High Arctic Explorer

10 days
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5/5 Excellent
7 reviews  
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Cancellation Policy
Small Group Tour
Cruise into the Heart of the Canadian Arctic. Spend ten days immersed in the Canadian Arctic wilderness on this cruise from the northern outpost of Resolute. Visit one of the largest migratory bird sanctuaries in the world at Prince Leopold Island, spot belugas, narwhals and polar bears along the rugged coastlines and meet the remote Inuit community of Grise ...

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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • See Arctic Circle on the southern shores of Cornwallis Island
    • Explore Maxwell Bay which lies on the southern coast of Devon Island
    • Enjoy hiking excursion to glimpse muskox and caribou, together with polar bears
    • Discover Croker Bay, it is particularly dramatic for its deep blue icebergs, soaring peaks
    • Visit the old Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) outpost at Dundas Harbour
    • Explore the coastal waters of the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area
    • Visit to Sirmilik National Park. It’s located on the northern coast of Bylot Island

What's this trip about?

    Cruise into the Heart of the Canadian Arctic. Spend ten days immersed in the Canadian Arctic wilderness on this cruise from the northern outpost of Resolute. Visit one of the largest migratory bird sanctuaries in the world at Prince Leopold Island, spot belugas, narwhals and polar bears along the rugged coastlines and meet the remote Inuit community of Grise Fjord. Expeditions are led by natural and historic experts, offering an in-depth look at this little-visited part of the world.  

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range16 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityEdmonton
End CityEdmonton

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • North America
  • Canada

Attractions

  • Edmonton

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Nature
  • Short Cruise
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Full service of our Adventure Consultants
    • Educational presentations from ornithologists, glaciologists, historians, geologists, naturalists and marine mammal experts
    • Photography advice and instruction from the resident photographer
    • All zodiac and landing excursions
    • Zodiac cruising, hiking, guided walks, photography workshops, fitness and yoga
    • All meals during the voyage
    • Coffee, tea and hot chocolate available anytime
    • Access to an English speaking medical advisor
    • Access to wellness area (finnish sauna, hot tub, sea water pool, natural essential oils)
    • Use of multi-media room
    • Expedition gear package for duration of the voyage (windproof/waterproof jacket and bibs, insulated rubber boots, water resistant binoculars, waterproof backpack, trekking poles)

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Itinerary

Day 1: Edmonton

Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Your adventure begins with a charter flight from Edmonton to the remote outpost of Resolute which lies above the Arctic Circle on the southern shores of Cornwallis ...

Day 2: Devon Island

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Today we will explore Maxwell Bay which lies on the southern coast of Devon Island, keeping an eye out for harp, ringed and bearded seals, as well as wal...

Day 3: Croker Bay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

We’ll continue east through Lancaster Sound which separates Devon and Baffin Islands and has been nicknamed the wildlife “super highway” of the Arctic. W...

Day 4: Coburg Island National Wildlife Area

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Today we will explore the coastal waters of the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area which is home to almost 400,000 seabirds. Large numbers of thick-bil...

Day 5: Grise Fiord

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Venture to the northernmost community in Canada and one of the world’s most isolated in Grise Fjord. In 1953, the Canadian Government relocated eight Inu...

Day 6: Sirmilik National Park

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Spot thick-billed murres, black guillemots and black-legged kittiwakes along the bird cliffs of Cape Hay within Sirmilik National Park. It’s located on the northern coast of Bylot Island and a prime nesting site for hundreds of thousands of birds, making for a magnificent sight.

Day 7: Elwin Inlet

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Your Captain will navigate through the breathtaking fjord of Elwin Inlet for a zodiac cruise along its protected waters. You may also opt to go hiking at Cape Charles Yorke, with the opportunity to spot polar bears which frequent this coastline.

Day 8: Prince Leopold Island

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

After crossing Prince Regent Inlet, we will approach the towering cliffs of Prince Leopold Island which serves as an important migratory bird sanctuary a...

Day 9: Beechey Island

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Spend your final day exploring Beechey Island which is where Sir John Franklin’s expedition spent its last winter in 1845 before disappearing into the ic...

Day 10: Resolute Bay

Your expedition comes to an end as we arrive into Resolute where you will bid farewell to your crew and be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Edmonton.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,795
Price per day$680
Last Updated: 12/15/2021

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Adventure Unbound.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Feb 2019

They are just great!!!

