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Dates & Prices | Special Offers | Contact Us
info@ice-tracks.com

Northwest Passage – In the Footsteps of Franklin

17 Days / 16 Nights
Availability : 30 Jul - 15 Aug 2023
Toronto, Canada
Toronto, Canda
OverviewMaps/ItineraryDates & PricesPhotosReviewsContact Us
Overview

Winding your way through the icy channels of the legendary Northwest Passage is history brought to life. On this compelling 17-day journey aboard our game-changing new vessel Ultramarine, passengers retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition, which left the shores of England in 1845 in search of the last unexplored section of the Northwest Passage—only to become permanently icebound. Its discovery more than a century and a half later was a much-celebrated moment in polar history.

Highlights
  • Explore colorful Greenlandic villages
  • Hike the endless Arctic backdrop and marvel at the vast, colorful tundra
  • Follow in the footsteps of Franklin’s legendary Arctic voyage
Map
Itinerary

Day 1Arrive in Toronto, Canada

Your Arctic expedition begins in Toronto. Explore this vibrant city on your own before spending the night enjoying the comfort and amenities of your designated hotel.

Day 2Fly to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and Embark

After breakfast, board your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, a small community nestled deep inside a 118 mile (190 km) long fjord. Enjoy your first Zodiac ride as you’re transferred from shore to ship. Out on deck, take in your new  surroundings before you set sail on your Arctic adventure.

Day 3Exploring West Greenland

Cruising around the remote regions of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic aboard Ultramarine, the newest ship in our fleet, you’ll navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that fascinated legendary explorers of long ago. Designed to give polar adventurers unprecedented access to the hardest to-reach places on the planet—and equipped with two onboard twin-engine helicopters for unparalleled access—this one-of-a-kind ship will take you beyond the familiar in polar  exploration. Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team will keep an eye toward immersing you in the best the Arctic has to offer at the top of the world. Locals call Maniitsoq the Venice of Greenland, as it’s situated in an archipelago intersected by natural canals. Soaring, snow-capped mountains surround the small, rocky town, whose name means “the uneven place.” Playful humpback whales spend summer in the waters around here.

The Greenlandic capital of Nuuk is a haven for history and culture lovers. See for yourself the unique and thriving culture of contemporary Greenland that mingles the ancient with the modern in surprising and wonderful ways. Stroll down to the waterfront to see the Hans Egede Church and Hans Egede statue, named for the missionary who established the settlement in 1728. Marvel at the famous remains of 500-year-old fully dressed mummies, discovered under a rock outcrop in 1972 by two brothers out hunting, at the Greenland National Museum. The Nuuk Art Museum and Katuaq Culture Centre are also worth visiting.

Day 4At Sea

Say goodbye to Greenland’s shores as you traverse the Davis Strait in pursuit of the Canadian Arctic. Presentations byon-board experts will prepare you for the adventures that lie ahead.

Day 5 to 15Exploring Canada's High Arctic

Visit towering fjords, historical sites and Inuit communities as you follow in the footsteps of famous explorers from long ago in the Canadian High Arctic.

The picturesque Inuit hamlet of Pangnirtung, nicknamed the Switzerland of the Arctic, is nestled beneath the jagged peaks of Mount Duval. An artist’s hub, Pang is renowned for its traditional Inuit arts and crafts, especially lithographs and intricate tapestries. At the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts & Crafts, watch craftspeople in the tapestry studio if they’re working and pick up a limited-edition print. A must for visitors, a colorful Pang hat will keep you warm during the remainder of your Arctic voyage. You might visit nearby Kekerten, an uninhabited island that was a major whaling destination in the 1800s.

At the southern tip of the Cumberland Sound, Cape Mercy was named by British explorer John Davis (yes, he of the Davis Strait), who sailed through it in 1585. This is the site of an old Distant Early Warning Line installation, dating back to the Cold War. These and many other stations were set up to detect Soviet bombers. It’s an ideal spot to go ashore for a hike.

As icebergs travel down the Davis Strait, they’re naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuaq (formerly known as Broughton Island). The icy waters here are sometimes also home to beluga and bowhead whales, and ring and harp seals. A hike up to the hilltop inuksuk rewards with spectacular views of the community. Inuksuks are stone figures or cairns that traditionally call attention to the location for navigation, abundant harvesting or spiritual significance.

Cruising further north along the mountainous east shore of Baffin Island, we’ll approach Isabella Bay, an important  summer and fall feeding area for the largest concentration of bowhead whales in Canada. Bowheads are a truly a remarkable arctic leviathan that research has revealed may live more than 200 years of age – the oldest mammal.

At the northern tip of Baffin Island, near the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage, is the Inuit hamlet of Pond Inlet, surrounded by scenic mountains, fjords, glaciers and icebergs. Many in the community still follow a nomadic lifestyle and hunt for their food.

