Heart of the Arctic

Iqaluit, at the head of Frobisher Bay, is Nunavut’s bustling capital. A population of nearly 8,000 (and growing) call Iqaluit home. Local attractions include the territorial Legislature, igloo-inspired St. Jude’s Cathedral, art shops, and more.

We will transfer by Zodiac to the Ocean Endeavour through busy Iqaluit harbour. Take a moment to notice the amazing tide! Once all are aboard, we’ll begin our journey down Frobisher Bay.

We’ll be on the lookout for wildlife, of course. Our geologists will have you raving about rocks, and the tundra plants beneath your feet are worth a closer look. Expect compelling scenery, and soak up the Arctic splendor as we go!

Kimmirut means “the heel” in Inuktitut, referring to an outcrop of marble across the bay from the community. Kimmirut is considered one of the most charming communities on the South Baffin coast.

Art aficionados may know the hamlet as Lake Harbour, once the home of a Hudson Bay Company post. Art has played a major role in putting Kimmirut on the map. The Dewey Soper Building houses a gallery of outstanding works of art.

Kinngait was ground zero for the Inuit art market. In 1959, the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative was established: it remains the oldest arts organization in the Canadian Arctic and the oldest professional Inuit printmaking studio in Canada.

Old and new generations of outstanding artists, carvers, and printmakers continue to make Kinngait a proud centre for Inuit art. We’ll visit studios and meet the artists here—an opportunity to purchase outstanding works straight from the source.

On this exploration day, we’ll be making the most of what the wind, weather and wildlife have to offer. We can expect to navigate the icy waters of Hudson Strait. Our expedition staff will scan for polar bears, walrus, whales, seals, and seabirds as we go.

We call in at Nunavik’s northernmost community, Ivujivik. With a population of just under five hundred, the dramatic setting sits at the confluence of Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay where the high tidal environment provides for rich wildlife. Nunavik is the Inuit homeland in Quebec and comprises the northern third of the province.

Heading northwest along the Ungava Peninsula, we will explore an area of treeless tundra rich in geology and flora. We’ll enjoy hiking and a Zodiac cruise.

Uninhabited Akpatok Island is the biggest island in Ungava Bay, at over nine hundred square kilometres. It’s named for the akpat—the thick-billed murres—that nest on ledges of Akpatok’s lofty cliffs. These penguin-like birds are truly a delight to watch: tremendous swimmers, but comical flyers.

Here we’ll use our Zodiacs to scout the shorelines and any outlying ice with hopes of seeing polar bears, walrus, and other marine life.

Today will be an expedition day in the truest sense as we navigate the east coast of Ungava Bay. We’ll search for polar bears as we call in at an abandoned fishing community.

As always expedition staff will be watching for birds, marine mammals, and wildlife on the land. Keep your binoculars and expedition gear at the ready!

Our presentation series will continue as we steam across the Davis Strait towards Greenland. Our resource staff will deepen your understanding of the Arctic as we go. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops and group learning, watch a documentary or dive into our library.

While out on deck, keep your binoculars ready for minke and humpback whales amid pack ice, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage.

Welcome to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland that bridges old and new. The old harbour region of town includes many buildings dating from the Danish colonial days. The modern downtown core includes shopping, cafes and restaurants, and public institutions with a European flair.

The Greenland National Museum is one of Nuuk’s many outstanding features; the world-famous Qilakitsoq mummies are housed here. The museum’s exhibits also offer in-depth information about colonial, Norse, and Inuit presence in Greenland—a must-see.

The west Greenland coastline is a rich mixture of fishing communities, many islands and complex coastal waterways. The waters are relatively warm here, due to the West Greenland Current and the sub-Arctic location. This makes for lusher vegetation.

This is a day in the spirit of expedition travel and we will avail ourselves of the opportunities that present themselves.

Sondre Stromfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world and boasts 168 kilometres of superb scenery. We end our adventure by sailing up this dramatic fjord as the sun rises to greet us. Kangerlussuaq, the town at its eastern head, is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s only international flight hub. Here we will disembark the Ocean Endeavour and transfer to the airport for our return charter flight.

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.

Itinerary details are subject to change based on weather conditions and visits to particular communities cannot be guaranteed.