Greenland & Wild Labrador: A Torngat Mountains Adventure

St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, is located on one of North America’s oldest cities and a natural harbor. Row houses climb the slopes near Signal Hill, overlooking the Atlantic. The city’s winding streets and waterfront reflect its history and local culture, with music and community life present throughout.

Follow the Labrador Current along Newfoundland’s northeast coast, where fishing villages are built on headlands shaped by wind and tide. The cold waters once supported the world’s largest cod fishery, attracting settlers who established communities along the rocky shore. These coastal settlements maintain elements of their maritime heritage. Offshore, whales and seabirds are drawn by the nutrient-rich waters. The coastline reflects both the natural environment and the history of the people who have lived there.

At the tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula lies L’Anse aux Meadows, the only authenticated Norse site in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Step back a thousand years to when Norse voyagers made landfall here, marking the first known meeting between Europeans and the Indigenous peoples of this continent. Wander among grassy mounds and reconstructed sod dwellings that bring the past to life, and trace the stories unearthed by archaeologists—guided by the sagas and the clues preserved in the earth.

Along the Labrador coast, sheer headlands give way to quiet coves and forested valleys that reach toward the sea. For centuries, Inuit, Innu, and settler communities have lived within this landscape of contrasts—its beauty matched only by its demands. During the great cod fishery, harbors once filled with schooners, salt fish, and the rhythm of seasonal life. Today, cultural sites and small outports echo those stories, revealing how people and sea have long sustained one another. Guided hikes and Zodiac excursions invite you to trace these same shorelines, where every turn offers a glimpse of Labrador’s raw power and enduring spirit.

Come ashore in a Nunatsiavut community, where the spirit of the Labrador coast comes vividly to life. Here, history, art, and daily life intertwine, revealing stories of resilience, pride, and connection to land and sea. Walk through a community where tradition and modern life coexist—where voices rise in song, artisans share their craft, and every conversation offers insight into Inuit self-governance and cultural renewal. Framed by striking coastal hills and ancient rock formations, this visit offers a powerful sense of place and a deeper appreciation of Inuit Labrador.

Step ashore at Hebron, a former Moravian mission where the past lingers powerfully. In the 1950s, families here were forced to relocate, leaving deep scars still remembered today. Visit the preserved church, hear stories from descendants, and reflect at the commemorative plaque marking both loss and continuity. Meeting those who continue to return to hunt, fish, and honor their heritage makes Hebron a living story of displacement, memory, and return.

Enter Torngat Mountains National Park, a vast, untamed landscape where sheer peaks rise from deep fjords and tundra stretches to the horizon. Inuit hosts guide your exploration of this ancestral homeland, sharing stories that root the land in millennia of knowledge and connection. The Torngats are one of the least accessible places in Canada, protected and co-managed by Inuit to preserve both their natural and cultural heritage. From the possibility of spotting polar bears along the coast to hearing the wind move through glacial valleys, every moment here feels profound—a reminder of the power, beauty, and spirit that define the Arctic.

Cross the Davis Strait, a storied stretch of ocean connecting Greenland and Labrador. While whales and seabirds trace your course, life aboard turns to learning and exchange. Inuit cultural educators, scientists, artists, and historians share knowledge, stories, and laughter that deepen understanding of the Arctic and its peoples. Reflection and discovery flow together on this day at sea.

Explore Southwest Greenland, where glaciers carve their way through rock and icebergs drift across mirror-still fjords. Guided Zodiacs and shore landings bring you close to this elemental world: hiking across landscapes shaped by geological time, drifting among sculpted ice, and discovering the quiet, moving power of Greenland’s interior as it flows seaward.

In Nuuk, Greenland’s vibrant capital, steep peaks rise from the sea and creativity fills the air. Colorful homes and striking modern architecture reflect a city alive with Arctic energy and Inuit pride. Along the waterfront, fishing boats rock beside galleries and cafés, and daily life unfolds against a backdrop of sea and stone. Here, ancient traditions and contemporary life flow together with ease—language, food, and music carrying the pulse of a culture both grounded and evolving. Lively yet intimate, Nuuk offers a glimpse of a modern Arctic city shaped by connection, culture, and imagination.