11 Nights High Arctic Explorer | polardreamtravel
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11 Nights High Arctic Explorer
  • 11 Nights High Arctic Explorer

    $8,995.00Price

    Journey in comfort aboard the Ocean Endeavour from Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay), Nunavut to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Visit the Arctic at the height of summer!

     

    Explore Tallurutiup Imanga marine protected area. Visit the Franklin graves on Beechey Island. Enjoy an Inuit welcome in Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet).

     

    Across Baffin Bay lies the sublime Greenland coast. Illulissat offers cafes, hiking, and handicrafts. Ilulissat Icefjord is home to, the fastest-moving glacier in the world. Explore the best of Greenland and Nunavut!

    Early Bird Specials -

     

    • No single supplement on Cat 3-7 on a limited quantities of cabins
    • Multiple Trip 10% Off
    • Children four years old and younger pay only for charter airfare—and children two years and younger travel free
    • Save 30% on berth cost for travellers under thirty years of age
    • If price of the berth portion of the fare of any expedition is reduced more than 120 days prior to departure, previously booked clients may claim the lower rate


    Please click "Prices and Departures" above for depoarture dates, cabin types and price details.

     

     

    For Jul 25 2023 Departure - 

     

    Day 1: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
    Kangerlussuaq is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub. Here we will be transferred by Zodiac to the Ocean Endeavour.


    With 168 kilometres of superb scenery, Sondre Stromfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world. We begin our adventure by sailing up this dramatic fjord, crossing the Arctic Circle, northbound as we go.


    Day 2: Sisimiut Coast
    West Greenland’s complex coastal waterways include glaciers, islands, and fjords against a towering mountain backdrop. The waters are relatively warm here, due to the West Greenland Current and the sub-Arctic location.


    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. 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. The people primarily lived on fish, birds, whales, and seals.


    Day 3: Ilulissat
    Ilulissat translates literally into “iceberg”, an apt name for this site at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The icefjord is the outlet of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, a source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic.


    Here, we will cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs to appreciate the icebergs. We will also visit the town of Ilulissat, with its museums, cafes, craft shops, and busy fishing harbour.


    On the northern border of Tallurutiup Imanga lies Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth at over 50,000 square kilometres. The island’s geology is stunning. Flat topped mountains, glacial valleys, and a substantial ice cap give Devon Island its unique character.


    We’ll visit a number of the bays—hiking the tundra, discovering the botany, cruising a glacier face, and wildlife-spotting from ship and from shore. Once home to Inuit and their ancestors, we will visit archaeological sites with expert interpretation to learn about the human history of this now-abandoned island. We’ll also catch a glimpse of recent human history as we visit the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.


    Day 4: Western Greenland
    Greenland’s west coast is simply stunning. From mighty mountains to the tiniest tundra flowers, our stop in this area will offer many outstanding features of interest. Hikers, walkers, photographers, and contemplators will all be equally delighted.

     

    Day 5: At Sea — Davis Strait
    Our onboard presentation series will continue as we steam across Davis Strait towards Canada. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops, watch a documentary, and get out on deck
    looking for whales, seabirds, and marine wildlife.


    Day 6: Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)
    Mittimatalik is a busy Arctic community in a beautiful setting. The views of nearby Bylot Island are stunning. We will have a chance to explore the town. The cultural presentation at the Community Hall is not to be missed—handcrafted goods may be available here, too.


    Day 7–10: Tallurutiup Imanga(Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island
    We will spend four days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of Canada's newest National Marine Conservation Areas. Narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales transit and feed in this area. We’ll cruise by ship and Zodiac in search of wildlife.


    Day 11: Beechey Island
    In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, attempting to sail through the Northwest Passage. Franklin’s crew overwintered at Beechey Island where three of his men died.


    Numerous search parties later used Beechey as a depot and rendezvous. Amundsen, Bernier, and Larsen all visited Beechey. Thomas Morgan of the HMS Investigator was buried there in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men. The graves, and the ruins of nearby Northumberland House, are a haunting memorial.


