Fabled Lands of the North: Greenland, Baffin Island, Labrador

Arrive in Ottawa and check into the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel.

Arrive by chartered aircraft in western Greenland, and embark National Geographic Explorer at the head of the picturesque Kangerlussuaq Fjord.

The massive ice cap that blankets much of Greenland feeds the countless fjords and glaciers of the dramatic western coast. Glide into these fjords, on the lookout for caribou on the tundra. Stop at the former whaling port of Sisimiut to visit the museum and stroll among its 18th-century wooden buildings. (B,L,D)

Sail into Disko Bay to explore the Ilulissat Icefjord, a tongue of the Greenland ice sheet that extends to the bay. A Zodiac cruise among these gigantic sculptures of ice is a highlight of our journey. Take a walk to the historic Inuit fishing village of Sermermiut to view the glacier. (B,L,D)

Explore Davis Strait as we sail past massive icebergs on our way to Baffin Island. Hear talks about Arctic wildlife and peoples, and keep a lookout for whales and polar bears. (B,L,D)

Our landfall on Baffin Island is the tiny town of Pangnirtung, the home of the Inuit for more than 1,000 years, and still a thriving community of artists. Visit a craft center to see soapstone carvings, weavings and prints depicting Arctic life. A hike along a riverside trail offers wonderful views of Autyuittuaq National Park, “the land that never melts.” On Kekerten Island, once an important whaling station, examine the remains of a bygone era as we wander among cast iron pots once used to render oil from the blubber of the mighty bowhead whale. (B,L,D)

Spend today in true expedition style, exploring the unspoiled landscapes of the Hall Peninsula. Hike the tundra in search of arctic fox, and perhaps walrus hauling out on the rocky shores. (B,L,D)

The southeastern tip of Baffin Island is dotted with small islands. As the pack ice retreats during the summer, polar bears are often stranded on Lower Savage and Resolution islands. We’ll keep our plans flexible today so that we can make the most of wildlife sightings. (B,L,D)

Scattered across the entrance to Hudson Strait between Baffin Island and Labrador, the stark Button Islands attract thousands of seabirds and marine mammals. Spend today exploring these tiny islands and their wildlife. (B,L,D)

The Moravian Mission of Hebron, a National Historic Site of Canada, was established in the 1830’s to minister to the Inuit. See the original buildings, an excellent example of Germanic mission architecture. Then pass through Mugford Tickle, a dramatic channel surrounded by the Kaumajet Mountains, which rise 4,000 feet straight from the sea. Spend a day on the island of Quaker Hat—shaped like a broad-brimmed hat, exploring the fishing settlement of Indian Harbour and observing vast colonies of common murres. Continue to Battle Harbour. Set amid beautiful scenery, the town was once the economic and social hub of the southeastern Labrador coast. Visit restored 18th-century fishing and whaling buildings and learn about the early settlers of Newfoundland and Labrador. (B,L,D)

In 1960, the remains of a Viking village established in 1000 AD were discovered at L’Anse aux Meadows, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Norse ruins and reconstructed sod huts, and learn the saga of the Vikings in North America—500 years before Columbus arrived. (B,L,D)

Northern Newfoundland is graced by cliffs and fjords, sweeping tablelands and beaches, and brightly painted fishing villages. We’ll look for opportunities to hike, kayak and Zodiac cruise amid beautiful scenery and observe the wildlife of the far north. (B,L,D)