The coast of Labrador and Torngat Mountains amaze with their wild mountain ranges, rich history of more than three different cultures, and breathtaking wildlife viewings. Numerous wildlife species are found along this coastline, including bears, seals, whales, and migratory and resident birds. A particular highlight of this voyage is a visit to Torngat Mountains National Park, a jewel in the crown of the Canadian National Park network. There is a strong cultural element to this voyage, as you learn about the Inuit and their strong cultural and spiritual connections to the land. A final highlight awaits as you venture across Frobisher Bay to Monumental Island.
Highlights
Venture into Torngat National Park, home to stunning landscapes & wildlife
Explore the viking site L'Anse aux Meadows with a resident archaeologist
Visit the northernmost settlement in Labrador, Hebron's Moravian mission
Navigate narrow fjords in search of whales, walruses, and seals
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Your adventure begins in the historic port town of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. First visited in 1597 by the English, the town was fortified in 1713 by the French in recognition of its strategic maritime location. During the 18th century, Louisbourg was the third busiest seaport in North America. Board the ship in the late afternoon in time for a dinner of local lobster as you sail out past the lighthouse, into the North Atlantic and on to Newfoundland and Labrador.
This morning the ship is anchored off the tiny fishing community of Trout River, the access point into Gros Morne National Park. Zodiacs take you ashore and you are transferred by bus for a visit to the World Heritage-listed Tablelands. This incredible location is notable for its unique geology and exceptional scenery. Explore the boreal wetland landscape, featuring dramatic rock ridges, pitcher plants, and white-throated sparrows. You might encounter the iconic moose as you explore the park. Re-board the ship in the afternoon and continue your voyage northwards.
A millennium ago, Viking long-ships would have been found along the beach of L'Anse aux Meadows. L’Anse aux Meadows is where Norseman, Leif Erikson, son of Eric the Red, is thought to have founded “Vinland” around 1000 AD. As you explore the reconstructed sod huts and Norse ruins with the site’s resident archaeologist, see evidence that the Vikings discovered North America five hundred years prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
Battle Harbour marks your arrival into the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The location was one of the first British settlements on the east coast of the Americas and was an important gateway to the rich Labrador fisheries. Venture ashore to explore the restored fishing, whaling, commercial buildings found in this remote community. The colorful buildings make for fantastic photographic subjects amid the backdrop of breathtaking coastal views.
The ancient rocks of the Canadian Shield (the exposed portion of the Earth’s crust) cradle the small coastal hamlet of Hopedale. This remarkable geological feature, estimated to be up to 4 billion years old, greets you as the ship sails through narrow channels and weighs anchor off Hopedale. Venture ashore by zodiac to visit the Hopedale Moravian Mission which was built in 1782. It’s a fascinating place and you learn of the influence of the early Moravian missionaries on the Inuit people of Northern Labrador.
Today enjoy a visit to the historic town of Hebron, once the northernmost settlement in Labrador. The Moravian missionaries established Hebron in the early 1830s and the Germanic influence is clearly seen in the architecture. The Mission was closed and the local Inuit families relocated in 1959, but the original buildings still stand today. This is another designated National Historic Site. You may meet Buddy and Jenny, Nunatsiavut Government ambassadors, who have been looking after the historic site for years and have many absorbing stories to tell.
Midway through your exploration of Newfoundland and Labrador, your attention turns to the magnificent wilderness of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve. The Park was established in 2005 and covers almost 10,000 square kilometers of Northern Labrador. It is home to Canada’s highest mountains east of the Rockies, and features breathtaking fjords, glacial systems, and stunning landscapes. The Inuktitut word “Torngait” means “place of spirits”; these mountains have been home to Inuit and their predecessors for over 7500 years and are of great spiritual importance to these peoples. Polar bears hunt seals along the coast, and caribou herds cross paths as they migrate to and from their calving grounds. There are some terrific opportunities to explore the area on foot and along the shoreline in the zodiacs.
Nachvak Fjord is exceptionally beautiful. The fjord is deep and narrow and stretches more than 20 kilometers. The rocky walls of the fjord soar almost 900 meters above at several points. Many species migrate through the area during the short boreal summer. Numerous seal species may be encountered including ring, hooded, harp, and harbour seals. Minke whales have been known to linger in the fjords, while larger species, including fin and humpback, tend to stay offshore. This is an outstanding location for landscape photography with endless subjects, a dynamic color range, and interesting lighting.
As you reach the far northern stretches of coastal Labrador, learn of the remarkable events at Martin Bay. Here a German U-boat made the only known armed landing in North America during World War Two. In 1943, U-537 sat at anchor here, while the crew man-handled ashore and established an automated weather station. This station remained undiscovered until the late 1970’s when a German historian came across a reference to it in the German naval archives. The equipment was collected by the Canadian Coast Guard in the early 1980’s and is on permanent display in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Visit the Button Islands before sailing into southern Davis Strait. Named after Thomas Button who explored the area in 1612, the islands are in the middle of the upwelling of nutrients on the edge of the continental shelf. This action makes it a magnet for thousands of seabirds and other marine mammals.
Today sail across the mouth of Frobisher Bay and make landfall on Monumental Island, a small, steep-sided outcrop off the southeast coast of Baffin Island. Here be on the lookout for polar bears and walrus that live around the island in an uneasy truce. While polar bears have been known to attack and kill young walrus, they are no match for a fully-grown male walrus, especially in the water. Enjoy your final zodiac cruise here and tonight reflect on the last 10 days of exploration while enjoying a sumptuous farewell dinner, attended by the Captain of the ship. During the night the ship negotiates the narrow channels of Frobisher Bay on the way to your disembarkation point, Iqaluit, capital of the province of Nunavut.
Day 11: Disembark in Iqaluit
1 Breakfast
Bid farewell to your crew and disembark the ship by zodiac and, after a short tour of Iqaluit (if time and tides permit), transfer to the airport for your flight back to Ottawa. On arrival in Ottawa, an airport transfer is provided to a central downtown location.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$4,495
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Triple Share
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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.
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Twin Private
Deck 3, 4 and 5. 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 storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
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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
- Single Supplement: 1.5x for twin and superior cabins and 2x for suites. Single supplement is not available in the triple cabin category.
- 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.
* This voyage operates domestically within Canada and is subject to a compulsory 5% goods and services tax (GST).
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 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
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.