16 Nights The Northwest Passage Adventure | polardreamtravel
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16 Nights The Northwest Passage Adventure
  • 16 Nights The Northwest Passage Adventure

    $12,995.00 Regular Price
    $11,046.00Sale Price

    One of the world’s greatest voyages is calling! Pristine fjords. Looming glaciers. Jagged icebergs. Grand vistas, historic sites. Marine mammals, bears, and birds. Find a warm welcome in Nunavut’s communities, and enjoy Greenland’s geology, geography, and culture with a European flair.

     

    Every day is a new adventure in the Northwest Passage: hiking, photography, birding. Learning with our experts. Meeting the people who call the Arctic home. Sailing the passage at the top of the world!

    Early Bird Specials -

     

    • 15% Off by May 31 2022 for 2023 departures
    • 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 departure dates, cabin types and prices.

     

     

    For Aug 24 2022 Departure -

     

    DAY 1 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
    Kangerlussuaq is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub. After our charter flight from Toronto, we will transfer to the Ocean Endeavour by Zodiac.

     

    Søndre Strømfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world: 168 kilometres of superb scenery. Steaming down this dramatic fjord we’ll cross the Arctic Circle—from the north!


    DAY 2 Sisimiut Coast
    West Greenland’s complex coastal waterways, which 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. Abundant fauna and marine life have supported human habitation here as far back as 4,500 years.


    DAY 3 Ilulissat
    Ilulissat means “iceberg”, an apt name for this site at the outlet of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic.

     

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


    DAY 4–5 Western Greenland
    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, we cross Baffin Bay toward Nunavut.


    DAY 6 At Sea – Davis Strait
    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 deck. Keep your binoculars ready for minke and humpback whales, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage.


    DAY 7 Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), NU, Canada
    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—handcrafted goods may be available here too.


    DAY 8–10 Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island
    We will 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 50,000 square kilometres. Flat-topped mountains, glacial valleys, and a substantial ice cap give Devon Island its unique character. We will hike the tundra, cruise a glacier face, and seek wildlife from ship and by 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.


    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. His 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 visited Beechey. Thomas Morgan of the HMS Investigator was buried there in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men. The graves and ruins of Northumberland House are a haunting memorial.


    DAY 12–13 Prince Regent Inlet
    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, we’ll delve deeper into the exploration of the Northwest Passage and mercantile efforts of the Hudson's Bay Company.


    DAY 14–16 Kitikmeot Region
    The traditional territory of the Netsilik Inuit, 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. 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. We will spend our time navigating the ice-strewn waters in search of wildlife.

     

    We’ll also call in at Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven) home of the Guardians of Terror Bay. The European name, Gjoa Haven, honours Roald Amundsen who overwintered in the bay for two years while searching for the Northwest Passage. Amundsen became the first European to cross the Northwest Passage, thanks to the knowledge and largesse of Inuit. The community has an excellent cultural centre and is well known for carvings and wall hangings.


    DAY 17 Kugluktuk, NU, Canada
    Located at the mouth of the Coppermine River, Kugluktuk is the westernmost community in Nunavut.

     

     

    For Sep 9 2022 Departure -

     

    DAY 1 Kugluktuk (Coppermine), NU, Canada
    Located at the mouth of the Coppermine River, Kugluktuk is the westernmost community in Nunavut. Known for many years as Coppermine, the community reverted to its original Inuinnaqtun name—meaning “place of moving waters”—on January 1st, 1996. Our charter flight will land in Kugluktuk and we will embark the Ocean Endeavour by Zodiac.

     

    Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), NU, is an alternate embarkation point, and may be used based on sea, ice, and weather conditions.


    DAY 2–4 Kitikmeot Region
    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. 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. We'll explore by Zodiac and on foot.


    DAY 5 Prince Regent Inlet
    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, we’ll delve deeper into the exploration of the Northwest Passage and mercantile efforts of the Hudson's Bay Company.


    DAY 6 Beechey Island
    In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England with HMS Erebusand HMS Terror, attempting to sail through the Northwest Passage. His 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 visited Beechey. Thomas Morgan of HMS Investigatorwas buried there in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men. The graves and the ruins of Northumberland House are a haunting memorial.


    DAY 7-8 Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound)
    We will spend two days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of Canada's newest National Marine Conservation Areas.

     

    Large populations of marine mammals, including narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales, transit and feed in this area. There is a great selection of landing sites available to choose from, depending on weather, wildlife, and sea conditions.


    DAY 9 Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord)
    Aujuittuq means "place that never thaws". 1,150 kilometres above the Arctic Circle, Canada’s northernmost “civilian” community originated in the Cold War; in 1953, Inuit were relocated to Aujuittuq to boost Canadian sovereignty.

     

    We’ll be welcomed into the hamlet, where we will have a chance to meet members of the community, learn about their way of life, and hear their poignant stories.


    DAY 10–11 Smith Sound
    Smith Sound, an ancient Inuit travel route, divides Ellesmere Island from Greenland, and served as the main route for explorers and adventurers searching for the North Pole. Adolphus Greely, Sir George Nares, and Elisha Kent Kane all travelled these waters with varying degrees of success.


    DAY 12 At Sea
    On this exploration day, we’ll be making the most of what the wind, weather, and wildlife have to offer. Our expedition staff will scan for polar bears, walrus, whales, seals, and seabirds as we go.


    DAY 13–14 Northwest Greenland
    We will explore stunning fjords that line the coast. Glaciers and icebergs abound here. In true expedition style, we will seek opportunities to hike, explore, and view wildlife as conditions allow.


    DAY 15 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, source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic.

     

    Here, we will cruise in Zodiacs to appreciate the icebergs. And we’ll visit the bustling town of Ilulissat, with its museums, cafes, craft shops, and busy fishing harbour.


    DAY 16 Itilleq Fjord
    The west Greenland coastline is a rich mixture of islands and complex coastal waterways. As we enter the Arctic autumn, the tundra foliage will be in gorgeous colour. We will be making an expedition stop here to explore the landscape of wild Greenland.


    DAY 17 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
    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 for our return charter flight to Toronto, ON.

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