A Canadian Signature Experience

February 13th, 2012 | By Candice Hong | Filed in AK NEWS, Current Events, Current Trips, FEATURED, Featured Trip, IN THE NEWS, Trips, Upcoming Trip

Arctic Kingdom’s Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari is now a part of the Canadian Tourism Commission’s (CTC)’s Signature Experiences Collection (SEC).  This Arctic Safari, which takes place in northern Baffin Island, Nunvat, is an amazing experience, where people get the chance to see first-hand polar bears, narwhals, seals, or sometimes even walruses. If you don’t know what a narwhal is, picture a whale with a unicorn horn – “the mystical unicorns of the sea.” In addition to seeing an array of wildlife, there is also the opportunity to kayak among floating ice fully escorted by knowledgeable Inuit guides.

Narwhals courtesy of Eric Baccega

We are proud to be a part of the CTC’s SEC, an amazing collection that features the best of what Canada has to offer. The SEC is a collection of unique and inspiring travel experiences that showcases Canada to the world.

Arctic Kingdom was highlighted recently in a case study done by the CTC. To see the full article visit: CTC Arctic Kingdom Case Study. If you would like to take part in a true Canadian adventure, and join the Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari for June 2012 visit: www.arctickingdom.com. For more detailed information about the trip you can also download our brochure.

Spring Special Offer – Free Flight To The Arctic!

April 19th, 2011 | By Tristan Crane | Filed in AK NEWS, AK PRODUCTS & SERVICES, Upcoming Trip

Fiercely dedicated to creating authentic and awe-inspiring travel experiences, Arctic Kingdom is the only tour operator offering land-based trips to the High Arctic. Through our unique combination of small groups, safari style arctic camps, expedition experts and only the most experienced Inuit guides, we ensure that your experience in the world’s most captivating place on earth is second to none.

This Spring we have a special offer of a free flight to Nunavut (a savings of up to CDN 2,600) making this no better time to book one of our summer departures! Join us at Pond Inlet, Nunavut for our Narwhal & Polar Bear Floe Edge Adventure June 7 – 11. Experience our safari style camp situated on the floe edge, where the frozen ocean meets the open ocean to create one of the Arctics most spectacular landscapes. Enjoy the warm Spring weather as you scout for Narwhals, Polar Bears, Bowhead Whales and Seals.

July 5 – 11 we travel to Foxe Basin to witness the spring Bowhead Whale migration, hunted nearly to extinction but slowly making a comeback. Join us to explore this region just south of the Hecla and Fury Straits to experience the ‘bowhead highway’.

Contract us for more information, or to reserve your spot. Stay informed of all special offers still to come by subscribing to our newsletter, it’s semi-monthly and we never share your email address with third parties.

Jan 12 Webinar – Bowhead Whales, Polar Bears and Glaciers of Baffin Island

January 6th, 2011 | By Tristan Crane | Filed in AK NEWS, AK PRODUCTS & SERVICES, Upcoming Trip

Register now and reserve your spot now for the January 12 webinar highlighting our Baffin Island Trip. One of our newest trip destinations, this small cruiser boat-based trip departs in July, August, and September of 2011. You’ll travel in style along the Arctic coast, experiencing unique opportunities to photographer and view wildlife including bowhead whales and polar bears. This webinar is led by expedition leaders Kristyn Thoburn and Expedition Director Thomas Lennartz, who will be answering your questions and sharing exclusive images of what you can expect to see on this adventure.

Spaces are limited, sign up today to participate. Have questions? Email them ahead of time to thomasarctickingdomcom or ask them during the webinar.

Unable to tune in live? No problem! Our archive of past webinars is located here.

Bowhead Whale, Vocal and Majestic

January 4th, 2011 | By Tristan Crane | Filed in AK PRODUCTS & SERVICES, Upcoming Trip

You may already know that the bowhead is one of the ten most endangered whales on the planet, but did you also know it they are the only baleen whales who spend their entire lives in Arctic seas? According to Wikipedia, there are rumors of these whales living from 150-200 years as well. With a small surviving population, the opportunity to view or dive with these beautiful animals is not to be missed.

Bowheads can easily be described as ‘highly vocal’, as this video demonstrates -

Check out our own example of a close encounter with one of these enormous creatures -

Want to see more bowhead? Consider our gallery of photos from past trips, or book space on one of our upcoming trips to the Baffin Island area to view them in person.

Reminder – Webinar Dec 15th

December 12th, 2010 | By Tristan Crane | Filed in AK NEWS, AK PRODUCTS & SERVICES, Upcoming Trip

Don’t forget to register to participate in our free upcoming webinar on December 15, Thomas will be discussing our Bowhead Whales, Walrus and Polar Bears of the Foxe Basin adventure.

