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High Arctic Explorer

Example 10 Day Cruise aboard Akademik Ioffe
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Join a 10-day journey into the remote heart of the Canadian Arctic and immerse into the wilderness of this stunning region from the comfort of your spacious expedition vessel, the Akademik Ioffe. During this voyage visit numerous Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) outposts such as Grise Fjord, Craig Harbour and Dundas Harbour, explore the remote Beechey Island- final resting place of several men from Sir John Franklin, and experience close encounters with beluga and bowhead whales. Additionally, sightings of polar bear can be expected at numerous locations throughout the voyage.
Kayaking through the icy waters.A walrus swim in the deep arctic waters.Zodiac tours through the ice.A swimming polar bearA Chukchi child holds a pup
Highlights
  • Travel further north than at any other time of the Arctic expedition season
  • Hike along the shores of Maxwell Bay looking for polar bears and harp seals
  • Zodiac cruise along the bird cliffs of the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area
  • Visit Grise Fiord, one of the most isolated communities in the world
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Edmonton to Resolute, Nunavut | Embark

Depart Edmonton on your charter flight to Resolute, a remote outpost above the Arctic Circle. Located on the southern shores of Cornwallis Island, the town is named after the British ship HMS Resolute which was trapped in ice and abandoned here in 1850 while searching for the lost Franklin Expedition. A weather station and airstrip made it a strategic outpost during the Cold War. On arrival, meet your expedition team and prepare for your zodiac ride to the ship. After a welcome cocktail, weigh anchor and depart Resolute in the early evening.

Day 2: Maxwell Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A large bay on the south coast of Devon Island, Maxwell Bay offers wonderful hiking ashore and wildlife watching from the water. Muskox and caribou can be found here, as well as polar bears. Harp seals, ringed seals, bearded seals, and even walrus have been spotted in the coves and inlets of the bay. 

Day 3: Crocker Bay | Dundas Harbour

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your voyage continues east through Lancaster Sound along the southern coastline of Devon Island. Lancaster Sound, which separates Devon and Baffin Island, has been named the wildlife ‘super highway’ of the Arctic. Waters from the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and the northern archipelago of islands meet here, combining to create a rich source of nutrients and food for an abundance of arctic wildlife.

Croker Bay is home to a healthy population of muskox and you can look for these prehistoric looking creatures as you hike ashore. Crocker Bay features particularly dramatic scenery, with deep blue icebergs set against a backdrop of richly-colored peaks. The immense Croker Glacier descends into the steely waters and is a great location for a zodiac cruise. In the afternoon plan to visit the abandoned Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) outpost at Dundas Harbour which was established in 1924. The old buildings make great photography subjects in this wild and remote location.

Day 4: Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area is home to almost 400,000 seabirds, including a significant number of Canada’s population of thick-billed murres and northern fulmars. As you zodiac cruise along the bird cliffs, expect to be awestruck by the sheer number of birds in the skies above. Marine mammals are often encountered when exploring these waters, including beluga whales.

Day 5: Grise Fiord | Craig Harbour

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Grise Fiord is the northernmost community in Canada and one of the most isolated communities in the world. Settled in 1953 by the Canadian government as a sovereignty exercise during the Cold War, the fewer than 100 people living in Grise Fiord are mostly descended from eight Inuit families who were relocated there from Northern Quebec. The scenery is stunning, the wildlife is abundant, and you are warmly welcomed by the community. Nearby Craig Harbour is the site of an abandoned RCMP outpost, established in 1922 as the RCMP sought to patrol the north and provide services to the Inuit. Visit and learn about the history of this site as you hike and explore the bay and hillsides of Craig Harbour.

Day 6: Cape Hay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Located on the northern coast of Bylot Island and within the boundary of Sirmilik National Park, the bird cliffs of Cape Hay are home to thick-billed murres and black guillemots, along with black-legged kittiwakes. This superb location is a prime nesting spot for several hundred thousand birds. The scenery here takes your breath away as your eyes gaze beyond the tundra, towards the soaring mountain ranges in the distance.

Day 7: Elwin Inlet

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Navigate the ship into nearby Elwin Inlet, a breathtaking fjord which is well protected and great for a zodiac cruise or hike onshore. Cape Charles Yorke offers several great walking opportunities. Keep your eyes peeled for polar bears, which are plentiful along this coastline.

Day 8: Prince Leopold Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Having crossed Prince Regent Inlet overnight, approach the towering bird cliffs of Prince Leopold Island in the morning. This is an important migratory bird sanctuary, home to thick-billed murres, black guillemots, northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes. The sea ice around Prince Leopold Island is a great place for spotting ringed seals - and wherever you find ringed seals, usually find polar bears. Nearby Port Leopold is where English explorer, James Clark Ross, wintered over in 1848 during the search for the missing Franklin expedition. In addition to Port Leopold’s historical attraction, the shallow gravel beds along the shoreline are attractive to the beluga whales who come here to moult in the summer.

Day 9: Beechey Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Beechey Island holds great historic importance in the story of the Northwest Passage. It is here that Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated expedition spent its last ‘comfortable’ winter in 1845 before disappearing into the icy vastness, sparking an incredible series of search expeditions. The mystery of what happened to Franklin was partially solved in September 2014, when a joint Parks Canada and Royal Canadian Geographic Society expedition found the HMS Erebus in the Victoria Strait. One Ocean Expeditions played a vital role in the discovery by carrying underwater search equipment on their ship as well as scientists, historians, researchers, dignitaries and sponsors. A trip ashore at Beechey Island to visit the grave markers on a remote windswept beach is a thrilling location for history buffs. Return to the ship and this evening enjoy a special dinner attended by the Captain and the chance to reflect on the wildlife, history and dramatic scenery of this pristine Arctic wilderness.

Day 10: Resolute, Nunavut | Disembark | Fly to Edmonton, Alberta

  • 1 Breakfast
By morning, anchor in Resolute – from where you commenced your expedition a week ago. Make your way ashore by zodiac and bid farewell to your crew. A charter flight returns you to Edmonton where your journey comes to an end.

Ship/Hotel

Akademik Ioffe

Relax by the fire in the lounge.
Bar & Lounge on the Ioffe
Reception area on the Ioffe

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$8,395
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Main Deck Triple
Twin Semi Private Cabins
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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.
Twin Private Cabins
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Twin Private
Deck 4 and 5. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
Superior Cabins
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Superior
Deck 6. Two lower berths, a sofa, a writing desk/chair and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
Shackleton Suites
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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

- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.

- Twin and superior cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.5 times the shared price, suites for 2 times the shared price. Single supplement is not available in triple cabins.

- 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).
Included
  • 9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 9 Dinners
  • 9 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)

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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney

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