High Arctic Expedition Cruise
12 nights
Enjoyable for all in reasonable health.
Quality transportation and accommodation in an uncommon environment, with the chance of occasional slight discomfort. E.g. an arctic polar bear tour
Trip Overview |
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Itinerary |
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Accommodation |
The magic and mystery of the far north can hardly be escaped when you combine its landscapes, people and communities into our favourite high Arctic adventure.
We challenge other packages to compete with this spectacular journey filled with the exciting sights, sounds and tastes of the Canadian Arctic.
We challenge other packages to compete with this spectacular journey filled with the exciting sights, sounds and tastes of the Canadian Arctic.
Outline
12 Days aboard the Akademik Ioffe exploring the high arctic
12 Days aboard the Akademik Ioffe exploring the high arctic
ITINERARY
High Arctic Canada vacation begins - Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord)
Your Canada vacation begins in Ottawa where you board a flight en route to Greenland. If you’re lucky you’ll get a bird’s eye view of what’s to come on your cruise.
Board the Clipper Adventurer via Zodiac and prepare to steam out of one of the longest fjords in the world with 168km of breathtaking scenery.
Although the fjord crosses the Arctic Circle, the waters here do not freeze, making this part of Greenland a year-round centre for fishing and hunting.
Sisimuit Coast
Few packages take you between Kangerlussuaq and Illulissat. The west Greenland coastline is a rich mixture of fishing communities, myriad islands and complex coastal waterways.
Ilulissat
250 km north of the Arctic Circle we find the astounding coastal community of Ilulissat. Ilulissat translates literally into “iceberg”, and there couldn’t be a more fitting name. Your visit will include time in the colorful town and a chance to hike out to an elevated viewpoint where you can observe the great fields of ice.
On this Canada vacation like no other, you will cruise in your fleet of zodiacs in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The Icefjord is where you find the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, one of the most active and fastest moving in the world at 19 meters per day and calving (breaking off) more than 35km3 of ice annually. Of particular interest to scientists, this glacier has significantly added to the understanding of ice-cap glaciology, climate change and related geomorphic processes.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Qimusseriarsuaq (Melville Bay)
In Qimusseriarsuaq, formerly known as Melville Bay, the Greenland Ice Cap reaches for the sea. Large icebergs, broken from Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, are carried north here by the West Greenland Current before heading west to Baffin Bay.
In the days of wooden ships - way before tour packages visited this icy paradise - the bay was dubbed “the wrecking yard” by British, Dutch and American whaling fleets due to the damages caused to many of their vessels.
Today Qimusseriarsuaq is still strewn with icebergs, but global warming is taking its toll. The Greenlandic government has created a shoreline reserve to protect summer beluga and narwhal populations as well as breeding polar bears.
Kap York
The rugged coastal environment at Kap York is rich in wildlife and is part of an extensive network of traditional hunting grounds. During the spring and summer months the skies and cliffs are dotted with millions of birds, primarily auks and murres.
This district boasts the largest seabird population in northwest Greenland. Whalers and explorers often entered these waters and later Admiral Robert Peary’s family raised a monument in honor of his achievements on the cape.
Sailors’ and ships’ logs record multiple climbs of the cape in order to survey the ice conditions in Qimusseriarsuaq. You will get to hike the tundra landscape and enjoy your own magnificent vistas.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Qaanaaq
It is in Qaanaaq, the world’s most northerly town, that you can get closest to what many people think of as the original Greenlandic hunting culture. Originally located 100km to the south, the community of Qaanaaq was relocated in 1952 to accommodate the American Air Force base extension at Thule.
The region, however, has a much more lengthy history, with archaeological evidence suggesting habitation over the past 4,000 years. It was from Qaanaaq that seven of Knud Rasmussen’s expeditions set out, and it was also from here that the American explorer Robert Peary embarked on his journey to reach the North Pole in 1909.
The inhabitants, Inughuit, are fine artisans; beautiful small carvings and
jewelry can be purchased during your visit.
Karey Islands
The beautiful Karey Islands straddle the border between Greenland and Ellesmere Island. Dovekie, small black birds with a vibrant white breast, breed in this area lending to some amazing photo opportunities.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Smith Sound (3 days)
Spend a couple of days exploring north into this fabled body of water that served as the main route for explorers and adventurers searching for the North Pole.
Adolphus Greely, Sir George Nares and Elisha Kent Kane all traveled these waters with varying degrees of success. The Sound was named by William Baffin after Sir Thomas Smythe, promoter of voyages to find a Northwest Passage.
