You can arrive into Reykjavik at any time today and will have a hotel night included as part of your trip (either an airport or city hotel, please ask us for details)

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your charter flight to the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk. This picturesque city of 17,000 is situated on a fjord with the Sermitsiaq mountain in the background. Depending on the final timing of this charter flight, you may have some time to explore the city or may be transferred directly to the port for embarkation.

Upon leaving Nuuk, you will set sail across the Davis Strait to the east coast of Baffin Island. Be sure to join your expedition team on the outer deck as you sail, enjoying the stunning scenery of West Greenland as well as keeping an eye out for seabirds and marine life gliding alongside the ship including perhaps great black-backed gulls and black guillemots. Your expedition team will offer a series of lectures and presentations where you can learn about northern communities and ways of life in preparation for your first community visit. 

On reaching the east coast of Baffin Island, you will first head to Qikiqtarjuaq, fondly called Qik, a small Inuit hamlet located north of the Arctic Circle on Broughton Island, off the east coast of Baffin Island. Known as the iceberg capital of Nunavut, Qikiqtarjuaq sits at the northern entrance to the mountainous Auyuittuq National Park, which is home to narwhals, bowhead and orca whales, polar bears, seals and migratory birds. You can expect a community visit here to learn about the local culture.

As icebergs travel down the Davis Strait, many are naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuaq. The surrounding waters are also home to ringed and harp seals, often surfacing between floes. A hike up to the hilltop offers sweeping views of the community and its coastal setting. You’ll also see inukshuks - carefully placed stone figures or cairns that have served as navigational guides and markers of important places, but also as expressions of spirit, memory, and connection to the land. Cruising further north along the mountainous east shore of Baffin Island, you will plan to approach Isabella Bay, an important summer and fall feeding area for the largest concentration of bowhead whales in Canada. Bowheads are a truly remarkable Arctic leviathan, with research suggesting they can live more than 200 years - making them the longest-lived mammal on Earth. Isabella Bay is a marvel, its dramatic landscapes and wide-open horizons best experienced from the outer decks of Ultramarine. You will plan to make a zodiac cruise, while passengers booked onto the optional Kayaking Programmes can hopefully enjoy a paddle here.

This is an especially exciting day as you hope to become one of the very few travellers to explore the majestic Icy Arm Fjord, which cuts almost 80 kilometres deep into northern Baffin Island. Accessible only by water in summer months when the sea ice recedes, this rarely-visited fjord is known for its unrivalled landscape of towering cliffs and stunning glaciers, and is valued as much for its sheer remoteness as it is for its singularly pristine environment. Icy Arm Fjord surely epitomises the raw beauty of unspoiled Arctic wilderness. Here you have chances to observe polar bears, Arctic foxes, seals, walruses, as well as guillemots, kittiwakes and other Arctic-dwelling birds. Excitement grows as your ship's two twin-engine helicopters are made ready for flightseeing excursions. Conditions depending, prepare to view the remote Arctic terrain from the seat of a helicopter - camera at the ready. If you are not in the helicopter, you may take a zodiac cruise here. If weather conditions prevent heli-flightseeing today, your expedition team will aim for another potential flight seeing opportunity at a different location.

At the top of Baffin Island sits TallurutiupImanga (also known as Lancaster Sound), a true Arctic oasis. Known by the Inuit and their predecessors for thousands of years, this channel and the surrounding lands are extremely rich in wildlife and history, both indigenous and European. The surrounding area affords several hiking opportunities. At Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island, you will visit an abandoned beachside outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At Croker Bay, you will plan to cruise close enough to appreciate the splendour of glacial textures and calving ice and perhaps opportunities for walrus.

