Into the Wild: Baffin & West Greenland

Day 1 - Iqaluit:

Iqaluit, at the head of Frobisher Bay, is Nunavut’s bustling capital. A population of nearly 8,000 (and growing) call Iqaluit home. Local attractions include the territorial legislature, igloo-inspired St. Jude’s Cathedral, art shops, and more. 

We will transfer by Zodiac to our vessel through busy Iqaluit harbour. Take a moment to notice the amazing tide! Once all are aboard, we’ll begin our journey down Frobisher Bay.

Day 2 - Frobisher Bay:

We’ll be on the lookout for wildlife, of course. Our geologists will have you raving about rocks, and the tundra plants beneath your feet are worth a closer look. Expect compelling scenery, and soak up the Arctic splendor as we go!

Day 3 - Kimmirut (Lake Harbour):

Kimmirut means “the heel” in Inuktitut, referring to an outcrop of marble across the bay from the community. Kimmirut is considered one of the most charming communities on the South Baffin coast. 

Art aficionados may know the hamlet as Lake Harbour, once the home of a Hudson Bay company post. Art has played a major role in putting Kimmirut on the map. The Dewey Soper Building houses a gallery of outstanding works of art. 

Day 4 - Kinngait (Cape Dorset):

Kinngait was ground zero for the Inuit art market. In 1959, the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative was established: it remains the oldest arts organization in the Canadian Arctic and the oldest professional Inuit printmaking studio in Canada. 

Old and new generations of outstanding artists, carvers, and printmakers continue to make Kinngait a proud centre for Inuit art. We’ll visit studios and meet the artists here—an opportunity to purchase outstanding works straight from the source.

Day 5 - Hudson Strait:

On this exploration day, we’ll be making the most of what the wind, weather and wildlife have to offer. We can expect to navigate the icy waters of Hudson Strait. Our expedition staff will scan for polar bears, walrus, whales, seals, and seabirds as we go. 

Day 6 & 7 - Ungava Peninsula:

Heading northwest along the Ungava Peninsula, we’re exploring an area of treeless tundra rich in geology and flora. We’ll enjoy hiking and a Zodiac cruise.

Days 8 &  9 - Ungava Bay:

Large and shallow, Ungava Bay is a rich ecosystem and home to a variety of wildlife, including an endangered beluga whale population and Canada’s largest number of breeding thick-billed murres. Here we’ll use our Zodiacs to scout the shorelines and any outlying ice with hopes of seeing polar bears, walrus, and other marine life. We’ll pay a visit to uninhabited Akpatok Island, the biggest island in Ungava Bay, at over nine hundred square kilometres. It’s named for the akpat—the thick-billed murres—that nest on ledges of Aktpatok’s lofty cliffs.

Day 10 At Sea – Davis Strait:

Our presentation series will continue as we steam across the Davis Strait towards Greenland. Our resource staff will deepen your understanding of the Arctic as we go. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops and group learning, watch a documentary or dive into our library.

While out on deck, keep your binoculars ready for minke and humpback whales amid pack ice, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage.

Day 11 - Nuuk:

Welcome to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland that bridges old and new. The old harbour region of town includes many buildings dating from the Danish colonial days. The modern downtown core includes shopping, cafes and restaurants, and public institutions with a European flair.

The Greenland National Museum is one of Nuuk’s many outstanding features; the world-famous Greenland mummies are housed here. The museum’s exhibits also offer in-depth information about colonial, Norse, and Inuit presence in Greenland—a must-see.

Day 12 - Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord:

West Greenland’s complex coastal waterways include glaciers, islands and fjords against a towering mountain backdrop. The waters are relatively warm here, due to the West Greenland Current and the sub-Arctic location. We’ll explore this sublime landscape by ship, and by Zodiac.

Day 13 - Kangerlussuaq:

Early this morning we’ll complete our overnight journey up Sondre Stromfjord—a 168-kilometre-long fjord surrounded by mountains and glaciers. Kangerlussuaq, the town at its eastern head, means ‘the big fjord’. Kangerlussuaq is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub. We’ll transfer to shore by Zodiac and be bussed along Greenland’s longest road (less than twenty kilometres!) to the airport, where our charter flight will take us to Toronto.