Only 48-72km wide and 88km long, it is often packed with ice and provides favorable conditions for wildlife viewing.
Cape Norton, Ellesmere & Philpots, Devon Island
The area of Devon and South Ellesmere is one of few known breeding sites of the elusive Ivory Gull. They inhabit the rock outcrops sticking through ice sheets, known as nunatacs.
You will be on the lookout for these beautiful gulls as you pick your way through the ice into Jones Sound.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Cobourg Island
Cobourg Island is 65% covered with ice, but the remaining ragged land is a haven for wildlife. Cliff ledges are filled to capacity with 30,000 pairs of Black-Legged Kittiwakes and 160,000 pairs of Thick-Billed Murres among other seabirds. As you tour the area, keep your eyes peeled for the rare Ivory Gull and Northern Fulmars also known to breed in the area.
Today you will see more birds than you ever imagined. Have your camera ready to capture that perfect photo.
Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord)
Aujuittuq means “place that never thaws,” and at 1,150km above the Arctic Circle, it is the northernmost civilian community in Canada. The small population of 165 will welcome you into this peaceful and warm hamlet.
Unique to Arctic vacation packages, your activities will center around the school where you will have a chance to meet members of the community and learn about their way of life.
Devon Island
The largest uninhabited island in the world supports significant concentrations of wildlife, including 26 species of seabirds and 11 species of marine mammals.
At Dundas Harbour you find the lonely remains of an RCMP station dating from the 1920s. You’ll also find walrus, polar bear, muskox and caribou here.
At nearby Croker Bay, you have a chance to Zodiac cruise through this scenic bay and marvel at icebergs, freshly calved from the glacier at the head of the bay.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Prince Leopold, Somerset Island
The dramatic 244m limestone and sandstone cliffs of Prince Leopold is home to nearly 375,000 migratory birds. The island is a heaven for birds and is included in the 311km2 Prince Leopold Bird Sanctuary.
Species found here include: Thick-billed Murre, Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Black Guillemots, Atlantic Brant, Parasitic Jaegers, Common Eider, Common Raven, Glacous Gull and Snow Bunting.
Beechey Island
Beechey Island is a site of great historical significance in Arctic Exploration. It was the protection offered by the harbor that prompted Sir John Franklin to take refuge during the winter months as he waited to start his search for the Northwest Passage. It is his last known whereabouts.
Over a century and a half later the remains of Franklin’s camp, including three graves, were discovered by search parties looking for the lost men. The island served as a search and rescue base in the years to come. Today three headstones and cairns are found, dedicated to northern explorers.
High Arctic & Canada vacation comes to an end - Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay)
Arriving in Resolute in early morning, you disembark the Clipper Adventurer today. You will say your farewells to the captain and crew before boarding your charter flight south to Ottawa.
Much too soon you leave the crisp air and beautiful sights of the Arctic behind as your Canada vacation comes to an end.
High Arctic Canada vacation begins - Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord)
Your Canada vacation begins in Ottawa where you board a flight en route to Greenland. If you’re lucky you’ll get a bird’s eye view of what’s to come on your cruise.
Board the Clipper Adventurer via Zodiac and prepare to steam out of one of the longest fjords in the world with 168km of breathtaking scenery.
Although the fjord crosses the Arctic Circle, the waters here do not freeze, making this part of Greenland a year-round centre for fishing and hunting.
Sisimuit Coast
Few packages take you between Kangerlussuaq and Illulissat. The west Greenland coastline is a rich mixture of fishing communities, myriad islands and complex coastal waterways.
Ilulissat
250 km north of the Arctic Circle we find the astounding coastal community of Ilulissat. Ilulissat translates literally into “iceberg”, and there couldn’t be a more fitting name. Your visit will include time in the colorful town and a chance to hike out to an elevated viewpoint where you can observe the great fields of ice.
On this Canada vacation like no other, you will cruise in your fleet of zodiacs in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The Icefjord is where you find the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, one of the most active and fastest moving in the world at 19 meters per day and calving (breaking off) more than 35km3 of ice annually. Of particular interest to scientists, this glacier has significantly added to the understanding of ice-cap glaciology, climate change and related geomorphic processes.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Qimusseriarsuaq (Melville Bay)
In Qimusseriarsuaq, formerly known as Melville Bay, the Greenland Ice Cap reaches for the sea. Large icebergs, broken from Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, are carried north here by the West Greenland Current before heading west to Baffin Bay.
In the days of wooden ships - way before tour packages visited this icy paradise - the bay was dubbed “the wrecking yard” by British, Dutch and American whaling fleets due to the damages caused to many of their vessels.