Next you will plan to head to the western end of Devon Island, on the north side of Tallurutiup-Imanga, and go ashore at windswept Beechey Island, which is home to Beechey Island National Historic Sites. Maintained by Parks Canada, these sites tell the story - or at least the part that’s still not shrouded in mystery - of Sir John Franklin’s much chronicled 1845- 46 expedition to explore the Northwest Passage. The island is small, only 2.5km (1.5 miles) at its widest point, but its shores are steep, and rise to a flat plateau 244 meters (800 feet) high. That’s where Franklin and his crew of 128 men spent the winter after embarking from England on two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The ill-fated 1845-46 expedition - to navigate and chart the Northwest Passage - ended in tragedy for all 129 men and their two vessels. What happened to Franklin and his crew is the stuff of legend, and the focus for several search expeditions over the years, which discovered bodies, personal belongings of crew members, and handwritten notes that suggested starvation, deaths from hypothermia, scurvy, and lead poisoning from the tinned food supplies.

Accounts by Inuit suggest the crew split up into small groups and subsequently perished. What is known for certain is that no one survived. The graves of three officers from HMS Erebus - John Hartnell, William Braine, and John Torrington - were discovered in 1851. You will have an opportunity to visit their graves, and honour the memory of the entire Franklin crew who braved daunting challenges to explore the Northwest Passage. Franklin’s story is an integral part of the history of Arctic exploration. The wrecks of Erebus and Terror were discovered in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

You will also hope to explore the shores of the uninhabited Prince Leopold Island, known primarily as a significant Migratory Bird Sanctuary and an Important Bird Area, where your expedition team will aim to launch the Zodiacs for an immersive cruise at the foot of the bird cliffs. The island is renowned for its steep cliffs that host hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds, including thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, and black guillemots during the summer months. Port Leopold, an abandoned Hudson’s Bay Company trading post dating back to 1937, sits on the northeast tip of nearby Somerset Island. It is the closest landmark to Prince Leopold Island, situated about 13km (8.1 miles) to the southwest. This site is closely tied to the history of Arctic exploration, including the search for the Franklin Expedition. Visitors can still see the remains of the original trading post, including the old store and the manager’s home.

As you sail from Lancaster Sound down along the east coast of Baffin Island, spend time out on deck to soak in the scenery: expansive landscapes, jagged spires, and bird life. Enjoy a day at sea with a series of lectures and presentations, or enjoying the ship's facilities including the spa and library.

Well inside the Arctic Circle, Sam Ford Fjord is a standout Arctic adventure destination on Baffin Island’s northeast coast, and one of the world’s most spectacular big-wall playgrounds. A traditional Inuit hunting area, the fjord is a study in contrasts: sheer granite cliffs seem to rise straight up from the ocean below, reaching up to 457 metres (1,500 feet) above sea level. If weather conditions permit, this region offers fabulous Zodiac cruising, sea kayaking and paddling as well as opportunities to go ashore. With a bit of luck, you may see Arctic fox onshore, and your expedition team will always be keeping watch for polar bears during off-shore excursions. A zodiac cruise along this 110km (68-mile) path is truly spectacular, as Sam Ford Fjord narrows to less than 3km (2 miles) wide as it meanders farther inland.

You will spend today at sea, crossing back over the Davis Strait to Greenland. As always, be sure to spend time out on deck watching for marine life and icebergs.

You will spend these days exploring some of the highlights of the West Greenland coast. Ilulissat, located in Disko Bay, is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Icefjord, which is the thoroughfare for countless icebergs calved from one of the world’s fastest-moving glaciers, Sermeq Kujalleq. Locals have constructed a boardwalk leading to an elevated overlook, where you can view bergs of all sizes spread out before you. You will also notice the Arctic cotton grass and summer wildflowers thriving in the long daylight hours. The inner harbour in Ilulissat town is one of the few places on earth where you can see icebergs drifting among fishing boats and skiffs.

History buffs will be excited to know Ilulissat is the birthplace of Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen, who traveled by dog sled from Greenland to Alaska (and briefly Siberia) during the Fifth Thule Expedition (1921–1924). Fluent in Kalaallisut, he learned from and documented the Circumpolar Inuit he met—making it one of the Arctic’s greatest expeditions. It was in these dramatic landscapes around Ilulissat that Rasmussen’s passion for exploration took root. As you approach town be sure to watch out for whales, which frequent the iceberg-laden waters.

