Andrew Stewart Heart of the Arctic July 11 July 23, 2016 aboard the Ocean Endeavour
Heart of the Arctic July 11 July 23, 2016 aboard the Ocean Endeavour Devon Bayly-Jones INTRODUCTION This journey encompasses the heart of the Arctic from Greenland to Canada s newest territory, Nunavut, and finally, Nunavik in Northern Quebec. We ll travel just after the summer solstice, when the midnight sun will be at the height of it s power. The chances of seeing wildlife, including polar bears, walrus, and musk ox are excellent. Beginning in Kangerlussuaq, we begin by travelling along Greenland s western coast, stopping to view majestic fjords along the way. We will stop in Nuuk, Greenland s capital, and visit the famous Qilakitsoq mummies. Crossing Davis Strait we ll sail into Cumberland Sound and call at Pangnirtung, Nunavut. In Kimmirut, on southern Baffin Island, we ll find a variety of carvings the community has wrought throughout the long winter months; you can also enjoy Inuit games, fresh bannock, and local music. Crossing the Hudson Strait into Nunavik, we call in at the friendly town of Kangiqsujuaq where we tour the town and meet with local people. We ll visit Akpatok Island where the world s largest population of thick-billed murres nests above the island s polar bears. Heart of the Arctic is far and away our most artistically focussed itinerary. Kinngait (Cape Dorset) widely hailed as the Inuit art capital of the world has been continually active and producing ever-newer generations of artists. In 2008, Kinngait Studios celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. All throughout this itinerary we will be exposed to a wealth of creators and their creations. Steeped in a culture that is all its own, the heart of the Arctic will stay with you long after you return home. HIGHLIGHTS Cross the Arctic circle while sailing in the shadow of the second-longest fjord in Greenland Spot polar bears, walrus, marine mammals and bird colonies during our Zodiac cruise of the Hudson Strait Visit with world-renowned Inuit carvers in Kinngait Enjoy the sounds of talented throat-singers Marvel at the Arctic in summer bloom Join a helicopter excursion over the Greenland ice cap
PROPOSED ITINERARY Day 1: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland Day 2: West Greenland Day 3: Nuuk Day 4: At Sea Davis Strait Day 5: Pangnirtung Day 6 7: South Baffin Day 8: Kimmirut (Lake Harbour) Day 9: Kinngait (Cape Dorset) Day 10: Digges Island Day 11: Kangiqsujuaq Day 12: Akpatok Island Day 13: Kuujjuaq, QC DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland Sondre Stromfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world and boasts 168 kilometres of superb scenery! Kangerlussuaq, the town at its eastern mouth, means the big fjord. Although the fjord crosses the Arctic Circle, like the oceans here, it does not freeze. Locals can thank ocean currents for this, making this part of Greenland a centre for whaling and fishing all year. The United States built an air base at Kangerlussuaq in wwii due to the relatively mild weather and strategic proximity to Europe. Although the military base closed in 1992, the strip is now Greenland s main international and domestic airport. The area is distinguished by fantastic nature and rich biodiversity. There is nowhere else in Greenland where it is so easy to go so far into the interior and the world s largest ice cap can be reached in less than an hour. The landscape features enormous glacier formations, which have ploughed deep into the dramatic tundra. On the plain between the fjord and the inland ice you will find Greenland s biggest herds of musk ox, reindeer, and arctic foxes as well as the highest concentration of peregrine falcons in Greenland and more than 250 species of plants. Day 2: West Greenland There are a number of charming fishing villages along the west coast of Greenland depending on timing and sea conditions, we will call in at one of these communities to experience small town Greenlandic life, or we may navigate into the stunning fjords that line the coast. This is a day in the true spirit of expedition travel and we will avail ourselves of any and all opportunities that present themselves. Day 3: Nuuk Welcome to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland! Nuuk means the headland and is situated at the mouth of a gigantic fjord system. Established as the very first Greenlandic town in 1728, Nuuk remains the bustling centre of the country today. We have the chance to spot Humpback whales in the fjord, reindeer roaming the land, and birds soaring in the sky. The town itself is home to Greenland s University, a cathedral dating back to 1849 and Greenland s National Museum. We will visit some of the city s most important sites, before free time to explore on your own. Day 4: At Sea Davis Strait Our presentation series will kick into full
