Map of High Arctic Explorer - Greenland to Canada (Ocean Endeavour) including Canada and Greenland

Escape to the edge of the world

Wild, unbridled, and truly tremendous – a trip to the Arctic will make it hard to believe you’re still on earth. Spend 12 incredible days on board the Ocean Endeavour, cruising the complex waterways and untamed coastline of Greenland and Northern Canada. Break the ice with a group of curious fellow travellers and passionate expedition team while learning about the fascinating geography, history and cultural heritage of the region. Zodiac cruises will get you up and close and personal with unbelievable wildlife, and expedition landings to modest communities nestled into ostentatious landscapes will leave you in awe.


Start
Toronto, Canada
Finish
Ottawa, Canada
Destinations
Canada, Greenland
Style
Comfort
Theme
Polar, Wildlife
Code
SBKG
Physical rating
Ages
Min 2
Group size
Min 1, Max 198

Why you'll love this trip

  • On board the Ocean Endeavour, your adventures will be guided by a team of experts, with in-depth workshops and presentations to enrich your understanding of this complex corner of the world.

  • Prepare for a day to remember in Greenland’s Ilulissat, where colourful rows of houses are dwarfed by an awe-inspiring icefjord of towering icebergs.

  • Experience the culture of Canada’s Inuit people in the stunning Arctic community of Mittimatalik, where you’ll watch a traditional performance including drum dancing, throat singing and storytelling.

  • Spent four incredible days exploring the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area in search of narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales.

  • Discover Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island, learn about the landscape’s unique topography and the Inuit people and their ancestors who once lived here.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Believe it or not, temperatures in the Arctic can be freezing. And yet it can get surprisingly warm when the sun comes out, for instance, or with increased physical activity. It’s best to dress in layers when you journey outside and we’ll provide you with waterproof boots that are sturdy, warm and highly fashionable (in the arctic, at least). Please see the trip notes for information about what to bring.

  • Polar bears are one of the most incredible and appealing animals on the planet, but they are also powerful predators with little fear of humans. Therefore it’s necessary to be aware of the guidelines surrounding any contact with Polar bears. Follow your leader’s instructions and do not stray from your group – your leader carries equipment to protect you. We may need to adjust our plans to visit alternate arctic landing sites.

  • Weather and sea ice play a pivotal part in this adventure and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area.

Boats

Ocean Endeavour - Arctic boat on a tour

Ocean Endeavour - Arctic

The Ocean Endeavour - Arctic is a comfortable and spacious ship with a gym, library and wide range of cabin types.

