OVERVIEW
The timeless lure of the North has drawn many to the upward reaches of our planet. The Aurora Borealis, the ice, the marvelous creatures, the midnight sun, the endless landscape are all a part of the magnetism that beckon us and calls us forward on our journey. Thousands of years of human history lies behind us on our journey of exploration. Northern people, attune to the harsh realities of their natural environment, have cultivated ingenious adaptations to thrive in Arctic. Only a few hundred years ago early European explorers navigated the icy waters of Baffin Bay in search of whales, gold, a route to the Orient and, in the case of the Vikings, a new home. This classic Arctic expedition cruise, The Arctic Safari, connects areas of great cultural, historical and natural significance.
Beginning in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland we set sail down one of the country’s longest fiords, crossing the Arctic Circle. Striking North past pretty colourful houses that dot the Greenlandic coast, we’ll call in at the splendid town of Ilulissat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A Zodiac cruise into the ice-fjord, where towering icebergs calve from the massive Greenland icecap as it tumbles down to meet the sea, will surely leave you breathless and refreshed. Crossing Davis Strait, we will encounter the east side of Baffin Island, one of the world’s dramatic coastlines. We will visit the vibrant Inuit communities of Kangiqtugaapik (Clyde River) and Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet) making new friends along the way. We’ll meet with local hosts; elders, school kids, community leaders – all eager to showcase their home. We’ll learn about centuries of traditions, the impact of modernity in the north and how communities are searching for a balance of old and new.
Join us as we have a look at some of the wilder places in this untamed land: the sheer bird cliffs of Bylot and Prince Leopold Islands, the ocean trench paralleling Isabella Bay – home to bowhead whales, and the winding fjords of Northeast Baffin. With such a variety of excursions and peak summer weather – long days, blooming tundra flowers and (usually) calm, warm weather – we recommend this trip as the best way to experience the Arctic for the first time.
Life Defining Moments
- Marvel at the Ilulissat icefield, where 90% of the North Atlantic’s icebergs are born
- Thousands of birds on the cliffs of Prince Leopold Island
- Visit the largest uninhabited island on earth during our stop at Devon Island
- Cross the Arctic circle while sailing in the shadow of the longest fjord in West Greenland
- Visit the historic graves of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition
- Enjoy the town of Pond Inlet, with breathtaking peaks of Bylot Island and the hospitality of the townspeople
- Have tea with locals in a traditional Greenlandic home
- Opportunity to view the highly threatened bowhead whale in Isabella Bay
Cruise Route Map
