Compare Classic Northwest Passage and Greenland by Adventure Unbound vs High Arctic Explorer - Canada to Greenland (Ocean Endeavour) by Intrepid Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Price From | $ 9,595 | $ 12,640 |
| Price Per Day | $ 738 | $ 972 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small ship cruise |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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N/A |
| Meals Included |
11 Breakfasts, 10 lunches and 11 Dinners |
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| Description |
Journey into the Remote Canadian Arctic. Venture into the remote Northwest Passage and cruise the fjords of Baffin Island before crossing to Greenland on this 12-night voyage. Follow in the footsteps of early explorers including Sir John Franklin and Roald Amundsen, cruise the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, witness the skills of traditional Greenlandic kayakers and soak up the incredible wildlife viewing opportunities in the Canadian Arctic. |
Discover a land so untamed, so remote and so beautiful that most can only dream of it. Venture into the Arctic Circle and traverse the wild coastline of Northern Canada and Greenland on a 13-day expedition. On board the Ocean Endeavour, a team of experts will help you dive deeper into the intriguing geography, history and culture of the region, while expedition landings allow you to experience it firsthand. Visit tiny villages set against colossal backdrops of icebergs and mountains, and admire the Arctic’s diverse wildlife from ship and shore. |
Day 1: Edmonton
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Depart Edmonton on your charter flight to Cambridge Bay, a remote outpost on the southern shores of Victoria Island. It’s a hub for hunting and fishing in the region and Amundsen spent two winters here, learning to dog-sled from locals in the lead up to his attempt on the South Pole. Discover its history on a walking tour of the town before embarking your expedition ship, the Akademik loffe, and setting sail for the Northwest Passage.
Day 2: Victory Point
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
As we head further into the Northwest Passage, learn more about the mystery of Sir John Franklin and his “lost expedition” before we encounter his vessels left abandoned in the ice of Victoria Strait. Today they are being brought back to life by the ongoing efforts of Parks Canada’s marine archaeological team and the recent Victoria Strait Expedition. Witness an abandoned lifeboat, cutlery and skeletons at Victory Point, before passing as close to the location of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror wrecks as possible.
Day 3: Coningham Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
This morning we will arrive at Coningham Bay on the shores of Prince Of Wales Island for one of the Arctic's most impressive wildlife encounters. Coningham Bay is famed for its polar bear sightings, with these iconic creatures coming to hunt for beluga whales which get trapped in the rocky shallows.
Day 4: Bellot Strait and Fort Ross
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
This morning we will transit the narrow passage of Bellot Strait where harp seals, bearded seals and polar bears can sometimes be spotted and continue to the historic site of Fort Ross on Somerset Island. This former Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading outpost is surrounded by a number of fascinating archaeological sites which detail more than one thousand years of Inuit inhabitation.
Day 5: Beechey Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Today we will visit Beechey Island where Sir John Franklin’s expedition spent its last winter in 1845 before disappearing into the icy wilderness. Step ashore on its remote beach to visit the grave markers which have been placed here and ponder the bravery of these pioneering Arctic explorers.
Day 6: Devon Island and Dundas Harbour
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
This morning we will enter Lancaster Sound which has been dubbed a wildlife “super highway”. Waters from the Atlantic and Arctic oceans meet here, creating an abundant source of nutrients for both marine life and bird species. We will visit the old Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) outpost at Dundas Harbour which is situated on the southern shores of Devon Island, then search for musk ox and Arctic hare on a hiking excursion.
Day 7: Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
As we approach the wild north coast of Baffin Island, we’ll navigate through Navy Board Inlet and Sirmilik National Park to visit the remote Inuit community of Mittimatalik. Gain a better understanding of the culture and history of these northern people on a visit the Natinnak Center, see traditional Inuit games being demonstrated and peruse their beautiful carvings, jewelry and traditional crafts.
Day 8: Gibbs Fjord
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
This morning we will cruise through the dark waters of Gibbs Fjord, set against a dramatic backdrop of soaring peaks and snowy glaciers.
Day 9: Baffin Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
We’ll depart the rugged coastline of Baffin Island and cross the Baffin Bay en route to Greenland. Attend lectures on the natural and human history of the Arctic by your team of onboard experts and keep an eye out for fin, sperm and humpback whales which are known to frequent these waters, together with Arctic seals, fulmars and dovekies.
Day 10: Ilulissat Icefjord
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Today we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord where immense tabular icebergs are released into the waters of Disko Bay. These spectacular monoliths are created by a glacier which is advancing up to 40 meters per day and the high ice rating of our vessel allows us to explore in comfort and safety.
Day 11: Sisimiut
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Spend the morning on a zodiac excursion exploring a picturesque fjord behind the town of Sisimiut, then step ashore to visit its colorful houses. Backed by towering granite peaks, this small settlement is home to a museum, as well as traditional Greenlandic kayakers who will demonstrate their distinct watercraft skills.
Day 12: Sondre Stromfjord
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Today will be spent cruising up one of the world’s longest fjords, Sondre Stromfjord, with plenty of opportunities to jump aboard the zodiacs or kayaks to explore its small side fjords. You may also opt to go hiking to spot muskox along the shores, as well as white-tailed sea eagles which can often be spotted riding the thermals above the ridges.
Day 13: Kangerlussuaq and Ottawa
This morning we will arrive in Kangerlussuaq where you will bid farewell to your crew and be transferred to the airport for your charter flight to Ottawa.