Pride of place for your seasoned expedition team is Eternity Fjord, which is home to the tallest mountains in all of West Greenland. This a favourite spot for the team to launch the Zodiacs to explore in-depth - where larger vessels can’t navigate. There are few settlements along this lengthy fjord, but you will quickly appreciate nature in its rawest form as you hike among the towering mountains, and photograph the colourful tundra and other dramatic landscapes. Another fascinating highlight is Maniitsoq, often called the “Venice of Greenland,” as it’s situated in an archipelago intersected by natural canals. Soaring, snow-capped mountains surround this small, rocky town, whose name means “the uneven place.” 

Today you will explore 50km (31 miles) above the Arctic Circle to reach Kangerlussuaq, which is Greenlandic for “the long fjord.” At the end of this 180km (112 mile) fjord is a settlement bearing the same name. The town is known for its natural beauty - and for previously being the home of the largest airport in Greenland. You will be ferried from ship to shore on one last Zodiac ride, then transferred to the airport where you will board your charter flight to Reykjavik. On arrival you will be transferred to your included hotel.

You can depart from Reykjavik at any time today, or opt to stay longer to explore this modern city or just outside on a series of day trips which can include the Golden Circle, diving or snorkelling between two tectonic plates at Silfra, or perhaps joining a Northern Lights trip to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. Please ask us for more information on single and multi-day trips here in Iceland.

You can arrive into Reykjavik at any time today and will have a hotel night included as part of your trip (either an airport or city hotel, please ask us for details)

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your charter flight to the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk. This picturesque city of 17,000 is situated on a fjord with the Sermitsiaq mountain in the background. Depending on the final timing of this charter flight, you may have some time to explore the city or may be transferred directly to the port for embarkation.

As you make your way across the Davis Strait, your Expedition Team will offer a series of polar presentations that will set the stage for the adventures ahead. You will learn about the storied history of the Arctic, its fascinating wildlife, geology and ecology. Be sure to spend some time out on deck with your expedition team who will be keeping a lookout for seabirds soaring above your ship, as well as whales that pass through these waters.

The Inuktitut name for Baffin Island - the fifth-largest island in the world - is Qikiqtaaluk. It has been home to Inuit for thousands of years. The island’s English name commemorates William Baffin, who explored the region in the early 17th century while searching for the fabled Northwest Passage, long after it was inhabited by Inuit. Sailing along the island’s eastern coast, your final itinerary for these days will be dependent on weather and ice conditions. Your expedition team's favoured destinations include Qikiqtarjuaq and Sam Ford Fjord, where towering mountains, deep fjords, vibrant tundra, and Inuit settlements define the landscape.

The welcoming Inuit community of Qikiqtarjuaq - meaning “the big island” in Inuktitut - lies just north of the Arctic Circle on Broughton Island. Fondly known as “Qik” by locals, the hamlet offers sweeping views across the Davis Strait. Visitors may also have opportunities to support local Inuit artisans by purchasing handcrafted artwork, jewellery, and other crafts. Farther north, well within the Arctic Circle, Sam Ford Fjord stands out as one of Baffin Island’s most dramatic Arctic destinations. A traditional Inuit hunting area, the fjord is a striking study in contrasts, where sheer granite walls rise almost straight from the ocean, reaching heights of up to 457 metres (1,500 feet). If conditions allow, the region offers outstanding Zodiac cruising, sea kayaking, and opportunities to explore ashore. Arctic foxes may be spotted on land, while polar bears are sometimes seen during off-ship excursions. Cruising the fjord provides a powerful sense of scale: stretching approximately 110km (68 miles), Sam Ford Fjord narrows to less than 3km (2 miles) wide as it winds deeper inland.

Located at the northeastern tip of Baffin Island, Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) looks across Eclipse Sound to the glaciated peaks of Bylot Island, offering one of the most dramatic settings of any community in the Canadian Arctic. Mittimatalik provides a meaningful opportunity to connect with the people who have lived here for thousands of years, before the voyage turns northwest toward Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga). Among the Arctic’s richest marine habitats, Lancaster Sound’s ice-free waters attract whales, walruses, and seals in remarkable numbers each summer.

