Best of the Canadian High Arctic With special guest Chris Hadfield Departs 22 August 2016 - FROM AU$32,995 Book by 10Mar16 & SAVE $10,285* Includes All Flights From quiet coastal towns to authentic Inuit communities, this voyage is ideal for those seeking an in-depth expedition of the Arctic. Don t miss out on this 18-day journey of lifetime onboard this legendary vessel. Includes international and charter flights. Joined by special guest Colonel Chris Hadfield, ex commander of the international space station plus a select band of intrepid explorers including Chimu Adventures Co-Founder Greg Carter. This trip includes: Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on board All beverages on board, including a selection of house wines, beer and spirits All shore landings per the daily program Group scheduled helicopter flightseeing and excursions All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program All luggage handling aboard ship Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$100,000 per person Includes flights to Ottowa from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide. Plus Charter flights to the Arctic.
ITINERARY Explore the Canadian Arctic on this 18-day voyage Day 1 Depart from SYD,MEL,BNE,ADL Arrive Ottawa, Canada Departing from SYD, MEL, BNE or ADL, we arrive in Ottowa where your arctic adventure begins a little further south, with an overnight stay in Canada s capital city. Stroll along the charming Rideau Canal, discover the majestic Canadian Parliament buildings, and explore the markets, world-class museums and shops on offer. Plan to arrive and make your way to the hotel in time for our pre-departure briefi ng at about 6pm. Day 2 Embark in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland After a morning charter fl ight to Kangerlussuaq, you ll be transferred to the ship by Zodiac. Kangerlussuaq is a former U.S. military base and serves as the international gateway for the majority of travel to and from Greenland. Enjoy time out on deck taking in your new surroundings before setting sail on your arctic expedition. Day 3 Sisimiut Kayak is an Inuit word the English language has borrowed to describe a small vessel propelled by paddles that seats one or two people. When ashore in Sisimiut, travelers will watch a demonstration of traditional kayaking. There will be time to explore the town, where 18th century buildings from Greenland s colonial period still stand! Day 4 Ilulisaat Ilulissat Kangerlua is Greenlandic for The Iceberg Fjord. The glacier at the head of the fjord is the most productive in the Northern Hemisphere. The icebergs it calves float down the fjord to enter Baffin Bay. Their journey will end years later somewhere off the coast of Newfoundland. So significant is Ilulissat Fjord that UNESCO has designated the area a World Heritage Site. We ll take you on a Zodiac cruise near the mouth of the fjord and later visit the community and hike to a spot inside the fiord to watch the massive bergs lined up before entering Baffin Bay. Day 5 Uummannaq You ll want to be out on deck regardless of the time of day as the ship approaches Uummannaq. The vista is simply breathtaking. The heart-shaped mountain that gave the town its name dominates the view. Uummannaq was founded as a Danish colony in 1758 on the Nuussuaq mainland, but in 1763 it was moved to the nearby island, as seal hunting was more plentiful there. On your walk through the town, you ll visit the historic oil warehouse built in 1860. Look for the peat hut, behind the warehouse, which was still in use until a few years ago. Day 6 Upernavik The region of Upernavik is almost the size of Great Britain. The town of the same name was founded in 1772, but the history of human habitation in the region is longer. In Upernavik you will visit the northernmost open-air museum with well-preserved buildings dating back to colonial days. Unique fauna is another compelling reason to visit the Upernavik area, where the world s largest bird cliff, Apparsuit, is located.