Today Qimusseriarsuaq is still strewn with icebergs, but global warming is taking its toll. The Greenlandic government has created a shoreline reserve to protect summer beluga and narwhal populations as well as breeding polar bears.
Kap York
The rugged coastal environment at Kap York is rich in wildlife and is part of an extensive network of traditional hunting grounds. During the spring and summer months the skies and cliffs are dotted with millions of birds, primarily auks and murres.
This district boasts the largest seabird population in northwest Greenland. Whalers and explorers often entered these waters and later Admiral Robert Peary’s family raised a monument in honor of his achievements on the cape.
Sailors’ and ships’ logs record multiple climbs of the cape in order to survey the ice conditions in Qimusseriarsuaq. You will get to hike the tundra landscape and enjoy your own magnificent vistas.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Qaanaaq
It is in Qaanaaq, the world’s most northerly town, that you can get closest to what many people think of as the original Greenlandic hunting culture. Originally located 100km to the south, the community of Qaanaaq was relocated in 1952 to accommodate the American Air Force base extension at Thule.
The region, however, has a much more lengthy history, with archaeological evidence suggesting habitation over the past 4,000 years. It was from Qaanaaq that seven of Knud Rasmussen’s expeditions set out, and it was also from here that the American explorer Robert Peary embarked on his journey to reach the North Pole in 1909.
The inhabitants, Inughuit, are fine artisans; beautiful small carvings and
jewelry can be purchased during your visit.
Karey Islands
The beautiful Karey Islands straddle the border between Greenland and Ellesmere Island. Dovekie, small black birds with a vibrant white breast, breed in this area lending to some amazing photo opportunities.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Smith Sound (3 days)
Spend a couple of days exploring north into this fabled body of water that served as the main route for explorers and adventurers searching for the North Pole.
Adolphus Greely, Sir George Nares and Elisha Kent Kane all traveled these waters with varying degrees of success. The Sound was named by William Baffin after Sir Thomas Smythe, promoter of voyages to find a Northwest Passage.
Only 48-72km wide and 88km long, it is often packed with ice and provides favorable conditions for wildlife viewing.
Cape Norton, Ellesmere & Philpots, Devon Island
The area of Devon and South Ellesmere is one of few known breeding sites of the elusive Ivory Gull. They inhabit the rock outcrops sticking through ice sheets, known as nunatacs.
You will be on the lookout for these beautiful gulls as you pick your way through the ice into Jones Sound.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Cobourg Island
Cobourg Island is 65% covered with ice, but the remaining ragged land is a haven for wildlife. Cliff ledges are filled to capacity with 30,000 pairs of Black-Legged Kittiwakes and 160,000 pairs of Thick-Billed Murres among other seabirds. As you tour the area, keep your eyes peeled for the rare Ivory Gull and Northern Fulmars also known to breed in the area.
Today you will see more birds than you ever imagined. Have your camera ready to capture that perfect photo.
Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord)
Aujuittuq means “place that never thaws,” and at 1,150km above the Arctic Circle, it is the northernmost civilian community in Canada. The small population of 165 will welcome you into this peaceful and warm hamlet.
Unique to Arctic vacation packages, your activities will center around the school where you will have a chance to meet members of the community and learn about their way of life.
Devon Island
The largest uninhabited island in the world supports significant concentrations of wildlife, including 26 species of seabirds and 11 species of marine mammals.
At Dundas Harbour you find the lonely remains of an RCMP station dating from the 1920s. You’ll also find walrus, polar bear, muskox and caribou here.
At nearby Croker Bay, you have a chance to Zodiac cruise through this scenic bay and marvel at icebergs, freshly calved from the glacier at the head of the bay.
High Arctic & Canada vacation continues to Prince Leopold, Somerset Island
The dramatic 244m limestone and sandstone cliffs of Prince Leopold is home to nearly 375,000 migratory birds. The island is a heaven for birds and is included in the 311km2 Prince Leopold Bird Sanctuary.
Species found here include: Thick-billed Murre, Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Black Guillemots, Atlantic Brant, Parasitic Jaegers, Common Eider, Common Raven, Glacous Gull and Snow Bunting.
Beechey Island
Beechey Island is a site of great historical significance in Arctic Exploration. It was the protection offered by the harbor that prompted Sir John Franklin to take refuge during the winter months as he waited to start his search for the Northwest Passage. It is his last known whereabouts.
Over a century and a half later the remains of Franklin’s camp, including three graves, were discovered by search parties looking for the lost men. The island served as a search and rescue base in the years to come. Today three headstones and cairns are found, dedicated to northern explorers.