    Day 12: Qausuittuq (Resolute), Nu, Canada
    Qausuittuq, or “place with no dawn”, is named for its dark winters. During our time in the summer months we will experience the midnight sun, a time of no darkness.


    The ending of our journey is characterized by shoreline gravel flats, rocky coastal bluffs, and deposits of glacial moraine. More significant is the origin of the hamlet. In 1953, Inuit from from Inukjuak, Québec, and Mittimatalik were relocated, under false pretenses, by the Canadian government with the aim of asserting Canadian sovereignty.


    Today the community is home to just under 250 people and is an important staging point for HighArctic research, tourism, and military activities.


    Here we will disembark the Ocean Endeavour, and take the charter flight to Ottawa, ON.

     

    For Aug 5 2023 Departure -

     

    DAY 1 Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay), NU, Canada
    Qausuittuq, or “place with no dawn”, is named for its dark winters. During our time in the summer months we will experience the midnight sun, a time of no darkness.

     

    The beginning of our journey is characterized by shoreline gravel flats, rocky coastal bluffs, and deposits of glacial moraine. More significant is the origin of the hamlet. In 1953, Inuit from from Inukjuak, Québec, and Mittimatalik were relocated, under false pretenses, by the Canadian government with the aim of asserting Canadian sovereignty.

     

    Today the community is home to just under 250 people and is an important staging point for High Arctic research, tourism, and military activities.

     


    DAY 2 Beechey Island
    In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, attempting to sail through the Northwest Passage. Franklin’s crew overwintered at Beechey Island where three of his men died.

     

    Numerous search parties later used Beechey as a depot and rendezvous. Amundsen, Bernier, and Larsen all visited Beechey. Thomas Morgan of the HMS Investigator was buried there in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men. The graves, and the ruins of nearby Northumberland House, are a haunting memorial.

     


    DAY 3–6 Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island
    We will spend four days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of Canada's newest National Marine Conservation Areas. 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 50,000 square kilometres. The island’s geology is stunning. Flat topped mountains, glacial valleys, and a substantial ice cap give Devon Island its unique character.

     

    We’ll visit a number of the bays—hiking the tundra, discovering the botany, cruising a glacier face, and wildlife-spotting from ship and from shore. Once home to Inuit and their ancestors, we will visit archaeological sites with expert interpretation to learn about the human history of this now-abandoned island. We’ll also catch a glimpse of recent human history as we visit the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.

     

     

    DAY 7 Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)
    Mittimatalik is a busy Arctic community in a beautiful setting. The views of nearby Bylot Island are stunning. We will have a chance to explore the town. The cultural presentation at the Community Hall is not to be missed—handcrafted goods may be available here, too.

     


    DAY 8 At Sea — Davis Strait
    Our onboard presentation series will continue as we steam across Davis Strait towards Canada. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops, watch a documentary, and get out on deck looking for whales, seabirds, and marine wildlife.

     


    DAY 9 Western Greenland
    Greenland’s west coast is simply stunning. From mighty mountains to the tiniest tundra flowers, our stop in this area will offer many outstanding features of interest. Hikers, walkers, photographers, and contemplators will all be equally delighted.

     


    DAY 10 Ilulissat
    Ilulissat translates literally into “iceberg”, an apt name for this site at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The icefjord is the outlet of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, a source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic.

     

    Here, we will cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs to appreciate the icebergs. We will also visit the town of Ilulissat, with its museums, cafes, craft shops, and busy fishing harbour.

     


    DAY 11 Sisimiut Coast
    West Greenland’s complex coastal waterways include glaciers, islands, and fjords against a towering mountain backdrop. The waters are relatively warm here, due to the West Greenland Current and the sub-Arctic location.

     

    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. 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. The people primarily lived on fish, birds, whales, and seals.

     


    DAY 12 Kangerlussuaq
    Søndre Strømfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world and boasts 168 kilometres of superb scenery. We end our adventure by sailing up this dramatic fjord.

     

    Kangerlussuaq, the town at its eastern head, is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub.

     

    Here we will disembark the Ocean Endeavour, and take a charter flight to Toronto, ON.

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