You will plan to explore by Zodiac, scanning for iconic wildlife - and, with luck, the elusive narwhal. Polar bear sightings are also possible. Nearby, Coburg Island’s soaring coastal cliffs, within the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area, support hundreds of thousands of nesting Brünnich’s guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, and black guillemots. At approximately 76° North off the east coast of Ellesmere Island, Cape Norton Shaw is likely the northernmost stop of the voyage. Here, multiple tidewater glaciers calve directly into iceberg-filled seas. If conditions allow, your expedition team will plan a combined helicopter and Zodiac operation to explore this rarely visited coastline by land and sea. If flying conditions are unsuitable, you may reroute to Grise Fjord and Craig Harbour, the site of an RCMP outpost established in 1922, closed in the 1930s, and controversially reopened at the outset of the Cold War. On Devon Island’s southern shore, the weathered remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment at Dundas Harbour quietly reflect Canada’s efforts to assert sovereignty in the High Arctic. The journey concludes in spectacular Croker Bay, where towering glaciated walls and calving ice deliver a sense of scale no photograph can fully convey.

As you push westward into the inner reaches of Lancaster Sound, the geography narrows and the sense of remoteness deepens. Rising from the confluence of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, the sheer limestone cliffs of Prince Leopold Island form one of the most significant seabird sanctuaries in the eastern Arctic. You can expect to see hundreds of thousands of birds wheeling above you as still waters stretch in every horizon, one of the defining sights of a High Arctic expedition.

At the southern tip of Somerset Island, Fort Ross marks the entrance to Bellot Strait, the narrow, current-swept channel separating Somerset Island from the Boothia Peninsula and forming a critical link in the Northwest Passage. Once a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, Fort Ross remains one of the most evocative reminders of a time when commerce, survival, and exploration converged at the top of the world. You will attempt to land at Beechey Island, a National Historic Site of Canada. Named for explorer Frederick William Beechey, the island is the final resting place of three members of Sir John Franklin’s 1845-46 Northwest Passage expedition, discovered in 1850 on a desolate raised beach. A shore visit to Radstock Bay may also be possible, home to one of the Arctic’s most impressive ancient Thule sites. Exploring the remains of subterranean houses - including whale bone supports - offers a powerful insight into how Paleo‑Inuit thrived in the Far North.

Carved deep into northern Baffin Island, Admiralty Inlet is one of the Arctic’s longest fjords: a silent, ice -ringed channel where whale blows often punctuate the stillness. Among the world’s most vital narwhal summering grounds, Zodiac cruising here may provide some of the expedition’s most unforgettable marine wildlife encounters. The Arctic Bay area has been inhabited by Inuit for over 5,000 years. With very few visitors, the community is typically quite excited to welcome a ship. Enjoy a gathering on the outskirts of town featuring Inuit arts, cultural activities and, possibly, tastings of local cuisine shared by elders and community members.

You will spend these days at sea, crossing Baffin Bay where the presence of ice can lead to opportunities for polar bear sightings as well as whales and seabirds. Your expedition team will offer a series of lectures and presentations over these days, or spend time out on deck enjoying your surroundings or make use of the ship's spa and library areas.

Arriving back in Greenland, you will plan to visit the community of Sisimiut, where you may enjoy locally led city tours, including a “Taste of Greenland” experience featuring samples of traditional foods. Back onboard, head to the deck to watch a traditional kayak demonstration on the water.

Today you will sail 50km (31 miles) above the Arctic Circle to reach Kangerlussuaq, which is Greenlandic for “the long fjord.” At the end of this 180km (112 mile) fjord is a settlement bearing the same name. The town is known for its natural beauty - and for previously being the home of the largest airport in Greenland. You will be ferried from ship to shore on one last Zodiac ride, then transferred to the airport where you will board your charter flight to Reykjavik. On arrival you will be transferred to your included hotel.

You can depart from Reykjavik at any time today, or opt to stay longer to explore this modern city or just outside on a series of day trips which can include the Golden Circle, diving or snorkelling between two tectonic plates at Silfra, or perhaps joining a Northern Lights trip to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. Please ask us for more information on single and multi-day trips here in Iceland.