An exploration of the wildlife and culture of the Canadian Arctic coupled with the glaciers and icebergs of Greenland.

The capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit is located at the head of Frobisher Bay, on Baffin Island. The adventure starts when we board our expedition vessel by zodiac.

Sailing out of Frobisher Bay, we turn north and sail along the coast of Baffin Island. Monumental Island is part of a small grouping of islands south of the Lady Franklin Group. A great place to find wildlife, we will look up for gyrfalcon and peregrine falcon, scan the shoreline for polar bear and the waters for walrus.

Nestled in the heart of Cumberland Sound and the gateway to Auyuittuq National Park, Pangnirtung is beautifully situated between the mountains and the sea. This town is known for its art and crafts and a visit to the art gallery is a must. In addition, the Angmarlik Visitor Centre has a wonderful interpretive display featuring the lifestyle of the Thule and of the modern Inuit.

Protecting the northern entrance to Cumberland Sound, Cape Mercy is an exposed headland jutting out into Davis Strait. As the Baffin Bay middle ice recedes throughout the summer, the stretch of Baffin coast from Cape Mercy to Cape Dyer is a great place to find polar bears coming ashore. We will have all eyes searching as we sail this region.

Our crossing of Baffin Bay will be dependent upon the extent of the so-called ‘middle ice’. Our goal will be to find the edge of this and then follow it as we cross Baffin Bay. Our time at sea will depend upon the extent of the ice and amount of wildlife. Pilot whales, numerous species of Arctic seal and seabirds abound in Baffin Bay. As we approach the Greenland coast, we will start to see icebergs, calved from the mighty glaciers of Greenland.

We will visit the town of Uummannaq after sailing into spectacular Uummannaq Fjord. Sculpted castellated icebergs will accompany us as we cruise into the fjord. Keep an eye open for whale blows as we sail these waters. The town of Uummannaq is set at the base of a dramatic cliff and on a small island often surrounded by large icebergs. Enjoy a walk around the town, stop into the supermarket or sit on the patio at the Hotel Uummannaq and enjoy a coffee as your eyes feast on the view.

One of the wonders of the world, the Jacobshavn Icefjord spews massive tabular icebergs out into Disko Bay. Our approach to Ilulissat will be dependent upon the amount of ice in and around the mouth of the icefjord. Ilulissat was the hometown of Knud Rasmussen, one of Greenland’s most famous explorers and anthropologists, born here in 1879.

A very large island in the mouth of Disko Bay, Qeqertarsuaq is a site of both geologic and historic interest. A possible summer fishing camp for the Viking colonists in Greenland, mineral deposits containing native iron and hot springs are all part of the allure of this island. We will visit the southern coast, cruising the spectacular rock arches before visiting the town of Qeqertarsuaq.

We will explore the fjord behind the town of Sisimiut before visiting the town in the afternoon. We will hope to meet a few of the traditional Greenlandic kayakers and perhaps see a demonstration of “Eskimo Rolling” by one of the former champions of the Greenland Kayaking Championships.

Sondre Stromfjord is one of the world’s longest fjords and cuts into the interior of Greenland. Our charter flight will await us here and we will board the flight for the short flight back to ‘southern’ Canada. This flight from Greenland will see us depart from a former American Airbase (Bluie West Eight and Camp Lloyd), located just miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Specific sites visited will depend on ice and weather conditions experienced and the itinerary will be updated throughout the voyage in order to take advantage of favourable conditions.