swing as we steam across the Davis Strait towards landfall in Canada. While out on deck, keep your eyes peeled for minke and humpback whales and other marine mammals, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage. Day 5: Pangnirtung Pangnirtung the place of the bull caribou in Inuktitut is located on a narrow coastal plain against a spectacular backdrop of high mountains and a winding river valley. Legend says a hunter named Atagooyuk gave the place its name well over one hundred years ago when caribou had not yet changed their patterns as a result of the incursions of man. Pangnirtung, or Pang as locals call it, is a small community bordered by snow-capped mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Pangnirtung has a long history of whaling in Cumberland Sound, where commercial whaling originated in 1820. In 1838 a Scottish whaler named William Penny, along with an Inuk travelling guide, rediscovered Cumberland Sound, which was rich in bowhead whales. By the late 1850 s, many Inuit left their camps to work at the whaling stations in Nuvuyen (located on the southern coast) and to Kekerten Island (located on the northern coast). In the mid 1860 s, Cumberland Sound was showing sign s of being fished out. By 1870 Nuvuyen was in ruins, hardly any more ships came to hunt whales and the Inuit returned to life in camps scattered throughout the sound. On April 1, 1973, Pangnirtung was incorporated as a hamlet. Pangnirtung is famed for its art and one of the great attractions is the Uqqurmiut Inuit Arts Centre. The Artist Association of the Centre welcomes visitors to see to the print and weave shops, where local artists create beautifully woven tapestries and prints. Artists from Pangnirtung are known around the world and are exhibited widely across Canada and beyond. The acclaimed Pang hats, colourfully patterned crocheted toques, can also be purchased at the centre s gift shop. Day 6 7: South Baffin We will spend two days exploring the southern coast of Baffin Island, the fifth largest island in the world. Our objective is to spend half the time out on the land hiking, exploring, and taking in the sights and the remainder cruising the shoreline in our fleet of Zodiacs. We will have to be adaptable to both weather conditions and the possibility of wildlife sightings, as our expeditions to Baffin have proven unpredictable in both respects. The island is home to a wide variety of life, including a notable bear population, and we will be on alert for these kings of the north. Our two days at Baffin will be exploratory in every sense, and we look forward to seeing what the island has to offer us. Day 8: Kimmirut (Lake Harbour) Located on the southern portion of Baffin Island, the scenic oceanside hamlet of Kimmirut is considered one of the most charming communities in the region. Kimmirut means the heel in Inuktitut, and refers to an outcrop of marble across the bay from the community that holds a striking resemblance to a human heel. Art has played a major role here and the newly renovated Dewey Soper Building is home to a gallery of outstanding works of art. Day 9: Kinngait (Cape Dorset) Along the northwest shore of Dorset Island, surrounded on one side by rocky hills and on the other, by Hudson Strait, lies the community that art built. Between 1950 and 1962, Kinngait (Cape Dorset) hosted a historic collaboration between James and Alma Houston and local Inuit the collaboration that launched Inuit art onto the world stage. 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. In the distance are the jagged outlines of islands, and the inlets of Baffin Island s southern coast. Like most other settlements in Nunavut, Kinngait is a modern community, with winding gravel roads, small wooden houses, schools, stores, hotels, a nursing station, government offices and churches. But it is their outstanding artists, printmakers, and carvers that have made Kinngait the Inuit art capital of the world. Day 10: Digges Island We will visit the great bird cliffs of Digges Island, located in Digges Sound. In season, these sheer rock faces, rising hundreds of feet into the air straight from the water, are home to great multitudes of thick-billed murres and a wide array of other seabirds. There are estimated to be a staggering 287,000 breeding pairs, approximately 3% of the global and almost 20% of the Canadian thick-billed murre population. On the other side of the island lies the ruin of an ancient Thule site. Ancestors of the present Inuit eked out a life on the shoreline and from the sea. The stone foundations of their meeting place and their dwellings can still be seen amongst the rocks and boulders along the shoreline, and the bones of whales, seals and walrus still lie where they were dropped so many years ago.