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Jan 2019

Wonderful place for day outing and adventure activities

Wonderful place for day outing and adventure activities , and learning for personality development and come out from inner fear of adventure good work keep it up .....

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Jan 2019

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OUR STORY

Adventure Unbound sprang out of the desire to create a dedicated home for tours crafted in an unbounded spirit of adventure.  For years, people have known us as ROW Adventures (which isn't going away) but the name "ROW" undoubtedly caused some confusion.  We would often get comments like, “Where do you guys raft on the Galapagos Islands?” Or, our favorite, “You do trips on the Inca Trail! We didn’t know you could raft there.”  We recognized that our ROW brand should never go away – in fact, we should strengthen it as purely a rafting brand, so we did!  In doing so, we created Adventure Unbound for everything we do outside of river rafting! 

It has been the lifelong passion of Peter Grubb and his wife, Betsy Bowen, to found and grow the company. They have dedicated their souls, hearts, and lives to sharing enriching, life-changing adventure travel experiences with others.

Their own devotion to providing our guests with the best possible adventures around the globe has been answered by the trust of travelers who continue to share their adventure travel dreams with us. We’ve earned this trust over the years with our intimate, personal connection to each adventure we offer. Peter and Betsy personally research and develop all of our itineraries with the same care and passion we set out with. Though ROW began with an emphasis on white water rafting trips, we’ve expanded and now offer an array of adventures around the globe. Our ambition to travel the world unbounded gave creation to Adventure Unbound’s heart and mission.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Sea kayaking excursions (See note below)
    • International and National Airfare
    • Visa and passport fees, Airport taxes
    • Pre and Post cruise hotel accommodations
    • Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
    • Items of a personal nature
    • Massages
    • Personal laundry service
    • Postage and telephone calls
    • Travel medical insurance, including medical evacuation (Mandatory)
    • Trip interruption and cancellation insurance
    • Gratuities
Ship & cabin information
Both the Vavilov and Ioffe ships are amazing vessels. They are sister ships, so very similar in many ways.  Please see below for specifics for each ship. Akademic Vavilov      The Scandinavian-built Vavilov sails like a silent dream out on the water. Highly maneuverable yet remarkably stable, the Vavilov was built for both science and adventure. It can endure voyages of any arctic condition while maintaining a cruising speed of 14.5 knots. The Vavilov and the Ioffe together are two of the most capable adventure vessels around. From Peter Grubb - Founder of ROW Adventures "The Vavilov and it's sister ship, the Ioffe, are 2 of the most advanced research vessels afloat. The Vavilov is impressive and neat as a pin,..which is refered to as 'Bristol Condition' in sailing terms. The ship is operated by one of the largest and oldest shipping companies. Our team has sailed on this ship many times and are always impressed with the service and the ship." Ship Specifications: Staff & Crew: 53 Guests: 92 Length: 117.04m Breadth: 18.28 m Draft: 6.09m Propulsion: 5,000 KW diesel twin engine Ice Class: KM*L1(1)A2, Canadian Type B Cruising Speed: 14.5 knots in open water Amenities: One dining room with unreserved seating. Theatre-style presentation room. Lounge and bar, open late afternoon and evening with a wide selection of wines and spirits. Library with a collection of polar-themed books. Ship-to-shore communications via satellite. Clinic with licensed doctor. Gym, sauna and swimming pool. One elevator between passenger deck levels and to the Bridge level. Akademic Ioffe Primed for polar research, the Ioffe is an up-to-date, safe, spacious and all-around solid vessel. The common areas on board this boat are crafted with ultimate comfort in mind, whether you're attending an informative lecture or simply hanging out. With a fully stocked bar and variety of films available in the lounge, you can relax and unwind after a day of adventure just the way you want. Other fabulous onboard facilities include an exercise room, ship store, massage room, sauna and pool. Then of course there's the great dining offered up in our superb dining room. An expert and professional staff member is always at the ready to tend to any need. As it was originally crafted as a research vessel hailing from Finland, the Ioffe is a very graceful, peaceful and accommodating ship. You'll marvel at how quietly and smoothly she sails and appreciate the transformation she's undergone in order to shift her focus from science to adventure. The last thing you'll want when you're trying to enjoy an Antarctic cruise is a rocky and noisy ship; such things are unheard of on the Ioffe thanks to her clever design. A ballast trimming system ensures that sea sickness is kept to a minimum, while noisy engines are situated far out of earshot. Ship Specifications Staff & Crew: 63 Guests: 93 Length: 117m Breadth: 18 m Draft: 6m Propulsion: 5,000 KW diesel twin engine Ice Class: KM*L1(1)A2, Canadian Type B Cruising Speed: 14.5 knots in open water Cabins and Amenities: All cabins have exterior views. Cabins have either shared, semi-private or private facilities (See deck plan). One dining room with unreserved seating. Theater-style presentation room. Lounge and bar, open late afternoon and evening with a wide selection of wines and spirits. Library with a collection of polar-themed books. Ship-to-shore communications via satellite. Clinic with licensed doctor. Gym, sauna and swimming pool. One elevator between passenger deck levels and to the Bridge level.
Cancellation policy