High Arctic & Canada vacation comes to an end - Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay)
Arriving in Resolute in early morning, you disembark the Clipper Adventurer today. You will say your farewells to the captain and crew before boarding your charter flight south to Ottawa.
Much too soon you leave the crisp air and beautiful sights of the Arctic behind as your Canada vacation comes to an end.
Options & Upgrades
- Add extra nights is Resolute Bay to experience life in Canada’s second northernmost settlement.
Accommodation
Various cabin types
Various cabin types
Request A Booking |
Dates + Prices |
HIGHLIGHTS
- Landscapes, people and communities of the Arctic
- The ice-filled Kane Basin in Smith Sound
- Cobourg Island
- Greenland’s scenic west coast
- Bird-sightings
- Onboard naturalists and Inuit guides
- Excursions on shore and aboard Zodiacs
Testimonials
Thank you and your team so much for all your help in planning the trip. We have met other people who have also booked through you and were very happy.
Request A Booking
Reserving Your Trip Is Easy
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Call us toll free
1 800 667 4744 (US/Can)
0 800 917 5924 (UK)
1 800 992 872 (Aus.)
Office hours:
M-F, 6am - 6pm Pacific Time.
Sat 10am - 4pm.
A personal trip advisor will help you book your perfect trip.
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Reserve Online using the form at left.
We will contact you as quickly as we can and you will not be under any obligation until after we have confirmed all details with you.
At that time a US$500 per person deposit is payable and you will be subject to our usual terms and conditions.
Reserve your spot without obligation for 48 hours. Our consultants will contact you to confirm details before you pay a deposit.
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2009 Package Start Dates
August 9 - 21
Price Notes
• Prices are per person sharing a cabin, please contact us for single occupancy rates
• There are 8 categories of cabin
• Category 1 Quad Lower Forward, 2 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window.
• Category 2 Triple Lower Deck, 1 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window.
• Category 3 Junior Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window
• Category 4 Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window.
• Category 5 Main Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window.
• Category 6 Deluxe Double, shower, midship, two lower berths, porthole window.
• Category 7 Superior Double, two lower berths, shower, picture window.
• Category 8 Junior Suite, two lower berths, bath or shower, sitting area.
Includes
• Your complete itinerary
• Team of resource specialists- crew, naturalists, musician and Inuit ambassadors
• Welcome reception aboard ship
• Educational program and pre-departure materials
• All meals, except occasional optional meal ashore
• Zodiac excursions
• Service charges and port fees
Not Included
• Flights
• Your $250 conservation/cultural fund fee and GST
• Mandatory medical / evacuation insurance
• Personal expenses (laundry, alcoholic beverages, phone calls, onboard medical fees)
• Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
• Optional Hotel Nights before or after your included itinerary
• Discretionary gratuities to ship’s crew (approximately $12 per passenger per day)
August 9 - 21
| Price Per Person | ||
| Aug 9 2009 | USD $ | CAD $ |
| Category 1 | 3,704 | 4,186 |
| Category 2 | 4,463 | 5,043 |
| Category 3 | 5,474 | 6,186 |
| Category 4 | 6,317 | 7,138 |
| Category 5 | 7,328 | 8,281 |
| Category 6 | 8,171 | 9,233 |
| Category 7 | 8,424 | 9,519 |
| Category 8 | 8,761 | 9,900 |
• Prices are per person sharing a cabin, please contact us for single occupancy rates
• There are 8 categories of cabin
• Category 1 Quad Lower Forward, 2 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window.
• Category 2 Triple Lower Deck, 1 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window.
• Category 3 Junior Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window
• Category 4 Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window.
• Category 5 Main Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window.
• Category 6 Deluxe Double, shower, midship, two lower berths, porthole window.
• Category 7 Superior Double, two lower berths, shower, picture window.
• Category 8 Junior Suite, two lower berths, bath or shower, sitting area.
Includes
• Your complete itinerary
• Team of resource specialists- crew, naturalists, musician and Inuit ambassadors
• Welcome reception aboard ship
• Educational program and pre-departure materials
• All meals, except occasional optional meal ashore
• Zodiac excursions
• Service charges and port fees
Not Included
• Flights
• Your $250 conservation/cultural fund fee and GST
• Mandatory medical / evacuation insurance
• Personal expenses (laundry, alcoholic beverages, phone calls, onboard medical fees)
• Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
• Optional Hotel Nights before or after your included itinerary
• Discretionary gratuities to ship’s crew (approximately $12 per passenger per day)
