Itinerary

Día 1: Arrive in Calgary, Canada
Hotel night included
Your Arctic expedition begins in Calgary. Explore this vibrant Western Canadian city—much celebrated for its cowboy culture and Prairie hospitality—on your own before spending the night at your hotel, which is included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

Día 2: Fly to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and embark
Private charter flight and Zodiac shuttle
After an early breakfast at the hotel, guests will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the harbor for the Zodiac shuttle to your awaiting ship. After a late-afternoon embarkation, we will set sail for the stunning Arctic wilderness.

Día 3: At Sea: Crossing the Davis Strait
Polar presentations and wildlife watch
As we make our way across the Davis Strait, your Expedition Team will offer a series of polar presentations that set the stage for the adventures ahead. You’ll learn about the storied history of the Arctic, its fascinating wildlife, geology and ecology. Our team will also keep a lookout for seabirds soaring above your ship, as well as whales that pass through these waters.

Día 4-5: Exploring Baffin Island, Canada
Colossal fjords and Inuit communities
The Inuktitut name for Baffin Island, the fifth-largest island in the world, is Qikiqtaaluk, and it has been home to Inuit for the last thousand years. Your days sailing along the island’s eastern coast will be determined by weather and ice conditions, with each day and each landing presenting new adventures. Some of our favorite destinations include Qikiqtarjuaq and Sam Ford Fjord. Expect to see towering mountains, deep fjords, colorful tundra, and Inuit settlements. The Inuit community of Qikiqtarjuaq is located just north of the Arctic Circle, on Broughton Island. Fondly called Qik by locals, the welcoming hamlet offers a superb vantage point of the Davis Strait, where you can buy unique artwork, crafts and jewelry. Well inside the Arctic Circle, Sam Ford Fjord is a standout Arctic adventure destination on Baffin Island’s northeast coast, and one of the world’s most spectacular big-wall playgrounds. A traditional Inuit hunting area, the fjord is a study in contrasts: sheer granite cliffs seem to rise straight up from the ocean below, reaching up to 457 meters (1,500 feet) above sea level. This region offers fabulous Zodiac cruising, sea kayaking and paddling as well as opportunities to go ashore to spot Arctic fox and polar bears. Cruising the fjord in a Zodiac is a striking reminder of just how small we are, winding along a 110-kilometer path that narrows to less than 3 kilometers wide as it meanders farther inland.

Día 6: At Sea
Shipboard amenities and northward navigation
As our ship sails farther north, you can take advantage of the onboard amenities, deepen your knowledge of the Arctic by attending another polar presentation, sip a cocktail in the bar, watch a documentary film or join your Expedition Team on the bridge as they scan for wildlife.

Día 7-9: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound)
Northwest Passage gateway and Beechey Island
Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the gateway to the Northwest Passage, is one of the richest marine habitats in the Arctic. With open-water areas that remain ice-free year-round, it is an important summer feeding area for whales and other marine wildlife. We’ll spend our days exploring beautiful bays and inlets, visiting historical sites, enjoying Zodiac cruises and searching for iconic wildlife such as walruses, seals, whales, polar bears, and the elusive narwhal. There may be a possibility for a shore visit at Radstock Bay, the location of one of the most impressive ancient Thule sites in the Arctic, showing well-preserved remains of subterranean houses supported by whale bones. We will attempt to land at Beechey Island, a National Historic Site of Canada and the final resting place of three members of Sir John Franklin’s 1845-46 expedition. Mostly covered in glaciers, Coburg Island and its surrounding waters comprise the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area, whose steep coastal cliffs are an ideal habitat for hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds like Brünnich’s guillemots, kittiwakes, and northern fulmars.

Día 10: Exploring Smith Sound
Ellesmere Island passage and northernmost limit
Before saying goodbye to Canada, we’ll try to sail as far north as possible, exploring both sides of Smith Sound, the uninhabited passage between Ellesmere Island and Greenland.

Día 11: Qaanaaq, Greenland
Top of the world communities
Qaanaaq, formerly known as Thule, is one of the northernmost towns in the world. Here, local Inuit share their culture and traditions, and the museum sheds more light on what it’s like living near the top of the world.

Día 12: At Sea
Southbound transit and glaciology lectures
As we sail south along the west coast of Greenland, our polar experts will present on the history, wildlife and glaciology that will feature in the next few days. We also encourage you to spend time on the outer decks—binoculars at hand—to spot wildlife.

Día 13-15: Exploring West Greenland
Colossal Ilulissat Icefjord and Inuit history
With spectacular glaciers, soaring fjords and vibrant communities, the west coast of Greenland will leave you breathless. Each community visit in Greenland is a unique experience and Uummannaq might just steal your heart. The red-hued, heart-shaped mountain that rises above the village gives Uummannaq its fitting name, which means “heart-like” in Greenlandic, where you can admire vibrantly painted wooden houses dotting the rocky terrain. As we arrive just south of Ilulissat, we’ll encounter the impressive Ilulissat Icefjord. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the most productive glaciers in the northern hemisphere. As we Zodiac cruise at the mouth of the fjord, you may witness the loud roars of calving ice. The traditional town, which boasts more sled dogs than people, was the birthplace of explorer Knud Rasmussen, the first to traverse the Northwest Passage by dogsled. Hikes here lead out to stunning views of the young icebergs as they float out the fjord to Disko Bay. In Sisimiut, you’ll be treated to a traditional kayaking demonstration, a national symbol of Greenland. Take time to wander through the historic area, featuring 18th-century colonial buildings and the oldest surviving church in Greenland.

Día 16: Disembark in Kangerlussuaq and Fly to Reykjavik
Return flight to Iceland
Enjoy one more Zodiac ride from ship to shore, where you’ll be transferred to the airport for your charter flight back to Reykjavik, Iceland. Upon arrival in Reykjavik, you will be transferred to your hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

Día 17: Depart Reykjavik, Iceland
End of itinerary
Today, you can make your way home at your leisure or spend some time exploring this fascinating Icelandic capital, known for its Norse history, geothermal culture and distinctive architecture.

© The Polar Travel Company

© The Polar Travel Company

© The Polar Travel Company