Day 1 Ottawa to Qausuittuq (Resolute), Canada
Your Arctic adventure begins in Ottawa, Canada, from where you’ll hop aboard an included early morning charter flight to Qausuittuq (Resolute), in Canada’s Nunavut region. Here you’ll find the Ocean Endeavour ship, your home for the next 13 days. Board a Zodiac boat which will take you to the Ocean Endeavour – these sturdy inflatable vessels will get you on and off the ship throughout your journey. With a name meaning ‘place with no dawn’, Qausuittuq experiences long, dark winters, but your visit in the peak of summer means day-round sunlight. The unique topography of the landscape is characterized by shoreline gravel flats, rocky coastal bluffs, and deposits of glacial moraine. First established in 1953, the community began under false pretenses, as the Canadian government relocated Inuit families from Inukjuak, Québec and Mittimatalik, in an attempt to assert Canadian sovereignty. Learn about this dark chapter in Canadian history and how the community lives on today. Qausuittuq now serves as an important staging post for High Arctic research, tourism and military activities.
Day 2 Beechey Island
Make a sobering visit to the Franklin Expedition historic site on Beechey Island, a memorial to the failed expedition of British explorer Sir John Franklin in 1845. Attempting to cross the Northwest Passage, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror vanished – searches for the wrecks were unsuccessful for 170 years, only to be both be discovered in 2014 and 2016. Pay your respects while learning the stories of the men who are buried here as you visit their graves and the nearby ruins of Northumberland House.
Day 3-7 Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) and Devon Island
The next four days will be spent exploring the rugged landscapes of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area (Lancaster Sound). The area is home to narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales who feed in this area – set out in search of them by ship and Zodiac. Stop by Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island. The vast, barren landscape is dotted with glacial valleys, flat-topped mountains and ice caps, and while it may not be a place you’d want to live, it’s certainly a joy to explore. Hike over tundra, cruise a glacier face and keep a lookout for polar bears and other wildlife from ship and shore. Let expert guides show you ancient archaeological sites that unearth the history of the Inuit people and their ancestors who once laid roots on this now abandoned island. Visit the eerie remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.
Day 8 Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)
A world away from Ottawa where your adventure began, see a different side of Canada in the beautiful Arctic community of Mittimatalik. With a population of just 1600, this place may be small, but there’s so much Inuit culture and history to uncover here. Dive straight in with a performance by the Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group, where they will take you on a journey with their drum dancing, throat singing and storytelling. After the performance, enjoy some time to explore the town and soak in the spectacular views of nearby Bylot Island. There are often gorgeous handcrafted goods for sale if you want to pick up a keepsake to remember your time in this unique corner of the world.
Day 9 At Sea, Davis Strait
Cross the Davis Straight today on your way towards Greenland. This day at sea is the perfect opportunity to add a deeper layer to your discoveries of the Arctic. Enriching workshops and presentations delivered by experts on board the Ocean Endeavour paint an in-depth picture of the region’s fascinating history, geology, wildlife and cultural heritage. There’s even a workshop on how to best use your binoculars, so put your new skills into practice and get out on deck in search of whales, seabirds and other marine life.
Day 10 Western Greenland
An expedition landing on Greenland’s wild and wonderful west coast means the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may like to get active with a rewarding hike, or stretch your legs with a more easygoing stroll through the everchanging landscapes. There’s plenty of unbelievable photography opportunities here, or you may prefer just to sit back and take it all in. However you choose to spend the day, the sights of soaring mountains and vibrant tundra flowers are sure to stick with you long after your adventure is over.
Day 11 Ilulissat
After travelling south overnight, disembark the ship and head out to explore the town of Ilulissat and its surrounds – the name Ilulissat directly translates to ‘icebergs’ in Kalaallisut, Greenland’s official language, and you’ll soon find out why! Neatly organised colourful houses make the town postcard-pretty, but it’s the nearby icefjord that really puts this place on the map. A walk along a boardwalk will lead you to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where towering white ice formations dwarf the buildings of the nearby town. Spend some time soaking up this memorable sight, and perhaps have a wander around Ilulissat’s charming shops and museums, then set out on a Zodiac cruise to admire the icefjord from a different perspective. Weave and bob your way around impressive icebergs – this really has to be experienced to be believed!
Day 12 Sisimiut Coast
Today will be spent exploring western Greenland along the Sisimiut Coast. You’re going to want to have your camera ready for this journey – prepare to pass by glaciers, fjords and islands against a staggering backdrop of mountains. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get off the ship and hike through the inspiring landscape, or set off on a Zodiac cruise for a closer look at these natural wonders. As you traverse the complex waterways, learn the stories of the Saqqaq, Dorset, Thule and modern Inuit people who have called the Sisimiut region home for 4500 years.
Day 13 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Toronto, Canada
It’s time to say goodbye to the Arctic after a day cruising down the Kangerlussuaq Fjord for your final dose of epic scenery, crossing the Arctic Circle one last time. The 190-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by snow-dusted mountains and dramatic glaciers, ensuring your last day in the Arctic will be one to remember. Bid farewell to the Ocean Endeavour as you disembark and take a Zodiac transfer for your included charter flight to Toronto, Ontario. Your Arctic adventure comes to an end upon your arrival at Toronto airport – prepare to leave with memories to last a lifetime.
