Arctic Safari

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 magneticism that beckon us, call us forward on our quest. Four thousand, five hundred years of human history lies behind us on our journey of exploration. Northern people attune to the harsh realities of their natural environment, cultivated ingenious adaptations to thrive in Arctic. Only a few hndred 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. Our classic Arctic expedition, Arctic Quest, connects areas of great cultural, historical and natural significance.

Beginning in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland we set sail on one of the country's longest fjords, crossing the Arctic Circle. Striking North past pretty coulourful 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 old traditions, modern life 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. The remnants of the Laurentide Ice-sheet are the backdrop for this rugged mountainous spine that runs from the Cumberland Peninsula up to Bylot Island and beyond. Deep fjords cut into the range where we find glaciers spilling down to the sea. The landscape is an artist's paradise, and has served as inspiration for many notable artists. Sketchers, painters, sculptors and photographers get prepared to be invigorated!

Our journey draws to an end where one of the most famous of Arctic expeditions turned fatal. On Beechey Island we find three graves, men of the lost Franklin expedition. An erie mecca for history buffs, Beechey Island presents a convergence of the European narrative. A base for many rescue missions, passage seekers and modern explorers, we find countless cairns, monuments and historical remnants, evidence of private and public pursuits. Join us for your own Arctic Quest.

Itinerary

Day 1: Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord), Greenland
Arriving into Kangerlussuaq oon our chartered flight, it is possible to see the largest ice cap in the world from your airplane window. Boarding the Clipper Adventurer in the afternoon, we will make our journey down spectacular Sondre Stromfjord.

Day 2: Itilleq
A small town with a population just over 140, Itilleq became a trading station in 1847. Primarily a fishing community, its residents are closely tied to the land and surrounding seas for their food and livelihood. Located right on the Arctic Circle, Itilleq is the southernmost point for dog sledding in Greenland. The colourful buildings charm visitors as we engage the local soccer team in our annual match.

Day 3: Ilulissat (Jakøbshavns Isfjord)
With a population of just over 4,000 people, Ilulissat is Greenland's third largest town. The harbour is a picturesque mishmash of icebergs, fishing boats, hovering gulls and friendly faces. Once ashore we will learn about the inhabitants of Ilulissat and West Greenland at the museum and cultural centers. Art lovers can look for their very own Tupilak, a small carving, characteristic of the area, meant to ward off evil spirits. After our community experience we will walk to the ridge of the Ilulissat Icefjord, an awe inspiring setting where we can hear the fast moving glacial ice-stream and grumbling as the massive icesheets and bergs make their way out into the harbour set on a course for Newfoundland and beyond.

Day 4: Crossing Davis Strait to Isabella Bay
While crossing Davis Strait, we'll relax and enjoy onboard lectures and opportunities to watch for wildlife from the ship's decks.

Isabella Bay
This area is a late summer and fall feeding destination for many Baffin Bay/Davis Strait bowhead whales. We were lucky enough to find a pod of 60 bowheads in this area in 2005.

Day 5: Clyde River
Perched on a floodplain surrounded by soaring mountains, Clyde River offers excellent views of glacial action. Once an important trading post, the area is home to various species of seal and the polar bears that prey on them. It is known as the "Gateway to the Great Fiords", and there are 10 fiords within a 100-kilometre radius of the hamlet.

Day 6: Buchan Gulf
We'll investigate the rugged coastline and towering fjords of the Buchan Gulf and Northeast Baffin by Zodiac. Virtually unknown to modern travellers, these fjords are known for dog-tongued glaciers that spill into the sea and mountains that have been sculpted by the ancient Laurentian ice sheet which once covered North America.

Day 7: Bylot Island
Nestled in the northeastern corner of Baffin Island, at the entrance to Lancaster Sound, Bylot Island is part of the recently declared Sirmilik National Park and is one of the largest bird refuges in the world. It is prime habitat for seabirds including Thick-billed Murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Here we also find bold, rugged coasts, calving glaciers and towering hoodoos.

Day 8: Pond Inlet and Cape Hay
This bustling Arctic community is surrounded by one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Eastern Arctic. We will have a chance to explore the town, as well as enjoy a cultural presentation at the Nattinnak Centre.

Cape Hay
The steep cliffs along the ocean at Cape Hay provide prime nesting habitat for large numbers of seabirds. As many as 320,000 Thick-billed Murres and 50,000 Black-legged Kittiwakes utilize these cliffs. Polynyas and floe edges in the marine waters off the island provide rich foraging grounds for seabirds and marine mammals.

