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Traveling ever northward past the Arctic
Circle and into the polar desert, we explore
the length of Baffin Island to the fabled
Northwest Passage. Simply put, our High Arctic expedition features some of the most breathtaking scenery the Arctic has to offer. Towering mountains, fiords, glaciers and ice caps seem to appear at every turn. Share what is truly a magnificent opportunity to view this untouched and unspoiled wilderness. Learn about the colorful history of whalers and explorers who, for more than 200 years, embarked on an ultimately unsuccessful quest to find a shorter and easier path to the riches of the Orient. Weather and wildlife encounters are less predictable than elsewhere in the north, but sightings of polar bears and walrus are not unusual. This is also the best time of year to see the night sky bathed in the eerie green glow of the Aurora Borealis dancing above your head. Day 1: Iqaluit We depart from Montreal to Iqaluit, capital of the territory of Nunavut. After a brief tour of the town and buffet lunch, we transfer to the ship and prepare for our expedition. Days 2-9: Among the places we may visit are: Qikiqtarjuaq The island sits off the coast in the path of icebergs drifting southward and the landscape is mountainous, creating a truly picturesque scene. The local bay is home to a wide variety of sea mammals including seals, narwhals and walruses. Baffin Island Some of the most incredible examples of glacial landforms in Canada are found here, where several glaciers reach the sea. Mammoth bowhead whales frequently join us along this coast. North Arm Fiord A breathtaking wilderness of jagged mountain peaks, treeless valleys, and cascading glaciers, remnants of the last Ice Age. Pond Inlet The many Thule and Dorset archaeological sites attest to the long history of Pond Inlet. We may hike to the Thule historic site at Salmon River. Bylot Island The island is a designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and favored nesting place for rare peregrine falcons, ivory gulls, murres, kittiwakes and snow goose. Lancaster Sound One of the richest wildlife areas in the Arctic, and the summer home to a myriad of Arctic species: the thick-billed murre, bearded and harp seals, walrus, beluga whales and narwhal. If you notice a ‘feed slick’, a greasy-looking concentration of plankton floating on the water, watch for whales! Beechey Island Where Sir John Franklin spent two long years (1845-47) waiting for the ice to clear. We walk along the remnants of his camp and the headstones marking the graves of those who did not survive the ordeal. Day 10: Resolute Bay Following breakfast on board, we disembark and prepare for the flight south, enriched by many wonderful memories of our northern adventure. *Reverse itinerary for September 1 departure, ends in Kuujjuaq instead of Iqaluit. |
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