Compare Essential Ontario self-drive by Audley Travel vs High Arctic Explorer - Greenland to Canada (Ocean Endeavour) by Intrepid Travel

Day 1 : Toronto

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Toronto. On arrival in Toronto, make your own way to your hotel, which is ideally located in the heart of the city. You'll have the rest of the day to start exploring Ontario's vibrant provincial capital.

Day 2 : Toronto

Toronto is a city of diverse neighbourhoods, and this morning you'll join a two hour guided tour of Kensington Market - one of the most eclectic regions of the city.Afterwards, you're at leisure to continue exploring. You might like to travel to the top of the iconic CN Tower, take a ferry out to the Toronto Islands, or visit to the historic Distillery District.

Day 3 : Toronto

You'll be collected from your hotel this morning and join a small group tour to see the magnificent Niagara Falls. These vast waterfalls are around an hour and a half from Toronto, and your guide will explain the history of the area during the drive. Arriving in Niagara, you'll board the famous Hornblower cruise, which takes passengers for a close-up view of the thundering water, right to the foot of the falls. Plastic ponchos are provided. After some time at leisure you'll then be taken to the pretty historic town of Niagara on the Lake, where you'll have the opportunity to visit one of its excellent wineries, before returning to Toronto at the end of the day.

Day 4 : Kingston

Make your own way to the downtown depot to collect your hire car, which will be ready and waiting for you. All insurances, a road map and a sat-nav are included in your car hire package. Your first drive takes you three hours east along the shoreline of Lake Ontario to Kingston â most notable for its proud colonial history. After checking into your hotel, you have time at leisure to explore this charming collegiate town.

Day 5 : Kingston

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Kingston - you might like to explore its harbourfront, visit one of its many art galleries and museums, or learn more about Canadian history at the Fort Henry National Historic Site.

Day 6 : Ottawa

Make the short drive over to Gananoque this morning in time for your next excursion. This sleepy town is the gateway to the picturesque Thousand Islands region of Lake Ontario, which you will explore on a guided one hour cruise.From here, continue on to Canada's capital city, Ottawa, where you'll have some time to explore under your own steam this afternoon.

Day 7 : Ottawa

Join a small group walking tour this morning, which offers a comprehensive overview of Ottawa's highlights, including the National War Memorial, Parliament Hill and Byward Market.

Day 8 : Algonquin Provincial Park

Today's three hour drive takes you west out of Ottawa to the breathtaking natural scenery of Algonquin Provincial Park. Algonquin was the first of Ontario's protected parks and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including moose, wolves, beavers and black bears. For the next two nights you will be staying in a log cabin in the heart of the park.

Day 9 : Algonquin Provincial Park

The day is yours to explore Algonquin under your own steam. Hike one of the park's rewarding walking trails, or hire a canoe and paddle along Algonquin's remote inlets and secluded beaches that are only accessible from the water. If you're staying on a Thursday night in August, join an communal 'wolf howl', which is arranged by the park's authorities to illicit spine-tingling responses from wolves in the area.

Day 10 : International return flight

Enjoy a final morning at leisure in Algonquin before making the three hour drive back to Toronto in time for your onward flight.

Day 11 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.

Day 1 Toronto, Canada to Kangerlussuaq,Greenland

Your Arctic adventure begins in Toronto, Canada, from where you’ll hop aboard an included early morning charter flight to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, a tiny town with a population of just 500. 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. Then it’s time to set sail! Cruise down the Kangerlussuaq Fjord for your first dose of epic scenery as you cross the Arctic Circle. The 190-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by snow-dusted mountains and dramatic glaciers, ensuring your first day in the Arctic will be one to remember.

Day 2 Sisimiut Coast

Wake up aboard the Ocean Endeavour – be sure to gaze out the windows over breakfast, as views don’t get much better than this! 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 3 Ilulissat

After travelling north 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 4 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 5 At Sea, Davis Strait

Cross the Davis Straight today on your way towards Nunavut, Canada. 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 6 Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Canada

A world away from Toronto 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 7-11 Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island

The next five 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 12 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 13 Qausuittuq (Resolute) to Ottawa

It’s time to say goodbye to the Arctic after a final day in Qausuittuq (Resolute). 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. Bid farewell to the Ocean Endeavour as you disembark and take a Zodiac transfer for your included charter flight to Ottawa, Ontario. Your Arctic adventure comes to an end upon your arrival at Ottawa airport – prepare to leave with memories to last a lifetime.