Charter Flight Departs Ottawas to Resolute and returns from Kangerlussuaq to Toronto.

The magic and mystery of the far north can hardly be escaped as we once again combine its landscapes, people and communities into one of our favorite high Arctic adventure. We will undertake an exploration of Devon Island before visiting Grise Fiord - the community with the honor of being the furthest north in Canada.

From here, we will journey further north (dependant on ice conditions, of course!) into the Smith Sound. Here the vista should be filled with ice - a perfect scene for photographers!

After crossing the Davis Strait, we arrive in Greenland, a place where the ice comes alive in iridescent blues, jagged peaks reach for the heavens, delicate tundra flowers nestle in tiny crevasses, towns are a brilliant montage of color and much of the landscape seems untouched by human hands. This self-governing province of Denmark is the largest island in the world, covering nearly 3.5 million km2, more than 80 percent is covered either by the ice cap or small glaciers.

Throughout the voyage we have ample opportunities to view and photograph the unique wildlife that calls the Arctic home. Narwhal, beluga, polar bears, and the rare and immaculately white Ivory Gull are all found here. Nesting colonies on Coburg and Prince Leopold Islands host tens of thousands of Thick-billed Murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes. We are also likely to encounter shorebirds, Dovekie, Northern Fulmar, and, with luck, Gyrfalcon. At each stop, we board zodiacs to go ashore, or position ourselves for the best views or photographs of the wildlife, flowers, icebergs and landscapes.

Highlights:
• Thousands of birds on the cliffs of Prince Leopold Island
• Visit the largest uninhabited island on earth during our stop at Devon Island
• Cross the Arctic circle while sailing in the shadow of the second-longest fjord in Greenland
• Visit the historic graves of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition
• Enjoy the town of Pond Inlet, with breathtaking peaks of Bylot Island and the hospitality of the townspeople
• Follow the route to the North Pole as we journey up Smith Sound
• Marvel at the Ilulissat icefield, where 90% of the north Atlantic’s icebergs are born
• Enjoy a cultural presentation at Canada’s northernmost community, in Grise Fiord

Day 1: Resolute
Day 2: Prince Leopold & Beechey Island
Day 3 :Devon Island
Day 4: Coburg Island
Day 5: Grise Fiord (Aujuittuq)
Day 6: Smith Sound
Day 7: Kap York
Day 8: Karrat Fjord
Day 9: Ilulissat
Day 10: Itilleq
Day 11: Kangerlussuaq

Arriving in Resolute, we have a chance to visit the surrounding area before we embark the Adventurer - our home for the next 11 days.

An important Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the spectacular sandstone cliffs are the nesting home to thousands of thick-billed murres, northern fulmars and blacklegged kittiwakes.

At Beechey Island we will explore remnants of Sir John Franklin’s camp and the headstones of those not lucky enough to survive the ordeal.

The largest uninhabited island in the world supports significant concentrations of wildlife, including 26 species of seabirds and 11 species of marine mammals. We’ll visit a former RCMP base, seek out Muskox and cruise amongst the bergs.

Cobourg Island is 65% covered with ice, but the remaining ragged land is a haven for wildlife. Cliff ledges are filled to capacity with 30,000 pairs of Black-Legged Kittiwakes and 160,000 pairs of Brunnich’s Guillemot (Thick-Billed Murres) among other seabirds.

Aujuittuq means “place that never thaws,” and at 1,150km above the Arctic Circle, it is Canada’s northernmost civilian community, with a population of 165. We explore the charming town, getting a taste for life in the Arctic.

Today we venture north into this fabled body of water that served as the main route between Ellesmere and Greenland for explorers and adventurers searching for the North Pole.

The surprisingly lush coastal environment is rich in wildlife and is part of an extensive network of traditional hunting grounds. During the spring and summer months the skies and cliffs are dotted with millions of birds. We will hike the tundra landscape and enjoy the magnificent vistas.

In Karrat Fjord we will cruise one of Greenland’s most spectacular fjords as our ship is surrounded by ice. Time spent on deck today should result in some good wildlife sightings, not to mention unbeatable photographic opportunities.

Meaning “Icebergs” in Greenlandic. The Ilulissat Icefiord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has one of the most active and fastest moving glaciers in the world at 19 meters per day. We’ll get into our Zodiacs and cruise among the enormous icebergs.

Living in a small town that relies primarily on fishing for its existence, Itilleq’s residents are closely tied to the land and its resources. We’ll enjoy a community welcome before exploring the town on foot.

This morning, we will make our journey down spectacular Sondre Stromfjord. Arriving into Kangerlussuaq, we disembark the Adventurer and for our charter flight home.