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Ship:  Akademik Ioffe

Itinerary:  Iceland, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic: Icebergs, Islands and Aurora Borealis

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  View from the Deck

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Day 1 :	Overnight in a hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland
Day 2 :	Embarkation Day
Day 3 :	At Sea
Day 4 :	Tasiilaq
Day 5 :	Bernstorfs Isfjord
Day 6 :	Southern Tip of Greenland
Day 7 :	At Sea
Day 8 :	Sisimiut
Day 9 :	Ilulissat
Day 10 :	Uummannaq and Qilaqitsoq
Days 11-12 :	Baffin Bay
Day 13 :	Baffin Island
Day 14 :	Isabella Bay
Day 15 :	Pangnirtung
Day 16 :	Monumental Island
	Itinerary continues - click for full itinerary
Day 18 :	Ottawa
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Main Deck Triple	Main Deck Twin	Upper Deck Twin	Twin Private	Superior Twin	Peregrine Suite	Cook Suite
18	Aug 3, 2010	$6,290	$8,190	$8,890	$9,590	$10,290	$10,790	$11,690
		Charter Flight Iqaluit to Ottawa: $825 per person Optional kayaking: $495 per person
Destinations : Arctic, Canada, Greenland, Iceland Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching

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- GUARANTEED NO FUEL SURCHARGE FOR CRUISES FROM APR 2009- MAR 2010
-Single Travelers: OPTIONAL single supplement of 70% for Standard Twins. There is no single supplement for travelers willing to share.
- All of the Akademik Ioffe's departures include optional sea kayaking. Sea Kayaking Supplement is $695 per person for Antarctic voyages and $495 per person for Arctic voyages
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

Day 1 : Overnight in a hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland

The islands you will visit during the expedition range from the world’s largest – Greenland – to an island bubbling with geo-thermal activity - Iceland. There is a bathing pool heated by geo-thermal activity – heat generated by the Earth’s interior – in nearly every section of Reykjavik. Pack your bathing suit, so you can relax in the pool near the hotel where you will spend the night.

Day 2 : Embarkation Day

You’ll embark the ice-strengthened Adventure Ship, Akademik Ioffe, in the late afternoon. This is your last opportunity to purchase last minute necessities for quite some time. You are about to embark on an adventure to one of the most remote areas on the planet – the eastern coast of Greenland. Access to the region is possible only by air or sea.

Day 3 : At Sea

Day 4 : Tasiilaq

Your first shore landing will be on the island of Ammassalik in its principal community – Tasiilaq. With about 1,800 inhabitants, it is the largest community in East Greenland. We have a number of activities planned including a hike. The area has an excellent reputation as a hiking destination.

Day 5 : Bernstorfs Isfjord

South of Ammassalik are many fjords – deep, steep-walled, valleys along coastlines that have flooded with seawater. We will explore one with a name that translates to ice-fjord. In Greenland that indicates the excellent possibility that there is a glacier that calves icebergs at the head of the fjord. We will sail the fjord in search of newly minted glaciers and we’ll seek a place to go ashore to hike. Hiking is optional. If you would prefer to sit quietly and contemplate the beauty that surrounds you, please do.

Day 6 : Southern Tip of Greenland

This morning, we anticipate that the ship will round the southern tip of Greenland, one of the first regions to be inhabited by European settlers. We’ll go ashore at Narsaq Kujalliq, just west of Cape Farewell to explore an excavated farm from the Viking period known as Herjolfsnes. Narsaq is sufficiently far south that the August night sky may be dark enough to see the aurora borealis. The Expedition Team will stand watch to rouse you out of your warm berth should the northern lights perform while the ship is in the vicinity.

The island count reaches four as you go ashore in the afternoon. The community and the island bear the same name – Nanortalik. A hot spring in the area will tempt you to ease your tired legs after a tundra hike.

Day 7 : At Sea

Day 8 : Sisimiut

Kayak is an Inuit word that English has borrowed to describe a small vessel propelled by paddles that seats one or two people. When you are ashore in Sisimiut, you’ll 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. Keep an eye open for the town’s public swimming pool. It is built on stilts so the heated water won’t melt the permafrost!

Day 9 : Ilulissat

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. As you approach Ilulissat, have your camera ready to take photos of young icebergs at the start of their journey that will end somewhere off the coast of Newfoundland, years later. So significant is Ilulissat Fjord that UNESCO has designated the area a World Heritage Site. You’ll cruise the fjord in a Zodiac, hike the shoreline and explore the community of the same name located near the glacier.