This trip is incredible! You’ll see the largest whales of the Arctic Ocean in their natural habitat, breaching, finning – from within a distance of mere meters.  Also, herds of walrus, the chance to experience Inuit history and culture, all under the guidance of our knowledgeable and experienced team. Ask your questions during the webinar, or email them ahead of time to thomasarctickingdomcom. We look forward to talking to you!

October Newsletter

October 21st, 2010 | By Tristan Crane | Filed in AK NEWS, AK PRODUCTS & SERVICES, Current Trips, Featured Trip, Gear, TRIPS, Uncategorized, Upcoming Trip

Our October Newsletter just hit my inbox, and it’s full of special offers and upcoming news.

On November 2, 1:00pm EDT, expedition leader Thomas Lennartz is offering a live webinar to answer questions you may have on our upcoming floe edge expeditions. Pulling from his vast experience on Baffin Island, Tom will share his insights on this remarkable expedition and what you could expect to see by joining our upcoming floe edge expeditions – Narwhal and Polar Bear Floe Edge Adventure or the Ultimate Floe Edge Experience – Narwhal, Beluga and Polar Bears.

Register here to participate, it’s free and a wonderful opportunity to hear about our trips straight from the source.

An update on our 2011 trips – if you are thinking of booking, now is a great time to do so.

Our floe edge trips we find always sell out first and the 2011 Narwhal and Polar Bear Floe Edge Adventure is no exception this year being once again one of our most popular trips. June departures are already 50% sold-out. If you are considering an Arctic trip for 2011 to visit a floe edge – in particular to see the mystical Narwhal, please contact us soon to reserve your spot. Trip departures are limited to only 8 participants. You can take advantage of our Special Booking offer if you book before November 25th.

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news on upcoming expeditions, special deals, and reports from the field. It’s easy! Just enter your email address into the subscription box below.

Conservation and Polar Bears

October 13th, 2010 | By Tristan Crane | Filed in AK PRODUCTS & SERVICES, Current Events, IN THE NEWS, Scientists, Upcoming Trip

Tying in nicely with some of our current scheduled trips, which focus on viewing and appreciating Polar Bears in the wild; Nissan has released this sweet commercial, which speaks to the conservation-minded animal lover in all of us.

Add to this a bit of good news for organizations working to protect polar bears and conserve their natural territory, the National Geographic blog posted this interview with Polar Bears International’s newest chief scientist, Steven Amstrup.

From the interview -

In discussing why exactly he chose to work with Polar Bears International -

Flying Over the Fjords

June 22nd, 2010 | By Nora Sawyer | Filed in ACTIVITIES, Upcoming Trip

Here’s a great video that was just uploaded to the Arctic Kingdom YouTube page. It shows John Davidson piloting a balloon over Clyde River on Baffin Island.

John will be leading balloon-centered Arctic Kingdom expeditions next year. Consider this a preview!

Featured Trip: Dog Sledding North Baffin Island Adventure

August 13th, 2009 | By Nora Sawyer | Filed in ACTIVITIES, AK PRODUCTS & SERVICES, Featured Trip, Sports, TRIPS, Upcoming Trip

We recently updated our trips page, streamlining the layout and adding a few new expeditions to our existing list of offerings. Of all these new adventures, there’s one I find particularly exciting: the Dogsledding in North Baffin Island Adventure.

Sled dogs on a 2006 expedition to Qaanaaq, Greenland

According to the International Federation for Sleddog Sports, the dog sledding tradition may stretch back “almost as long as the relationship between dogs and humans” in areas with predictable yearly snowfalls. As a dog person, I love that idea: Traveling along traditional Inuit hunting routes, we’ll be experiencing the old Arctic, following paths that have bound man and dog together for thousands of years.

The trip is also a photographer’s dream: Baffin Island is located along one of the richest marine areas in the Arctic Ocean. Though our routes and the wildlife we encounter will depend variables such as snow and ice conditions, we’re likely to travel along steep-walled fjords, along inland lakes and possibly even out to the floe edge, the border between ice and sea where marine animals congregate.

A pair of sled dogs near Lancaster Sound

Are you as excited as I am? Check out the expedition’s trip page for more information, including rates and a sample itinerary.

Featured Trip: Polar Bears Return to the Sea

August 6th, 2009 | By Nora Sawyer | Filed in Current Trips, Photographers, TRIPS, Uncategorized, Upcoming Trip

Next month, Arctic Kingdom will be heading to north Baffin Island and up Navy Board Inlet as part of an exploratory expedition centered around viewing and photographing polar bears as they return to the sea after a summer spent on land.

Following up on reports from Inuit hunters, scientist working in the area, and Parks Canada wildlife officers, we’ll be visiting areas with a history of significant polar bear sightings. With topside and pole cameras at the ready, we’ll be on the lookout for what we hope will be some great footage of these magnificent creatures.

This will be a small, zodiac based expediton, and a real opportunity for intrepid explorers looking for an up-close, hands-on experience of the arctic wilderness. Interested in joining us? Visit the trips page for more information!