Sail the heart of the Northwest Passage in comfort aboard the ice-strengthened Ocean Endeavour. On this 17-day journey, experience quaint villages, dramatic fjords, and calving glaciers of Greenland. Then, cross the Davis Strait, and pay respects at the Franklin Expedition graves at Beechey Island. Spot Peary caribou, polar bear, walrus, and muskoxen at Devon Island, sail the Queen Maude Gulf and conclude your epic journey above the Arctic Circle.
Highlights
Visit ancient sites of the Thule and Dorset people with an archaeologist
Photograph rare birds and Arctic wildlife in their stunning natural habitat
Experience Inuit communities, culture and worldview first hand
Marvel at the Ilulissat Icefjord, where the North Atlantic’s icebergs calve
Kangerlussuaq is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub. After our charter flight from Toronto, we will be bused along Greenland’s longest road—less than twenty kilometres—to the port. Zodiacs will be waiting to transfer us to the Ocean Endeavour.
Sondre Stromfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world and boasts 168 kilometres of superb scenery. We begin our adventure by sailing down this dramatic fjord, crossing the Arctic Circle as we go.
People have lived in the Sisimiut area for 4,500 years. For the first 2,000 years, the people of the Saqqaq culture occupied the area. Approximately 2,500 years ago, new people brought the Dorset culture to the Sisimiut area. They lived here for 1,500 years and were followed by the people of the Thule culture—the ancestors of the current population. All these cultures came from Canada. The people primarily lived on fish, birds and mammals such as whales and seals. The ice-free conditions in the sea around Sisimiut, including some of Greenland’s deepest fjords, allow us to sail in waters that are home to many whales and seals.
Ilulissat translates literally into “iceberg”, an apt name for this site at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ice fjord is the outlet of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic.
Here, we will cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs to appreciate the icebergs. And visit the bustling town of Ilulissat, with its museums, cafes, craft shops, and busy fishing harbour.
Exploring by ship and Zodiac along the west coast of Greenland, we have numerous options for expedition stops, to make the most of weather and wildlife conditions. Departing Greenland, you cross the Baffin Bay toward Nunavut.
As we steam toward Nunavut, our resource staff will deepen your understanding of the Arctic. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops, watch a documentary, or get out on the deck. Keep your binoculars ready for minke and humpback whales, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage.
Mittimatalik is a busy Arctic community in a beautiful setting, a fascinating place to wander. The cultural presentation at the Community Hall is not to be missed—arts and crafts may be available here too.
Spend three days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of the newest National Marine Conservation Areas in Nunavut. Narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales transit and feed in this area. We’ll cruise by ship and Zodiac in search of wildlife.
On the northern border of Tallurutiup Imanga lies Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth at over fifty thousand square kilometers. Flat-topped mountains, glacial valleys, and a substantial ice cap give Devon Island its unique character. We hike the tundra, cruise a glacier face, and seek wildlife from the ship and by the shore. Archaeological sites with expert interpretation allow us to learn about the Inuit history of this now-abandoned island. We’ll visit the remains of an RCMP and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.
In 1845, Sir John Franklin took his expedition of 129 men and two ships into the Wellington Channel. Not a soul returned from the fateful expedition. The three graves found at Beechey Island left no indication as to the fate of the rest of the British party, but the island gradually became a touchpoint for those searching for survivors. A fourth grave on Beechey today holds a sailor from one such expedition. In the autumn of 2014, Canadian archaeologists discovered remnants of the HMS Erebus and in 2016, Franklin’s second ship, the Terror was also located.
This passage marks an area rich in marine and avian life. Thick-billed Murres, Ivory Gulls, beluga, narwhal and bowhead whales reside in the ice-strewn waters. In addition to abundant wildlife, delve deeper into the exploration of the Northwest Passage and mercantile efforts of the Hudson's Bay Company.
The Kitikmeot Region consists of parts of Victoria Island, the adjacent part of the mainland as far as the Boothia Peninsula, King William Island, and the southern portion of Prince of Wales Island. Its regional seat is Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), though it also contains five other hamlets. Recently, the Kitikmeot Region has been in the news since the finding of the lost ships of the Franklin Expedition in its waters. It is Nunavut’s least-populated region, though wildlife abounds here both in the sea and on land.
Day 17: Kugluktuk (Coppermine) | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Located at the mouth of the Coppermine River to the southwest of Victoria Island on the Coronation Gulf, Kugluktuk is the western most community in Nunavut. Coppermine reverted to its original Inuinnaqtun name—Kugluktuk, meaning “place of moving waters”—on January 1st, 1996. The Coppermine River itself is designated a Canadian Heritage River for the important role it played as an exploration and fur trade route. Copper deposits along the river attracted the first explorers to the area. Disembark here and make your way to the airport to meet your charter flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$11,995
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Quadruple - Category 1
Deck four: Interior cabin, four lower berths, private bath (separate shower room and powder room) - approx. 240 sq. ft.
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Triple - Category 2
Deck four: Interior cabin, three lower berths, two private baths - approx. 200 sq. ft.
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Interior Twin - Category 3
Deck five: Interior cabin, two lower berths, private bath - approx. 125 sq. ft. (twin)/110 sq. ft. (single)
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Exterior Twin - Category 4
Deck four: Porthole window, unobstructed view, two lower berths, private bath - approx. 100 sq. ft. (twin)/90 sq. ft. (single)
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Main Twin - Category 5
Deck five: Picture window, unobstructed view, two lower berths, private bath - approx. 115 sq. ft.
Deck seven. Forward-facing picture windows, unobstructed view, matrimonial bed, private bath with full tub, refrigerator - approx. 310 sq. ft.
Notes
We have a limited quantity of cabins in category 3 through to category 7 with no single supplement!
Once these cabins are sold, the single supplement fee (in order to secure a cabin to yourself) is 1.5 times the berth cost.
Expedition Costs Include:
Pre-departure materials
The expertise and company of our expedition staff
Onboard educational programming
Interactive workshops
Evening entertainment
All shipboard meals, including on deck barbecues & afternoon tea, 24-hour coffee, tea and snacks
Hors d’ouevres & snacks during evening recaps
24-hour documentary and film programming
Fully stocked library
Nikon Camera Trial Program
Introductions to local people and customs
Sightseeing
Museum entries, park accesses, port taxes
Access to pristine wilderness areas
Zodiac tours and cruises
On-site archaeology workshops
Community programming: local performances, presentations, and demonstrations
Contribution to Adventure Canada's Discovery Fund
Expedition Cost Does Not Include:
Commercial and charter flight costs
Gratuities (suggested at $15 USD per person per day)
Bicycle rentals
Personal expenses
Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
Possible fuel surcharges
Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation
Additional costs associated with credit card payment
Program enhancements
Charter flights from Toronto, ON to Kangerlussuaq and Kugluktuk (Coppermine), NU to Edmonton, AB. Pre and post hotel nights are available in Toronto and Edmonton at additional cost, upon request.
Initial deposit is $2000, 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
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.