Day 11: Kangiqsujuaq (Wakeham Bay) Kangiqsujuaq, which means the large bay occupies an exceptional site, where the village is snuggled in the hollow of a splendid valley surrounded by majestic five-hundred-metre high rocky hills: a landscape of remarkable beauty. The bay takes its name from Captain William Wakeham who, in 1897, led an expedition to determine whether the Hudson Strait was safe for navigation. In a rocky pinching of the bay, known as the narrows, we will have an opportunity to examine the base of what were, 1.8 billion years ago, Himalayan-scale mountains. Day 12: Akpatok Island The uninhabited Akpatok Island features soaring bird cliffs and small rocky beaches. Indeed, the island is named for the akpat the thick-billed murres that live on the ledges of the limestone cliffs that surround it. Here we ll use our Zodiacs to scout the beaches in search of walrus and polar bears. Day 13: Kuujjuaq, QC Kuujjuaq lies approximately forty-eight kilometres upstream from Ungava Bay, and is the largest village in Nunavik, the Inuit homeland within Québec. The community is located on the western shore of the Koksoak River, and daily life is closely tied to its ebb and flow. The tidal action continually reshapes the landscape and imposes its rhythm upon the lives of Kuujjuaq s inhabitants. The boreal forest is present around Kuujjuaq and patches of black spruce and larch stand in marshy valleys. Kuujjuaq also witnesses annual migrations of the George River caribou herd that passes through the region throughout August and September. The first Europeans to settle in the region were Moravian missionaries who arrived in 1811, followed by the hbc in 1830. Like Iqaluit, Kuujjuaq was home to a US air base from 1942 and played a key role in Cold War Arctic monitoring. Today Kuujjuaq is a community that combines traditional Inuit culture with the conveniences of modern day life. In remote Arctic waterways, weather, sea, and ice conditions will determine daily progress. Heavy ice conditions are a possibility throughout this itinerary. Actual route may differ from the one proposed. CHARTER FLIGHTS Outbound: Toronto, ON to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland July 11, 2016 Early morning departure $1,328 usd per person inclusive of all taxes and fees Inbound: Kuujjuaq, QC to Ottawa, ON July 23, 2016 Early evening arrival $666.73 usd per person inclusive of all taxes and fees Round trip: $1,995 usd per person inclusive of taxes and fees Pre and post hotel nights in Toronto and Ottawa are available upon request. Overnight accommodation in Ottawa recommended. 2016 Berth Prices Date 2016 Days Cabin Class Categories Charter flights 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Heart of the Arctic July 11 July 23 13 $1,995 $3,995 $5,195 $6,595 $7,895 $9,095 $10,295 $11,495 $12,795 $14,095 $15,395 Discovery Fee $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 $250 ALL PRICES ARE IN US DOLLARS AND ARE CASH/CHEQUE DISCOUNTED. Additional costs associated with payments made by credit card.
DISCOVERY FEE Each area we visit has rich cultural experiences and wild treasures to offer. As guests, we have made a point to source and support local projects in the areas through which we travel. A contribution from each passenger, billed separately as the Discovery Fee, represents a portion of the money we donate to ensure the longevity and success of educational, environmental and cultural initiatives in these regions. Our Discovery Fee is $250 USD per person for all Shipboard Expeditions. PRICING Rates are in U.S. dollars, per person, per voyage based on double occupancy except for C1 and C2, which are quad and triple cabins, respectively. Discovery Fee and charter/commercial airfare are not included in the berth price. Single occupancy cabins are available in select cabins on Ocean Endeavour and National Geographic Islander. Please call for availability. CURRENCY Although we are a Canadian company, most of our operating costs are paid in U.S. dollars. For this reason all tour prices are in U.S. dollars. We will accept Canadian dollars at the current exchange rate, please call for details. We are not responsible for bank exchange rates on credit card transactions. TOUR FARES Published prices are based on exchange rates and tariffs in effect at the time of printing (February 2015) and are subject to change without notice. Once the deposit has been received changes will not be made to the base price. No refund will be given if costs are reduced. The company reserves the right to amend all or part of any tour price for any reason including, without limitation: increased fuel costs, airfares, airport charges or increases in ground operator service fees. If the price increase is more than 7% (except increases resulting from an increase in retail sales tax or Federal Goods and Services Tax or Harmonized Sales Tax) the customer has the right to cancel the contract and obtain a full refund. Tour fees quoted are based on group participation. Prices are cash/cheque discounted, and in U.S. dollars. 2016 CREDIT CARD PRICING IS AS FOLLOWS IN USD: Heart of the Arctic: C1 $4,155 C2 $5,403 C3 $6,859 C4 $8,211 C5 $9,459 C6 $10,707 C7 $11,955 C8 $13,307 C9 $14,659 C10 $16,011 PAYMENT POLICY A deposit of $1,000 usd per person is required upon booking to confirm participation. The balance of the payment is required 120 days prior to your departure date. The Company reserves the right to cancel reservations if payments are not received in time. Prices are cash/cheque discounted, if you wish to pay by credit card please refer to our credit card pricing. Please make cheques payable to: ADVENTURE CANADA. Please review our Cancellation & Refund Policy for a full outline of our cancellation terms. As a registered Ontario company, we are licensed to sell travel packages through the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. We are required to keep all customer deposits in Client Trust Accounts and may only use the funds once the trip has begun or to make a deposit to an operator on behalf of the client. Our Client Trust Accounts are reviewed by a CPA on an annual basis and regularly inspected by TICO auditors. WE ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY Family is important! To promote multi-generational travel, we are offering a 30% discount to travellers under 30 years of age. Please call us for details! SAILING SOLO? Single travellers not requiring private accommodation on shipboard programs can be matched with another single traveller at no extra charge. Single-occupancy cabins are also available at 1.5 times the regular cost. Please call us for pricing & availability. Mike Beedell WE LOVE BAGPIPERS! If you can play the bagpipes, bring them along and ask about our bagpiper s rebate!