing Greenland Waters
A day of lectures and workshops while sailing south. Spotting whales and seabirds from the deck.

Day 11: Upernavik
Archipelago of Islands and Ice
Visit Greenland’s oldest museum and walk among colorful houses at the Arctic’s edge. Stories of Knud Rasmussen’s Thule Expeditions.

Day 12: West Greenland
Cathedrals of Ice
Sailing among colossal glaciers and drifting bergs. A landscape of pure geometry in white and blue, ever-changing.

Day 13: Qeqertarsuaq
Volcanic Isle in Disko Bay
Visit to Disko Island. Black sand beaches, basalt cliffs, and hikes to waterfalls cascading from the high tundra plateau.

Day 14: Sisimiut Coast
The Rugged Western Shore
Coastal cruising past settlements clinging to the shore. Scenes of jagged peaks under the shifting Arctic light.

Day 15: Nuuk, Greenland
Capital and Cultural Heart
Journey's end in Greenland’s vibrant capital. Exploration of modern streets and art museums before the charter flight to Toronto.


© ACA
© ACA
© ACA


INCLUSIONS

Passage aboard the Ocean Nova
Applicable taxes and credit card fees
Complimentary expedition jacket
Special access permits, entry, and park fees
Expert expedition team
Guided activities
Sightseeing and community visits
All Zodiac excursions
Port fees
Pre-departure materials
Educational program
Interactive workshops
Evening entertainment
All shipboard meals
Wi-Fi access (basic service included)

EXCLUSIONS

Commercial and charter flights
Program enhancements/optional excursions
Gratuities
Personal expenses
Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
Possible fuel surcharges and administrative fees
Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation
Premium internet access available at an additional cost


Dates & Rates


Ship: Ocean Nova | Date: 31 Aug 2027 - 14 Sept 2027 (4975)
C1 - Triple Cabin
$13,995
$10,497
C2 -Classic Twin
$15,995
$11,997
C3 - Explorer Twin
$17,195
$12,897
C4 - Explorer Double
$17,995
$13,497
C5 - Comfort Twin
$18,995
$14,247
C6 - Classic Single
$25,735
$19,302

* 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.
** Rates are correct at the time of publication. 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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