High Arctic Explorer Cruise
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
Map
Map
Overview
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!
Departures & Cabins
What's Included
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
Gallery
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
After your charter flight from Toronto, ON, you’ll transfer to the Ocean Endeavour by Zodiac.
Begin your journey by sailing down Kangerlussuaq Fjord (Søndre Strømfjord), a 190-kilometre-long fjord surrounded by mountains and glaciers, and cross the Arctic Circle on your way.
Kangerlussuaq, the settlement at the head of the fjord, is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub.
Day 2: Sisimiut Coast
Colourful Sisimiut is Greenland’s second largest city. Access the extensive museum through a towering whalebone archway and be sure to stop in at the artisan’s co-operative for the chance to purchase outstanding handicrafts.
Traditional qajaq (kayaking) is in resurgence here, and there’s plenty of other fun outdoor activities for the adventurous to enjoy.
Day 3: Ilulissat
Visit the town of Ilulissat, with splendid museums, cafés, craft shops, and a busy fishing harbour.
View the icebergs from shore on a hike along the boardwalk at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, then board a Zodiac to cruise your way among them!
Ilulissat translates literally to “iceberg”—an apt name for this site at the mouth of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, a source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic.
Day 4: Western Greenland
Choose the activity you like best during an expedition landing on Greenland’s stunning west coast.
Whether you prefer hiking, walking, photography, or sitting contemplatively, you’ll be delighted!
Admire the mighty mountains and the tiniest tundra flowers—a stop in this area will offer many outstanding features to pique your interest.
Day 5: At Sea—Davis Strait
Our onboard presentation series will continue as we steam across Davis Strait towards Canada. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops, watch a documentary, and get out on deck looking for whales, seabirds, and marine wildlife.
Day 6: Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Nu, Canada
Attend a cultural performance put on by the talented Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group, featuring drum dancing, throat singing, and storytelling.
Mittimatalik is a busy Arctic community in a beautiful setting—the views of nearby Bylot Island are stunning!
Enjoy exploring the town and take the opportunity to purchase unique handcrafted mementos when available, too.
Day 7–10: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island
Spend five fun-filled days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of Canada's newest National Marine Conservation Areas.
Cruise by ship and by Zodiac in search of narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales that transit and feed in this area.
Admire Devon Island’s unique geological character, with its flat-topped mountains, glacial valleys, and substantial ice cap. At the northern edge of Tallurutiup Imanga, it’s the largest uninhabited island on Earth at over 50,000 square kilometres.
Hike the tundra, cruise a glacier face, and keep your eyes peeled for polar bears and other wildlife from ship and from shore.
Visit archaeological sites with expert interpretation to learn about the human history of Inuit and their ancestors who once lived on this now-abandoned island.
Then catch a glimpse of more recent history when you visit the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.
Day 11: Beechey Island
Pay your respects at this haunting memorial to Sir John Franklin’s failed expedition.
Learn the compelling history of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror’s attempts to sail through the Northwest Passage.
Franklin’s crew overwintered at Beechey Island, where three of his men died, and numerous search parties later used the spot as a depot and rendezvous. Thomas Morgan of the HMS Investigator was buried here in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men.
Visit their graves and the ruins of nearby Northumberland House while contemplating the poignant history.
Day 12: Qausuittuq (Resolute), Nu, Canada
Say your goodbyes to the Arctic in Qausuittuq (Resolute). The community’s name, meaning “place with no dawn,” comes from its dark winters, but during your visit at the height of summer, you’ll experience the midnight sun—a time of no darkness.
Take in the unique geography and geology here, characterized by shoreline gravel flats, rocky coastal bluffs, and deposits of glacial moraine.
Learn about the significance of the origin of the hamlet; in 1953, Inuit from Inukjuak, Québec and Mittimatalik were relocated under false pretences by the Canadian government with the aim of asserting Canadian sovereignty.
Today the community is home to just under 250 people and is an important staging point for High Arctic research, tourism, and military activities.
Disembark the Ocean Endeavour and transfer by Zodiac to shore for your charter flight to Ottawa, ON.
What to Expect
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.
Ship & Deck Plan
Ship & Deck Plan
Ocean Endeavour
Sailing with a maximum of 198-passengers, Ocean Endeavour is the perfect vessel for expedition cruising. Outfitted with twenty Zodiacs, advanced navigation equipment, multiple lounges and a top deck observation room, she is purpose-built for passenger experiences in remote environments. The Ocean Endeavour boasts a 1B ice class, enabling her to freely explore throughout the Arctic summer.
Launched in 1982, she has had numerous upgrades, most recently in 2010 and 2014. At 137 meters (450ft) in length, Ocean Endeavour has plenty of interior and exterior space. Enjoy multiple decks offering comfortable lounge chairs, outdoor dining, a swimming pool, sauna and even a hot tub! The spacious interiors allow for multiple workshops and presentations to occur simultaneously. Community is at the heart of Adventure Canada’s expedition experience. We gather together to learn, enjoy a drink, sing a song or share a yarn – connecting with one and other. The three lounges aboard Ocean Endeavour are fantastic public spaces for seminars, events and dialogue.
The Ocean Endeavour’s private spaces are stylish and comfortable. All cabins have private washroom facilities, a phone for internal calls, radio, TV and air-conditioning.
Ocean Endeavour’s crew is experienced, and friendly. Her shallow draft and maneuverability allow her to access isolated fiords, bays and secluded communities. The stylish vessel is at home among the glorious settings we seek. Enjoy the class and comfort of a boutique hotel, while venturing to some of the world’s last great frontiers aboard the Ocean Endeavour!
Learn MoreFeatured Wildlife
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
Past Tour Checklists
View the list of birds and other wildlife we encountered on our past tours.