Arctic
Program Summary
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Canada
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| Trip Highlights |
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Adventure Highlights
Ottawa, Ontario
- Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Canadian Museum of Nature’s Natural Heritage Building, a state-of-the-art center for scientific study.
- Participate in icebreakers as you get to know your team, the expedition team, and the international students who will share your vessel for the next 15 days.
- Be prepared by experts in ecology, conservation, exploration, marine biology, and more for the upcoming expedition through lectures and educational sessions.
Iqaluit, Nunavut
- Board a charter light for Iqaluit, Nunavut—capital of Canada’s newest province.
- Explore this unique community before boarding the expedition vessel and setting sail down Frobisher Bay.
- Take in awe-inspiring sights not often seen when you make Zodiac landings on isolated and wild shores, such as the rarely visited Lower Savage Islands.
Grinnell Glacier—Lower Savage Islands
- View the spectacle of the Grinnell Glacier and learn how it was formed.
- Cruise by Zodiac to the Lower Savage Islands, practically untouched by visitors for centuries.
- Search for evidence of the Paleo-Eskimo people who may have used these islands as a resting place during their travels.
Akpatok Island
- Sail the famed Hudson Strait, a vital feeding area for millions of seabirds. Learn to identify the seabirds with the help of onboard experts.
- Keep a sharp eye out for beluga, bowhead, and narwhal whales as they migrate to Hudson Bay.
- Explore Akpatok’s pristine rocky beaches, and hike inland to meadows, ponds, and streams. This is a great place to spot polar bears!
Monumental Island
- Visit this remote and rocky island off the west coast of Baffin Island—home to hundreds of walrus and often another great place to view polar bears.
Kekerten Island—Pangnirtung
- Encounter the remains of a 200-year-old commercial whaling station.
- On the shore of the stunning Pangnirtung Fjord, interact with community leaders and Inuit elders and witness their daily life. Discuss how climate changes are impacting their way of life.
Auyuittuq National Park
- Enter one of Canada’s most spectacular parks, which boasts glaciers, soaring mountains, and a diverse selection of Arctic mammals and migratory birds—Auyuittuq National Park.
- Lace up your hiking boots for a spectacular all-day trek to the Arctic Circle.
Cape Dyer—Kivitoo
- Sail north along the rugged eastern coast of Baffin Island.
- Weather permitting, sail into pack ice and experience real ice navigation.
- Keep your eyes peeled for whales, bears, and seals throughout the day as we sail above the Arctic Circle.
- See the incredible and awesome polar bear in its natural environment, an opportunity that may not exist for much longer.
- Engage with onboard experts as you learn about this unique ecosystem and its threatened future.
Itirbilung Fjord
- Explore stunning fjords and search for the red, rocky slopes of Abbajalik Island that signal the only known breeding colony of dovekies in the Canadian Arctic.
- Search for signs of ancient Thule settlements, as well as polar bears and bowhead whales.
Fjords—Qikiqtarjuaq
- Sail southward down Baffin’s craggy coast, making quick Zodiac excursions along the way.
- Investigate icebergs and view wildlife.
Cape Mercy
- Spend time discussing the impacts of climate change on this area of the Arctic with our education staff.
- Break into small groups and discuss change from a community level up, and prepare to participate in forums demonstrating what you have taken away from your days at sea.
Butterfly Bay
- Stop in Butterfly Bay where there will be icebergs to see, beaches to cruise, wildlife to view, and tundra to hike.
- Discuss ways to apply lessons learned from the expedition.
* Trip itinerary subject to change.
