Set sail for the Far North from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Nome, Alaska on board L'Austral. Well beyond the Arctic Circle, explore the legendary, highly coveted maritime route: the Northwest Passage, the only possible shipping route between the Atlantic and the Pacific. In winter, this “roof of the world” is transformed into a majestic white desert; in summer, for a few short weeks, the temperature rises enough for the ice to melt. Life reappears, nature is reborn, the mythical route is finally free and you can breathe in the unique scent of great adventure.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
At the heart of Disko Bay - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the Ilulissat Icefjord provides an extraordinary spectacle of almost surreal beauty. The sculptural icebergs continue their timeless journey, shimmering with their eternal light. Vast pieces of ice break off from the bergs and rejoin the inexorable movement of the sea. Close by lies the town of Ilulissat, the region’s principal destination. Encircled by icebergs, it has retained a unique mix of traditional Arctic life, with multicoloured wooden houses, huskies, and the leather tanners who still work today using the ancient methods of their ancestors.
Placed like a custodian on the northern edge of Baffin Island, Pond Inlet appears to guard over the entrance to the legendary North West Passage. Formerly called Tununiq by the Inuit, this region was long ago inhabited by their ancestors, the Thule, who left behind numerous archaeological artifacts, little vestiges of the past. No matter where you look, your eyes alight upon a unique landscape of snow-capped mountain ranges, each more beautiful than the last, standing opposite ice-blue glaciers whose vertiginous flows descend into the ocean. In the summertime, when the sun doesn’t set below the horizon, the light is truly magical, a palette of opaline blues, dusky pinks and pure white. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the bird colonies of Bylot Island; sail close to this uninhabited "Garden of Eden" so that you may wonder at its natural marvels.
Beechey Island, looking across at the huge silhouette of Cape Riley, at the eastern end of Resolute Bay, calls to mind some of the most important moments of Franklin’s expedition. Sir John set off in 1845 in search of the mythical North West Passage and was forced to take shelter in Erebus Harbor for two long years, while he waited for the ice floes to recede and allow him a way through. It is a spectacular location; seeing the three wooden grave markers, bleached by the sun (indicating the burial places of at least three of Captain Franklin’s men) and visiting the memorial that has been erected in memory of Franklin and his men can only reinforce the hushed sense of reverence. If the surrounding wilderness impresses you, the ochres and yellows of the rocky desert soften the striking landscape.
During the 15th century, linking Europe and Asia by the sea became the grail of generations of explorers and adventurers. Today, explore this region which still sees only infrequent traffic, but where passion and the spirit of adventure abound. Do not miss the Bay of Cambridge, one of the mythical sites in this region. Here, when you look towards the horizon, way off on the other side of the fjord, you can see the silhouette of the Maud, Captain Roald Amundsen's famous three-master. When she got trapped here after partially sinking, it was a chance for the famous navigator to explore the Northeast Passage near the Siberian coast between 1918 and 1920. Though today we can still see part of her hull breaking the surface - a repatriation to Norway is being envisaged to make the Maud the centerpiece of a new Museum.
Day 13: Navigation inside Coronation Gulf and Duke of York Archipelago
The Canadian Arctic Archipelago is composed of a myriad of islands with jagged coastlines and landscapes only seen at this far end of the world. Come and discover the small Canadian island of Herschel, a frozen paradise located in the Beaufort Sea just 2 km off the coast of the Yukon, within the Ivvavik National Park. During a long mapping expedition in 1826, Sir John Franklin was the first European to lay eyes on these unique places and their inhabitants, the Inuvialuit, the Nordic cousins of the Inuit. It was during this trip that he named the island after one of his friends, John Herschel, a brilliant British astronomer and scientist. Herschel Island is a landmark in the West Arctic and has since served alternately as a whaling station, a relay station and a refuge for travelers. As summer approaches, the soft glow of twilight begins to break the opacity of the polar night, and the hours of darkness get shorter and shorter… Set off in the wake of the great explorers, to discover a remote land, its people and cultures, and experience unique moments and rare emotions in landscapes not found anywhere else.
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Superior Stateroom
8 cabins, 226 sq ft, located on Le Champollion Deck. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area and private bath.
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Deluxe Stateroom
28 cabins, 200 sq ft with private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
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Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
200 sq ft with 43 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
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Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
200 sq ft with 43 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
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Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
200 sq ft with 43 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
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Deluxe Suite
3 suites, 290 sq ft with 54 sq ft private balcony, located on the Le France Deck. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, desk, minibar, private bath.
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Prestige Suite - Deck 5
398 sq ft with 86 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, communicating cabins available. Separate living area, private bath.
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Prestige Suite - Deck 6
398 sq ft with 86 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, communicating cabins available. Separate living area, private bath.
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Owners Suite
484 sq ft with 97 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, communicating cabins available. Separate living, dining areas, private bath with large tub and shower, minibar, 2 flat screen TVs, DVD, CD, and IPOD, Video on demand, Satellite phone
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Fares are based on double occupancy and are capacity controlled. Rates may increase at any time as the ship sells out and subject to change without notice.
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
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