Itinerary

Your Arctic adventure begins in Toronto, Canada, from where you’ll hop aboard an included early morning charter flight to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, a tiny town with a population of just 500. Here you’ll find the Ocean Endeavour ship, your home for the next 12 days. Board a Zodiac boat which will take you to the Ocean Endeavour – these sturdy inflatable vessels will get you on and off the ship throughout your journey. Then it’s time to set sail! Cruise down the Kangerlussuaq Fjord for your first dose of epic scenery as you cross the Arctic Circle. The 190-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by snow-dusted mountains and dramatic glaciers, ensuring your first day in the Arctic will be one to remember.
Meals Included
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
To allow plenty of time to catch your early morning flight today, we recommend arriving in Toronto the day before your trip begins. For customers staying in Toronto, a pre- trip reception will be held in the evening at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, allowing guests to meet their guides and fellow travellers. This reception is not compulsory, but we recommend coming along if you are staying in town the night before this trip starts. Further information will be provided closer to your departure.
Wake up aboard the Ocean Endeavour – be sure to gaze out the windows over breakfast, as views don’t get much better than this! Today will be spent exploring western Greenland along the Sisimiut Coast. You’re going to want to have your camera ready for this journey – prepare to pass by glaciers, fjords and islands against a staggering backdrop of mountains. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get off the ship and hike through the inspiring landscape, or set off on a Zodiac cruise for a closer look at these natural wonders. As you traverse the complex waterways, learn the stories of the Saqqaq, Dorset, Thule and modern Inuit people who have called the Sisimiut region home for 4500 years.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
After travelling north overnight, disembark the ship and head out to explore the town of Ilulissat and its surrounds – the name Ilulissat directly translates to ‘icebergs’ in Kalaallisut, Greenland’s official language, and you’ll soon find out why! Neatly organised colourful houses make the town postcard-pretty, but it’s the nearby icefjord that really puts this place on the map. A walk along a boardwalk will lead you to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where towering white ice formations dwarf the buildings of the nearby town. Spend some time soaking up this memorable sight, and perhaps have a wander around Ilulissat’s charming shops and museums, then set out on a Zodiac cruise to admire the icefjord from a different perspective. Weave and bob your way around impressive icebergs – this really has to be experienced to be believed!
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
An expedition landing on Greenland’s wild and wonderful west coast means the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may like to get active with a rewarding hike, or stretch your legs with a more easygoing stroll through the everchanging landscapes. There’s plenty of unbelievable photography opportunities here, or you may prefer just to sit back and take it all in. However you choose to spend the day, the sights of soaring mountains and vibrant tundra flowers are sure to stick with you long after your adventure is over.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Cross the Davis Straight today on your way towards Nunavut, Canada. This day at sea is the perfect opportunity to add a deeper layer to your discoveries of the Arctic. Enriching workshops and presentations delivered by experts on board the Ocean Endeavour paint an in-depth picture of the region’s fascinating history, geology, wildlife and cultural heritage. There’s even a workshop on how to best use your binoculars, so put your new skills into practice and get out on deck in search of whales, seabirds and other marine life.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
A world away from Toronto where your adventure began, see a different side of Canada in the beautiful Arctic community of Mittimatalik. With a population of just 1600, this place may be small, but there’s so much Inuit culture and history to uncover here. Dive straight in with a performance by the Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group, where they will take you on a journey with their drum dancing, throat singing and storytelling. After the performance, enjoy some time to explore the town and soak in the spectacular views of nearby Bylot Island. There are often gorgeous handcrafted goods for sale if you want to pick up a keepsake to remember your time in this unique corner of the world.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
The next four days will be spent exploring the rugged landscapes of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area (Lancaster Sound). The area is home to narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales who feed in this area – set out in search of them by ship and Zodiac. Stop by Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island. The vast, barren landscape is dotted with glacial valleys, flat-topped mountains and ice caps, and while it may not be a place you’d want to live, it’s certainly a joy to explore. Hike over tundra, cruise a glacier face and keep a lookout for polar bears and other wildlife from ship and shore. Let expert guides show you ancient archaeological sites that unearth the history of the Inuit people and their ancestors who once laid roots on this now abandoned island. Visit the eerie remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (4)
  • Lunch (4)
  • Dinner (4)
Make a sobering visit to the Franklin Expedition historic site on Beechey Island, a memorial to the failed expedition of British explorer Sir John Franklin in 1845. Attempting to cross the Northwest Passage, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror vanished – searches for the wrecks were unsuccessful for 170 years, only to be both be discovered in 2014 and 2016. Pay your respects while learning the stories of the men who are buried here as you visit their graves and the nearby ruins of Northumberland House.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
It’s time to say goodbye to the Arctic after a final day in Qausuittuq (Resolute). With a name meaning ‘place with no dawn’, Qausuittuq experiences long, dark winters, but your visit in the peak of summer means day-round sunlight. The unique topography of the landscape is characterized by shoreline gravel flats, rocky coastal bluffs, and deposits of glacial moraine. First established in 1953, the community began under false pretenses, as the Canadian government relocated Inuit families from Inukjuak, Québec and Mittimatalik, in an attempt to assert Canadian sovereignty. Learn about this dark chapter in Canadian history and how the community lives on today. Qausuittuq now serves as an important staging post for High Arctic research, tourism and military activities. Bid farewell to the Ocean Endeavour as you disembark and take a Zodiac transfer for your included charter flight to Ottawa, Ontario. Your Arctic adventure comes to an end upon your arrival at Ottawa airport – prepare to leave with memories to last a lifetime.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
We recommend you book one nights hotel accommodation in Ottawa on the last day of the trip as the charter flight arrives into Ottawa in the evening..

Meals

11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11 dinners

Transport

Expedition Cruise Ship, Zodiac

Accommodation

Expedition cruise ship (11 nights)

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our High Arctic Explorer - Greenland to Canada (Ocean Endeavour) trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

This trip includes an early morning charter flight from Toronto, ON, Canada to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on day one of the trip. We recommend you book one nights hotel accommodation in Toronto prior to starting the trip.

This trip includes a charter flight from Resolute, NU, Canada to Ottawa, ON, Canada on the last day of the trip. We recommend you book one nights hotel accommodation in Ottawa on the last day of the trip as the charter flight arrives into Ottawa in the evening.

SPECIAL BOOKING CONDITIONS
This trip is operated by our partner Adventure Canada on board the Ocean Endeavour ship.

You are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of AUD3000, USD2000, EUR1800, NZD3200, GBP1700, CAD2800, CHF2000 or ZAR34,900 per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed.

Final payment is due 120 days before your trip departure date.

If a booking is cancelled up to 120 days before departure, 50% of the non refundable deposit per person per cruise will be held as a future Travel credit.
If a booking is cancelled from 91 days to 120 days before departure, a 65% cancellation fee will apply.
If a booking is cancelled at 90 days or less before departure, a 100% cancellation fee will apply.

Please refer to our "Booking terms and conditions" page on our website for all Adventure Canada terms and conditions.

COVID 19 VACCINATION
All customers must be fully vaccinated against covid19 to join this trip. Adventure Canada also strongly recommends all customers to keep up to date with their booster shots to maximise your own personal safety.

Essential trip information

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