Into the Northwest Passage (East to West)


from$ 20446 AUD



Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.

Ship
Ocean Endeavour
City
Kangerlussuaq to Kugluktuk


Overview

A journey from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Kugluktuk, Nunavut. Travel aboard the Ocean Endeavour in comfort. Our fleet of Zodiacs will take us where the action is—the heart of history.   Our voyage begins in Greenland, home to mighty icebergs, dramatic fjords, and calving glaciers! Colourful villages offer rich culture. Crossing the Davis Strait, we’ll explore the Baffin Island coast. We’re on the watch for whales, birds and bears. Zodiacs stand by for excursions; visit Franklin expedition graves at Beechey Island. Follow in the wakes of Franklin, Rae, Amundsen and many more polar explorers.    Meet the Inuit who call the Arctic home. Travel with scientists, artists, musicians, local culturalists, and historians—all of whom are drawn magnetically north. Sail the great sea-route at the top of the world. The Northwest Passage calls you, too! Please note: your voyage rates do not include commercial and charter flight costs.

Overview

  • NW8AC
  • 17 Days
  • Ocean Endeavour

Cruise Itinerary

  • Kangerlussuaq (Greenland)
  • Kugluktuk (Canada)
  • Canadian Arctic

Departures

Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.

Cruise Itinerary

Kangerlussuaq is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub. After our charter flight from Toronto, we will transfer to Ocean Endeavour by Zodiac. Sondre Stromfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world: 168 kilometres of superb scenery. Steaming down this dramatic fjord we’ll cross the Arctic Circle—from the north!


West Greenland’s complex coastal waterways include glaciers, islands and fjords against a towering mountain backdrop. The waters are relatively warm here, due to the West Greenland Current and the sub-Arctic Location. Abundant fauna and marine life have supported human habitation here as far back as 4,500 years.


Ilulissat means “iceberg”, an apt name for this site at the outlet of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier—a unesco World Heritage Site, and the source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic. We will cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs to appreciate the icebergs, and visit the town of Ilulissat, with its museums, cafes, craft shops, and busy fishing harbour.


Exploring by ship and Zodiac along the west coast of Greenland, we have numerous options for expedition stops, to make the most of weather and wildlife conditions. Departing Greenland, we cross Baffin Bay toward Nunavut.


As we steam toward Nunavut, our resource staff will deepen your understanding of the Arctic. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops, watch a documentary, or get out on deck. Keep your binoculars ready for minke and humpback whales, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage.


Mittimatalik is a busy Arctic community in a beautiful setting, a fascinating place to wander. The cultural presentation at the Community Hall is not to be missed—arts and crafts may be available here too.


We will spend three days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of the newest National Marine Conservation Areas in Nunavut. Narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales transit and feed in this area. We’ll cruise by ship and Zodiac in search of wildlife. On the northern border of Tallurutiup Imanga lies Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth at over fifty thousand square kilometres. Flat topped mountains, glacial valleys, and a substantial ice cap give Devon Island its unique character. We hike the tundra, cruise a glacier face, and seek wildlife from ship and by shore. Archaeological sites with expert interpretation allow us to learn about the Inuit history of this now-abandoned island. We’ll visit the remains of a RCMP and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.


In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, attempting to sail through the Northwest Passage. His crew overwintered at Beechey Island—where three of his men died. Numerous search parties later used Beechey as a depot and rendezvous. Amundsen, Bernier, and Larsen visited Beechey. Thomas Morgan of the HMS Investigator was buried there in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men. The graves and the ruins of Northumberland House are a haunting memorial.


This passage marks an area rich in marine and avian life. Thick-billed Murres, Ivory Gulls, beluga, narwhal and bowhead whales reside in the ice-strewn waters. In addition to abundant wildlife, we’ll delve deeper into the exploration of the Northwest Passage and mercantile efforts of the Hudson's Bay Company.


The traditional territory of the Netsilik Inuit, the Kitikmeot Region consists of parts of Victoria Island, the adjacent part of the mainland as far as the Boothia Peninsula, King William Island, and the southern portion of Prince of Wales Island. Recently, the Kitikmeot Region has been in the news since the finding of the lost ships of the Franklin Expedition in its waters. It is Nunavut’s least-populated region, though wildlife abounds here both in the sea and on land. We will spend our time navigating the ice-strewn waters in search of wildlife. We’ll also call in at Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven) home of the Guardians of Terror Bay. The European name, Gjoa Haven, honours Roald Amundsen who overwintered in the bay for two years while searching for the Northwest Passage. Amundsen became the first European to cross the Northwest Passage, thanks to the knowledge and largesse of Inuit. The community has an excellent cultural centre and is well known for carvings and wall hangings.


Located at the mouth of the Coppermine River, Kugluktuk is the westernmost community in Nunavut.


This is our proposed itinerary. It is highly probable that weather, sea, and ice conditions will not allow us to travel this exact route. Our Expedition Leader and the Ocean Endeavour's captain will determine our exact route day by day.


Ocean Endeavour

Vessel Type: Expedition Length: 137m Passenger Capacity: 199 Built: 1982 - refurbished 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 Ocean Endeavour is a comfortable, well-appointed small expedition ship expertly engineered to explore the Polar Regions. The ship has an ice-strengthened hull, Zodiacs for exploration and remote landings, and advanced navigation equipment. The newly-refurbished vessel offers a superb guest experience with an expansive choice of cabin categories, large cabins and common areas, a sundeck and observation area, plenty of deck space for polar landscape viewing, and lounges for learning and reflection. The ship’s interiors have a contemporary aesthetic that provides a bright and spacious feel throughout. Endeavour is also the only polar adventure ship in Antarctica focused on health and wellness , and offers a contemporary approach to cuisine and newly-designed health and fitness features. Facilities include a spa serviced by organic spa provider VOYA, His & Hers saunas, a salt water pool, a gym, and a juice and smoothie bar. Complimentary activities include yoga and stretching classes, an exclusive Polar Photography program, the Scientists in Residence program, and more adventure activities than any other Quark vessel. The ship also has a polar library, and a Polar Boutique for gifts and any needed gear. Features of the Ocean Endeavour   VOYA spa treatments and beauty products, Choice of 13 cabin categories, Bright, spacious cabins and common areas, Plenty of deck space for observation, Lounge with expansive views, Quiet zone for contemplation, Newly-refurbished restaurant, Contemporary dining with complimentary wine with dinner, Juice and smoothie bar, Lecture theater, Polar library, Polar boutique, Health and Wellness, Spa treatments and beauty products by spa provider VOYA - Organic Beauty From The Sea, Spa menu for face, body, hair and nails, including the exclusive Quark Explorer’s treatment, and signature VOYA hand and foot rituals, Yoga and stretching classes, His & Hers saunas, gym, and heated salt water pool Full range of adventure activities including: kayaking, camping, mountaineering, cross-country skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, Zodiac cruising, shore landings and hiking/ walking. Deck plan varies for the trips to Antarctica

Highlights

• Cross the Arctic Circle as you sail the length of Sondre Stromfjord—168 kilometres! • Cruise among icebergs at Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site • Visit Queen Maud Gulf, home to the wrecks of the Franklin ships, HMS Erebus and Terror  • Enjoy an Inuit cultural welcome in Qikiqtarjuaq (Broughton Island) • Watch for marine mammals and wildlife in Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), a Marine Protected Area • Explore Nunavut's rarely visited national parks • Pass continental North America's northernmost point at Bellot Strait • Seek polar bears, seabirds, and other Arctic wildlife in pristine natural environments

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