Day 7 Cape York Today you ll hear stories of the famous Cape York Meteorite, and learn about the place other meteorites have had in Cape York s history. If conditions permit, we`ll take the helicopters and fly to the Robert Peary monument at the top of Cape York and experience a very impressive view. Day 8 Qannaaq At Qaanaaq, founded in 1953, you will visit the northernmost municipality in the world, and learn about the culture of the people of Northern Greenland. One of the highlights of the museum is a massive chunk of meteorite. Day 9 Cobourg Island and Grise Fjord, Nunavut, Canada Murres and fulmars will soar overhead as you cruise in Zodiacs along the base of high cliffs at Cobourg Island. Thousands of seabirds nest in Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area, established to protect the wildlife of Lady Ann Strait along the island s southern shore. Be sure to carry your camera and binoculars! The only community on Ellesmere Island is Grise Fjord. The citizens of Aujuittuq the place that never thaws will entertain and educate you with cultural demonstrations are based on 4,000 years of tradition. The tiny hamlet, the most northerly community in Canada, has only 140 residents slightly more than one resident per guest aboard our icebreaker. Day 10 Hell Gate and Eureka Sound From there, the ship navigates Hell Gate, a narrow passage transited successfully by only a handful of passenger vessels. Our next stop is Eureka Sound. Helicopter flights take us over an ancient petrified forest on Ellesmere Island s western coast. Days 11 and 12 Tanquary Fiord National Park and Chapman Glacier The epic beauty that is Tanquary Fjord encompasses sweeping mountain valleys under huge arctic skies. Luminous glaciers cascade down to clear blue waters. Twenty-four hours of daylight provide ample opportunity to take photos in Quttinirpaaq National Park on Ellesmere Island. Day 13 Eureka Weather Station and Axel Heiberg Island Eureka has been called the Garden Spot of the Arctic due to an abundance of flora and fauna found in the area, more so than anywhere else in the High Arctic. The Weather Station consists of Fort Eureka (for military personnel), the Environment Canada Weather Station, and the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL), formerly the Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Observatory (AStrO).
Day 14 Axel Heiberg Island, Norwegian Bay and Belcher Channel At Axel Heiberg, you ll learn about its unusual fossil forests. At the Norwegian Bay and Belcher Channel, there are many wonderful and exciting sights. However, the experience of watching the 24,000-horsepower Kapitan Khlebnikov battle its way through some of the toughest ice in the world may be one of the most memorable. We then head south through Penny Strait to Queen s Channel, with plans to explore McDougall Sound, on the alert for walrus and polar bears. Day 15 Penny Strait, Queen s Channel and Crozier Strait We ll traverse the natural waterways of Penny Strait, Queen s Channel and the Crozier Strait. Expect to see copious birdlife above, and magnificent views ahead. Day 16 Beechey Island Just offshore the western end of Devon Island is Beechey Island. There, on a stony beach, stand three grave markers; solemn reminders of the lives lost during Sir John Franklin s search for the Northwest Passage. Upon approach to Beechey Island, we will be treated to presentations about Franklin and his expedition. Day 17 Disembark in Resolute, Nunavut Bid the land of the midnight sun adieu. You will return by afternoon charter flight to the world of night and day in Ottawa, where you will be transferred to the hotel and sleep through your first full night of darkness in two weeks. Day 18 Depart Ottawa After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our trip back to Australia.
SHIP INFORMATION Enjoy the breathtaking Arctic scenery aboard Kapitan Khlebnikov The Kapitan Khlebnikov is a polar-class icebreaker combing power and technology with comfort. No passenger ship has transited the Northwest Passage more often. Witness the power of Kapitan Khlebnikov as it crushes through pack ice. The powerhouse icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov (pronounced KLEB-nik-off) has accessed some of the world s most impenetrable and ice-choked waters since 1992. In 1997, it made history by being the first ship to ever circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers. Now, on this in-depth expedition, you ll have the chance to witness Khlebnikov s power and might as you travel to some of the most remote landscapes on the planet. The Kapitan Khlebnikov: Has 51 cabins and suites All cabins featuring private facilities and large windows All cabins come equipped with a desk, hair dryer, robes and large closets All suites have sitting room separated from the bedroom, TV and DVD player Passenger elevator Heated indoor plunge pool Sauna Polar Library Clinic with licensed doctor Twin share From AU$32,995 - Save up to AU$10,285 per person including flights Ex Sydney to Ottowa with Air Canada. Spaces selling fast, don t miss out on this trip of a lifetime - Contact us today!