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Polar Bears & Glaciers of Baffin Island

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Dates Deck + Cabin Type
Custom Base Camp Accommodations
Aug 17 '12
Aug 24 '12
$7,890
Please note: rates are based on current exchange rate (CAD/USD). Please contact us for exact quote in US dollars.
Internal Flight package: $2499
Please Note:
These itineraries are not based off of a small ship, but rather are land-based explorations of the Arctic. Accommodations are in luxury custom-built base camps.

Important Pricing Notice:
Rates based on current exchange rate Canadian Dollars (CAD) to US Dollars and do not include 5% GST (2.5% for non-Canadian residents). Please contact us for current exchange rates.
Deposit & Payment

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Day 1 Depart Ottawa

Depart Ottawa for Iqaluit in the morning. You will change planes in Iqaluit – the capital of Nunavut, departing to continue onto Qikiqtarjuaq. On the way to Qikiqtarjuaq, you will fly over Auyuittuq National Park. Keep an eye out for Mount Asgard and Mount Thor the worlds tallest uninterrupted vertical cliff at over 5000 feet of sheer rock.

Qikiqtarjuaq is a small hamlet of approximately 600 persons that sits on Broughton Island. A narrow channel separates the hamlet from the main land of Baffin Island and faces the large mountains of Akshakyuk Pass of the Auyuittuq National Park.

On arrival in Qikiqtarjuaq – you will be welcomed by your expedition escort and transferred to your waiting boat. You will thread your way past many islands and the mainland of Baffin Island as well as quietly floating icebergs along the way to the Arctic Kingdom safari-style camp about 1 to 1.5 hours away. There is a very high chance of seeing polar bears on the shores of the islands along the way to the camp. Settle into your waiting safari style tent, and enjoy a deliciously prepared meal while watching the crimson red sky ‘set’ all night long.

Days 2-7 Base Camp

From the Base Camp about you will experience the true essence of the Arctic in the summer. As your daily itinerary will be determined by the environment such as wildlife presence and weather, the following is a sample of what can be done over the course of your visit:
- Surrounded by islands and steep walled fiords, the scenery, the activities and opportunities of observing bowhead whales and Polar Bears here is second to none at this time of year
- Long and deep fiords such as Coronation Fiord and North Pangnirtung fiord with walls 1000’s of feet high on each side
- Fresh blueberry and blackberry picking nearby
- Day trip to the Akshakyuk Pass – hike at the base of North Pangnirtung Fiord.
- Penny Ice Cap glacier sweeping down the fiords and entering Coronation Fiord – Day trip with the boat –do some hiking around the glacier
- Base Camp near lakes – river comes down beside camp as source of drinking water – can’t get any fresher or cleaner than crystal glacier melt water
- Arctic Char fishing right in Base Camp
- Bowhead whales known to frequent in open waters about 30 min boat ride from camp
- Polar Bears often seen on islands throughout area. In some cases, more than 20 polar bears seen on boat ride from Qikiqtarjuaq to Base Camp
- Ice bergs floating in waters – calved off of glaciers from Penny Ice Cap
- Inflatable kayaks are provided so that if/when the opportunity presents itself – they can be deployed anytime
- Silence. Beautiful silence. Where one can hear the beat of the wings of sea birds from hundreds of meters away is hard to find anywhere else in the world
- Inuit guides – you’ll have Inuit guides with you who know the area intimately and can also help determine the best fishing areas, polar bear spotting locations as well as bowhead whale habitats

Day 8 Return home

1 to 1.5 hour boat ride back to Qikiqtarjuaq. Transfer to Airport for 10AM flight to Iqaluit and onwards to Ottawa. Continue on your journey home.

Itinerary Notes

Please note:
All rates are posted in Canadian Dollars (CAD) and do not include 5% GST (2.5% for non-Canadian residents). Please contact us for current exchange rates.

Included
- The services of a highly qualified Inuit Guides and Arctic Kingdom Expedition Escort
- All transportation to/from and AK Base Camp including local boats for duration of trip
- All accommodations from Qikiqtarjuaq - 7 nights arctic safari-style base camp
- All meals from Qikiqtarjuaq
- Airport pick up and drop-off in Qikiqtarjuaq
- Charging stations for batteries

Not Included
- Flights to/from Qikiqtarjuaq – ask about special rates
- Hotel stays in Ottawa
- Tips/Gratuities
- Personal Expenses
- Travel. Medical and Search and Rescue Insurance
- Baggage Insurance
- Additional costs associated with weather/flight delays and/or layovers in Qikiqtarjuaq, Iqaluit or Ottawa including flight changes, additional hotels and meals

Deposit & Payment

Initial deposit is $2000 CAD, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php

Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.