Day 9: Maxwell Bay
Maxwell Bay is a body of water in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, off the southern coast of Devon Island and was named by William Edward Parry in honor of Sir Murray Maxwell. Like Croker Bay to the west, it is an arm of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait and offers us a chance to find seals, walrus and polar bears among the persistent ice.

Day 10: Prince Leopold, Somerset Island and Beechey Island
The tall cliffs of Prince Leopold Island are one of the top bird sites in the High Arctic both during the breeding and summering seasons. It is a breeding site for Thick-Billed Murre, Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar, Glaucous Gull, and Black Guillemot. It was beneath these tall cliffs, that Sir James Clark Ross, perhaps the greatest polar explorer of the 19th century, was based in 1848-49. Ross's 1848-49 expedition in search of the Franklin expedition was not successful; they spent a frustrating winter locked by ice in Port Leopold on the northeast coast of Somerset Island and returned to England the following summer. It was also from this area that Sir John Ross (James's uncle) escaped in 1833 after abandoning the Victory and spending four harrowing winters in the Arctic.

Beechey Island
This island is best known as the epicentre of the Franklin search, for it was here that the lost expedition spent its first winter (1845-46). The only record of the expedition, and subsequent explorers making it to Beechey, is the remains of three storehouses, workshops, a washhouse, many empty meat tins, and of course, three eerie graves.

Day 11: Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay)
Arriving in Resolute early morning, we disembark the Clipper Adventurer and have a chance to visit the community before our charter fllights flights home.
 

Featured Birds and Mammals:

• Dovekie
• Thick-billed Murre
• Gyrfalcon
• Rock Ptarmigan
• Northern Fulmar
• Pomarine Jaeger
• Long-tailed Jaeger
• Beluga
• Polar Bear

Dates: July 30 - August 9, 2012

Duration: 11 days

Vessel: The Clipper Adventurer

Price: $3,595-$10,545 USD

Tour Starts: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 

Tour Ends: Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay)

 What's Included:
All entry & park fees
Your complete itinerary
Team of resource specialists
Educational program and pre-departure materials
All shipboard meals
All Zodiac excursions
Service charges and port fees

What's Not Included:
Commercial flights
Mandatory medical / evacuation insurance
Personal expenses
Additional expenses in the event of delays or Itinerary changes
Discretionary gratuities to ship's crew (approximately $10 - 14 per passenger per day)
Visas, or inoculations, if required
Physician's fees confirming you are fit to travel
Possible fuel surcharges 
$250 Discovery Fund Fee

What to Expect

• Includes all meals
• Charter flights are additional
• Exact itinerary is weather and ice dependant
• Onboard educational program by diverse resource team
• Shore excursions by zodiac
• Easy to moderate walking

Our program features activities such as walking, wildlife viewing and Zodiac cruising, all at a relatively easy to moderate level of exertion. You will need to be able to climb in and out of the Zodiacs (assistance is provided), and some of our landings will be “wet”, requiring that you wear waterproof boots. A reasonable level of mobility is required to fully enjoy this travel program and to ensure the steady movement of the larger group of passengers. If you have any questions regarding your level of mobility, please contact us prior to booking. A complete clothing list and suggested reading list will be provided upon your registration. Meals are a great opportunity to meet new friends and recount the day’s adventures, and special diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Safety is also a top priority with Eagle-Eye Tours – our team has extensive experience in the field, and all of our Voyages are run in conjunction with operators with the highest safety standards.

The Clipper Adventurer Specifications Deck and Cabin plan Adventurer

Capacity: 118 guests

Registry: Bahamas

Overall length: 90m (295 feet)

The 122-passenger Adventurer, among the very few vessels in the world specifically constructed for expedition voyages to the far reaches of this remote land. Her ice-strengthened hull permits her to glide easily and safely through ice-strewn waters that are not accessible to conventional cruise vessels.

She has advanced communications and navigation equipment, and newly installed, state-of-the-art Sperry Gyrofin stabilizers. In 1998 the Adventurer had a $13 million conversion done in Scandinavia. She is a handsome expedition vessel, done in the style of great ocean liners when ships were ships. With lots of varnished wood, brass, and wooden decks, the ship has all new outside cabins, with lower beds and private facilities.

There is a Main Lounge, bar, Clipper Club, library/card room, gymnasium, sauna, gift shop, and beauty salon. American staff serves American and Continental cuisine. The ship has a fleet of 10 Zodiacs and a special loading platform. An ice class rating of A-1 allows the Clipper Adventurer to go to places larger cruise ships can only dream of, and she does it in comfort and style unsurpassed by other vessels her size.

Cabins: All cabins have a window with outside view. Each has private facilities and climate controls.