At the top of Baffin Island sits 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 area around Lancaster Sound affords several hiking opportunities. At Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island, you’ll visit an abandoned beachside outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At nearby Croker Bay, cruise in a Zodiac (at a safe distance) along the face of an actively calving glacier. Your Expedition Team will also keep its eyes peeled for walrus that are known to visit the bay. Farther west, some of the best ancient Thule remains in the Arctic are at Radstock Bay, beside the soaring Caswell Towers.

At the western end of Devon Island, the windswept Beechey Island is steeped in history. Named after famed British explorer Frederick William Beechey, it’s a Canadian National Historic Site. You’ll visit the small marked graves of three crew members who died during Sir John Franklin’s tragic 1845–46 expedition. Over 150 years later, Roald Amundsen landed here in 1903, during the first successful voyage by ship through the Northwest Passage.

Sailing down the east coast of Somerset Island, you may be fortunate to spot beluga whales and if you’re very fortunate, narwhals, as they feed at Creswell Bay. An Important Bird Area, the bay also attracts such species as black-bellied plovers, king eiders and white-rumped sandpipers. You’ll also have time to explore Fort Ross, where the Hudson’s Bay Company established a now abandoned trading post in 1937. At the midpoint of the Bellot Strait, the narrow channel that separates Somerset Island from mainland North America, you’ll reach the northernmost area of the continental landmass, Zenith Point.

Day 16Disembark in Resolute, Canada & fly to Toronto

After disembarking in Resolute, you’ll be transferred to your charter flight to Toronto, where you’ll spend the night at your included hotel.

Day 17Depart Toronto

Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights, or spend the day exploring this fascinating city.

Dates & Prices*
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*MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDED:  PRICE USD $2,895 
  • One night’s pre-expedition airport hotel accommodation in Toronto
  • Group transfer from the Toronto hotel to the airport
  • Charter flight from Toronto to Resolute
  • Group transfer from the Resolute airport to the ship on embarkation day
  • Group transfer from the ship to the Kangerlussuaq airport on disembarkation day
  • Charter flight from Kangerlussuaq to Toronto
  • One night’s post-expedition airport hotel accommodation in Toronto
 
Price Includes
  • Mandatory Transfer Package
  • Leadership throughout your voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
  • All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.)
  • Beer and wine during dinner; and coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
  • A parka to keep
  • Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
  • Greenland voyages cruise passenger tax
Price Excludes
  • International airfare
  • Arrival and departure transfers, except where listed in the Mandatory Transfer Package
  • Passport and visa expenses
  • Canadian eTA required for non-Canadian or U.S. visa-exempt passengers
  • Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above
  • Meals ashore unless otherwise specified
  • Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
  • Excess-baggage fees on international flights
  • Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned
  • Laundry, bar and other personal charges unless specified
  • Phone and Internet charges
  • Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew
  • Additional overnight accommodation
  • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
Photos
Reviews
“

The Ice Tracks team were brilliant and never once did I feel abandoned.I was having the most wonderful holiday when I took a tumble on a shore excursion and broke my elbow.  So began another adventure! I had a call from Angie when I arrived home and am still receiving emails from Caro and Cris asking about my progress. Not the usual sort of testimonial this one, but important because if you’re a solo traveller wondering whether to take this kind of trip, you really couldn’t be in better hands. I most certainly will be back – it’s like being with family. People who care! I can’t thank them enough.

 
Jean Wood
Solo Traveller
“

This was an amazing journey, the team worked very hard to fulfill peoples expectations and were very professional. Expeditions to wild places to encounter traces of history and catch a glimpse of the animals and birds who inhabit this sometimes inhospitable habitat. Seeing the polar bears was really special. I met people with so many specialist interests and have made friends that I will definitely meet again.

Barbara Rae,  Royal Academician, is one of the country’s leading contemporary artists whose work has been shown both nationally  and internationally to outstanding success. Inspired by her namesake Arctic explorer John Rae, Barbara, one of the country’s leading contemporary artists, joined Ice Tracks on a Northwest Passage odyssey as research for further extraordinary works.

Barbara Rae
Solo Traveller
“

I have loved the Polar  journeys I have done with Ice Tracks and the North West Passage did not disappoint. Fantastic scenery , awe inspiring  history but the Arctic poppy stole my heart, along with the other little flowers battling with the inhospitable climate. The Polar bears were obviously a major highlight and it was definitely worth waiting all day for the wind to drop !! Caro your kindness and all the enthusiastic professionalism of the team are without fault. You are ALL truly the best.  I can`t thank you enough for keeping me so thrilled with everything  for two whole weeks!!!

Sarah Balmain
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