Final payment by bank transfer, check or Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex. Credit Card payments subject to 3% convenience fee and maximum $15,000 charge.

Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 100 days prior to departure.

Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.

Cancellation Policy

Days Prior to departure Fee
90 days Deposit
89-61 days 50% tour cost
60-0 days 100% tour cost

Arctic Land Tours

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    Ship Highlights
  • Passengers : 12

Think African Safari…in the Arctic
These land based trips are operated from either cabins and lodges, safari style camps located on the sea ice within a safe distance from the floe edge, or on a flat expanse of pebbly beach. Many of these locations have been used by Inuit for generations and are still used to this day.

Each trip begins in a local Inuit community, where you will meet soap stone carvers, Inuit throat singers or drum dancers, and learn how seal skins are made into traditional clothing. Here you can ease into the Arctic environment welcomed by the friendly, local community.

Arctic land tours local guides and elders have been traveling and living on the land all their lives. This knowledge is built into every one of these trips. Combine this traditional knowledge with the very latest in expedition equipment including satellite imagery for ice and wildlife tracking, rigid polar bear proof structures and the latest spotting scopes to ensure a safe and memorable Arctic experience.

Utmost Comfort
Remote camps are ready for you upon arrival and designed to provide you with ultimate comfort and functionality. Custom built base camps vary but typically consist of a kitchen structure for your gourmet chef to call home, and a large central meeting and dining location. Separate washroom facilities provide a private spot to freshen up with running water, washbasins and hot showers.

These tours define comfort as lounging on raised beds, dining on the freshest foods and relaxing in custom designed tents. This is what sets these land tours apart from the rest – a luxury experience in the Arctic.

Small Groups
By traveling in small groups of 6-12 people, passing silently by glaciers and below towering fiords, you truly embrace the Arctic wilderness. This allows you to enjoy the Arctic at your own pace, without the rumbling of engines and crowds of people nearby.

Unparalleled Knowledge
Your team operating the Arctic land tours have aerially scouted the far reaches of the Arctic for hundreds of hours, have a decade’s worth of wildlife expeditions under their belt, and worked with the world’s leading wildlife and culture filmmakers. .

Unparalleled Access
Not from the deck of a ship, but from the land. For years they have worked closely with
Inuit guides and developed lasting friendships, to bring the best of the Arctic to you. Through these friendships you will gain access to knowledge of the best locations, wildlife colonies and safe passageways, passed on through generations. You’ll also make new friends, while sharing stories, tracking wildlife and scanning the horizons for polar bears.

Peace of Mind
Your safety is taken very seriously. For every expedition there is a thorough Arctic Safety Plan complete with training, field support and top of the line equipment. With a mix of traditional survival and modern technology, staff are well prepared to handle minor to major emergency scenarios. Expedition leaders are highly trained professionals, equipped with instant communication to headquarters and local response teams.

Arctic Experiences - Four Distinct Styles

Arctic Safaris
Designed to allow travelers to spend as much time as possible experiencing Arctic wildlife. This could be on the floe edge, in a zodiac boat, on foot, or by snowmobile. All safaris have been carefully researched to offer the very best of polar wildlife and scenery. Your expert team has scouted the locations, consulted with scientists, and worked hand-in-hand with local Inuit guides to bring the best the Arctic has to offer to you.

Great Migrations
The mass movement of animals from one region to another is one of nature’s most astounding natural phenomenon. At the root of every migration is the need to mate, to seek nourishment or to escape extreme weather. So while fascinating, migration is crucial to survival for many animals. Great Migration expeditions are land-based safari-style trips timed to coincide with such migrations, including the Narwhal, as they travel south for the summer, or the Bowhead Whale as they move further north to feed. These floe edge Great Migration trips also offer opportunities to see Polar Bears and Walrus.

Grand Odysseys
Grand Odysseys are defined by unprecedented access, demanding logistics and the overall sense of exploration. These trips utilize years of experience planning and operating major scientific and film expeditions, and take advantage of the full range of activities possible, including hot air ballooning over the sea ice, snow surfing, kite skiing, snowmobiling, and the ultimate Arctic experience, a North Pole flyover.

Arctic Diving Safaris
What first inspired the creation of these tours was a trip to Igloolik to dive with Walrus and Bowhead whales under the ice. Since then your expert team has lead hundreds of dive trips, and are always eager to talk about their first love. From rebreathers to open circuit, and under ice diving, with exotic Arctic wildlife, they are the experts in Arctic diving. A scuba diving information kit is available upon request, which includes dive policies, operations, supplied gear and required gear list.

Cabins
Custom Base Camp Accommodations
Relax after a day of exploration in your custom-built base camp, with raised beds, private washrooms and custom designed tents.

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Adventure Life
1655 S 3rd St. W
Missoula, MT 59801