High Arctic Explorer Cruise

Ship Trip
Highlights

Highlights

  • Visit the Franklin Expedition graves at Beechey Island
  • Watch for marine mammals and wildlife in Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) Marine Protected Area
  • Hike on Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth
  • Enjoy an Inuit cultural welcome at Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)
  • Take advantage of prime viewing opportunities for the rare Ivory Gull, a Species at Risk
  • Cruise among icebergs at Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Tour Overview

In the mythic far reaches of the Arctic lie Inuit homelands. Journey in comfort from Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay), Nunavut to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Visit the Arctic at the height of summer!

Explore Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), a newly designated marine protected area. Visit the graves of Franklin’s men on Beechey Island. Enjoy an Inuit welcome in Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet); try your hand at Arctic games.

Across Baffin Bay lies the sublime Greenland coast. Illulissat offers cafes, hiking, and handicrafts. Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to Sermeq Kujalleq, the fastest-moving glacier in the world. Explore the best of Greenland and Nunavut in summer!

What's Included

Tour Price Includes

  • Passage aboard the Ocean Endeavour
  • Applicable taxes and credit card fees
  • Complimentary expedition jacket
  • Contribution to Discovery Fund
  • Special access permits, entry, and park fees
  • Expert expedition team
  • Guided activities
  • Sightseeing and community visits
  • All Zodiac excursions
  • Port fees
  • Pre-departure materials
  • Educational program
  • Photo Equipment Trial Program
  • Interactive workshops
  • Evening entertainment
  • All shipboard meals

Tour Price Does Not Include

  • Commercial and charter flights
  • Program enhancements/optional excursions
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
  • Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
  • Possible fuel surcharges and administrative fees
  • Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation
  • Fuel surcharge of $48 USD per person per day (2023 tours)
  • Optional excursions
  • Additional costs associated with payments by credit card

What to Expect

Our small ship cruising programs allow you to experience the best of the natural world, while enjoying the comforts of our friendly floating hotel. The ship generally makes crossing between islands at night, so every morning you awake to new vistas and discoveries. Every day we offer a combination of interesting shore excursions and fun shipboard activities. You can choose which elements of the program you want to participate in.

This expedition cruise necessitates passengers to be in reasonably good health. Zodiac cruises and transfer times can be lengthy. You must be able to climb stairs between decks on the ship, as well as the external gangway stairs to transfer between the zodiac and ship.

Some of our shore landings will be ‘wet’, requiring waterproof boots. Once you have left the zodiac, you’ll find our shore excursions accommodate both those who wish to enjoy a gentle stroll and those who prefer more active hikes. The excursion may involve walking over uneven or sandy terrain in variable weather conditions. Our onboard specialists will join us on these shore excursions to provide interpretation and narration to these wonderful landscapes and experiences.

Each evening we will gather in the lounge to recount the day’s events and share memorable stories. Our onboard musician will provide some lively entertainment during happy hour and the expedition leader will outline the following day’s schedule. Our resource staff of naturalists, historians, and other guest speakers will give informative talks at various times throughout the voyage.

Meals in the ship’s dining room are a great opportunity to meet new friends and recount the day’s adventures. 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.

When the ship is underway, it is a wonderful time to join a naturalist on deck, take photos of the stunning scenery, or get caught up on some reading in the library.

Weather, ice, government regulations, and community requests may necessitate changes to the planned itineraries and/or the cancellation of certain shore excursions and enhancements. Published itineraries are examples only and we reserve the right to change or modify the itinerary and landing sites at any time prior or during an expedition. Changes will be communicated at your expedition orientation or during your onboard expedition briefings.

We know that everyone travels for different reasons. Over the years, however, we have found one common element among the guest who choose to travel with us – a thirst of knowledge and authentic experience. Knowing this drives us to ensure the highest quality learning experience on our trips, by taking time to carefully design each trip we offer.

Featured Wildlife

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.

  • Northern Fulmar
  • Dovekie
  • Black-legged Kittiwake
  • Black Guillemot
  • Common Eider
  • Thick-billed Murre
  • Glaucous Gull
  • Polar Bear
  • Walrus
  • Bowhead Whale

Past Tour Checklists

View the list of birds and other wildlife we encountered on our past tours.

Tour Reviews