Day 10 : Uummannaq and Qilaqitsoq

Life and death are the order of the day on what will be your final day in Greenland. At Qilaqitsoq, you’ll learn of the discovery in 1972, of human remains that were carbon dated to 1475. You’ll see the two graves that contained the mummified remains of six women and two children, the oldest preserved remains on the island. Why they died and why no men were found in the graves remain a mystery.

The living are celebrated in Uummannaq – the inhabitants claim their community is the “real” Greenland, cradled by mountains and glaciers with the sea at its feet.

Days 11-12 : Baffin Bay

Baffin Bay, an extension of the Arctic Ocean, is a sea not a bay. The massive body of water separates Canada from Greenland. As you sail from east to west, be on the alert for icebergs. Watch for seabirds gliding on the wing and whales in the water.

Day 13 : Baffin Island

Kannigiqtugaapik (Clyde River) is a hamlet situated on the shore of Patricia Bay, at the entrance of the 100km (62 miles) long fjord, Clyde Inlet. The Inuktitut name translates to Nice Little Inlet. The name is apt, as the flood plain on which the community is located is surrounded by snow capped mountains. Rock and ice climbers from all over the world visit Kannigiqtugaapik to test themselves. You will hike and enjoy a welcome from the 850 people who call Clyde River home.

Day 14 : Isabella Bay

National Wildlife Area (NWA) designation denotes a protected area that is a wildlife habitat of national significance. The Igaliqtuuq NWA in Isabella Bay was created to protect the bowhead or Greenland right whales that summer there. Orca or killer whales have been sighted in the vicinity hunting the bowheads, some of which have scars from previous encounters with orcas. A whale watch will be conducted while we are exploring the Bay.

Day 15 : Pangnirtung

Since 1973, the artists of the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts have been creating unique hand woven tapestries that are sold and exhibited around the world. So, in 2005, the citizens of this small town with a big reputation voted to keep the name Pangnirtung, which had become synonymous with excellence to international Art connoisseurs. You’ll visit the Centre to watch artisans at work, when the ship drops anchor in the harbor.

Day 16 : Monumental Island

This rocky, isolated island off the coast of Baffin Island is known as a habitat of walrus. You’ll explore the shoreline in Zodiacs. Walrus are shy mammals. You’ll witness our Expedition Team using the experience they have garnered after decades in the Arctic to create the best possible viewing opportunity for you.

Day 17 : Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada - Disembark. Fly Ottawa

Disembark at Iqaluit and fly to Ottawa

Day 18 : Ottawa

Depart for home after breakfast.

Ship Description: Akademik Ioffe

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Widely regarded as the finest expedition ship operating in Polar waters, the Akademik Ioffe offers a high level of comfort - in her appointment, stability and strength.

As a working scientific research vessel, the Akademik Ioffe forms the ideal platform from which to travel Antarctica and the Arctic. Including all the equipments needed for exploring, from Zodiac landing craft to kayaks and camping gear, even snowshoes.

The Akademik Ioffe is a well-equipped, ice-rated ship capable of carrying 110 passengers. In terms of stability and speed, she is 'state of the art' and, while not luxurious, she's very comfortable and kept in top condition.

All cabins have an outside view, with portholes or a window, and are comfortably furnished. Most of them have semi-private (one bathroom between two cabins) or private facilities. On-board facilities include a spacious top deck, where you can enjoy spectacular views, and a refreshing sauna and plunge pool - a great place to relax after your shore excursions during your travels. There is also a well-stocked library, a comfortable lounge and a friendly bar. Other facilities include an exercise room, gift shop and laundry.

Main Deck Triple Bunk beds and a sofa bed. Facilities are shared and there are 2 Portholes. There are 2 cabins in this category.	Main Deck Twin Bunk beds and shared facilities. Portholes. There are 18 cabins in this category.
Upper Deck Twin One lower berth and one sofa bed and semi-private facilities (one bathroom between two cabins). Windows. There are 12 cabins in this category.	Twin Private One lower berth, one sofa bed, and private facilities. Windows. There are 18 cabins in this category.
Superior Twin 2 lower berths, sofa and private facilities. Windows. There are 10 cabins in this category.	Peregrine Suite The Peregrine Suite is one of our fine premium cabins. 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, and private facilities. Windows. There are 5 cabins in this category.
Cook Suite The Cooke Suite is our finest premium cabin. 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, and private facilities. Windows. There is 1 cabin in this category.