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, you should notify Adventure Unbound in writing, by e-mail or fax immediately.  If written cancellation is received (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of the deposit.  Deposits are not refundable.  If cancellations are made on or after the final due date, no money will be refunded.  If you are unable to go on the trip, you are welcome to find a replacement for yourself.  Please understand that once you’ve signed up, we lose the right to sell your reserved space to other individuals or groups.  Therefore, we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies.  For this reason we strongly recommend you consider purchasing the Travel Protection Plan we offer.

For non USA-based trips, Adventure Unbound must make substantial payments to its suppliers (hotels, transportation companies, etc.) far in advance of the trip departure date.  If Adventure Unbound cancels any tour, trip or expedition due to acts of insurrection, force majeure, strikes, popular demonstrations, acts of God, earthquake, flooding, or any cause beyond its control, Adventure Unbound will refund the portion of the trip cost not already advanced to suppliers and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible.

If we are not able to provide a substitute trip, river, or altered itinerary and have to cancel the departure completely, you will be refunded in full. Refunds are limited to the amount actually paid to Adventure Unbound.

CANCELLATIONS FOR EXTENSIONS

There is a $100 per person non-refundable cancellation fee for all extensions.  Cancellations must be received no later than 60 days prior to departure to avoid additional penalties.  Cancellations made 59-30 days prior to departure incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the total fare.  Cancellations made 29-0 days prior to departure forfeit all fees paid.  For groups of 10 or more, cancellations must be received no later than 120 days prior to departure.  Cancellations made between 119-60 days incur a cancellation fee of 25% of the total fare.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

8 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 9 Dinners

Age Requirements
16 years and up
Additional Information

Are Children allowed? What is the age limit?

Yes! Although these trips are not directed towards children, we love to have families with children on our departures. Please contact us for more information if you are considering traveling with anyone under the age of 16.

What is included in the trip price?

Trips include all meals/afternoon teas, use of our onboard expedition rubber boots, wet weather gear (you are welcome to bring your own as well), shore excursions, landings, educational presentations, expedition guides, naturalist staff, and hospitality staff, an ER trained English speaking physician, guided hikes/walks, complimentary tea and coffee 24 hours per day, access to our multimedia room and download stations and accommodations on board. Please see our full list of inclusions and exclusions on the trip pages.

What facilities are available on board?

We have a dining room, library, lounge, bar area, sauna, multimedia station, open bridge, and excellent outside viewing decks. See our ship details page for more information.

Do I need to bring my own rubber boots?

High quality insulated rubber boots are available in a large range of sizes. Please just note your size preference when providing final documentation.

Can I travel as a single?

We have many guests who come alone and while some choose to purchase the single cabin option, others choose to share; we will pair single travelers of the same gender together at no extra charge.

How many people are on the ship?

We try to limit the number of people we carry to a maximum of 96 passengers. We believe that small groups of people are the best way to experience the Polar Regions.

How much room is there for luggage?

There is storage space for empty luggage in the cabins under your bunk. Alternatively we can stow your baggage safely elsewhere on the ship. There is ample space for your clothing in cupboards and drawers in your cabin.

How frequently can I get off the ship?

We get off the ship as much as possible, usually two to three times a day when we are around the Antarctic Peninsula coastline. We spend between two and six hours at each location depending on the prevailing conditions.

Trip ID
Adventureunbound-po-149

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