Ship: Clipper Adventurer (AC)
Itinerary: Out of the Northwest Passage 2010
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Polar Bear looking for prey
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | Arrive Edmonton / Kugluktuk (Coppermine River) |
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| Day 2 : | Kangiryuar (Prince Albert Sound) |
| Day 3 : | Banks Island |
| Day 4 : | Prince of Wales Strait |
| Day 5 : | Winter Harbour, Melville Island |
| Day 6 : | Parry Channel |
| Day 7 : | Bathurst Island |
| Day 8 : | Beechey Island and Radstock Bay |
| Day 9 : | Dundas Harbour and Croker Bay, Devon Island |
| Day 10 : | Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord) |
| Day 11 : | Smith Sound and Cape Alexander |
| Day 12 : | Kap York |
| Day 13 : | Upernavik |
| Day 14 : | Karrat Fjord |
| Day 15 : | Ilulissat / Fly Toronto |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||||
| Cat 1 | Cat 2 | Cat 3 | Cat 4 | Cat 5 | Cat 6 | Cat 7 | Cat 8 | Cat 9 | Cat 10 | ||
| 15 | Aug 28, 2010 | $5,995 | $7,295 | $8,295 | $9,395 | $10,695 | $11,895 | $12,595 | $13,295 | $13,795 | $14,695 |
| $250 Environmental Discovery Fee Add $1766.60 per person for charter flights from Edmonton and back to Toronto |
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| Destinations : Arctic, Canada, Greenland |
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- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Day 1 : Arrive Edmonton / Kugluktuk (Coppermine River)
Arrive in Edmonton and join your charter flight which takes you to remote Kugluktuk. Situated on the famed Coppermine River, the hamlet of Kugluktuk is home to 1,200 residents. The proximity to the treeline make this area particularily rich in wildlife. Wolverines, moose, muskoxen, caribou, foxes, wolves and grizzly bears are all resident species. The people of Kugluktuk rely heavily on their traditional economy of hunting and fishing to feed and clothe their families for cultural and nutritional wellbeing. Originally named Coppermine, it was renamed Kugluktuk according to its Inuinnaqtun name meaning "place of moving waters", on January 1st, 1996. The Coppermine River itself is designated a Canadian Heritage River for the important role it played as an exploration and fur trade route. Copper deposits along the river attracted the first explorers to the area.
Day 2 : Kangiryuar (Prince Albert Sound)
Found on the west side of Victoria Island, The Hudson's Bay Company post at Prince Albert Sound was opened in 1923, moved to Walker Bay in 1928 and finally to Ulukhaktok (Holman) in 1939. The large bluff that overlooks Ulukhaktok was the source that provided the slate and copper used to make ulus and give the community its name. Ulukhaktok is also the location of the most northern golf course in the Americas and hosts the "Billy Joss Open Celebrity Golf Tournament" every summer. Over the years they have managed to attract players from the Edmonton Oilers and the Edmonton Eskimos, as well as golfers from other countries.
Day 3 : Banks Island
Home to two thirds of the world's population of Lesser Snow Geese, two federal Migratory Bird Sanctuaries were founded in 1961. The island is home to Barren-ground Caribou, polar bears, muskoxen, and birds such as robins and swallows. The first grizzly-polar bear hybrid found in the wild, was on Banks Island in April 2006 near Sachs Harbour. Muskoxen, with a population of about 40,000, are the most striking of the abundant wildlife on the island. It was named Banks Island in 1820 by Sir William Parry in honour of ventriloquist Sir Joseph Banks.
Day 4 : Prince of Wales Strait
Prince of Wales Strait is part of the Arctic Ocean, extending northeastward for 275 km from the Amundsen Gulf to Viscount Melville Sound and separating Banks and Victoria islands. It was discovered in 1850 by Robert McClure, the Irish explorer, who came within sight of the Viscount Melville Sound before heavy ice forced him to turn back. It was named after Albert Edward, then the Prince of Wales. It was not navigated until the RCMP patrol of Sgt Larsen in 1944. It has since become the preferred route of large vessels making the passage.
Day 5 : Winter Harbour, Melville Island
Melville Island was first visited by British explorer Sir William Parry in 1819. Not only did he discover the island, ice forced him to spend the winter in 1820 at what is now called 'Winter Harbour'. The island is named for Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, who was First Sea Lord at the time. Melville Island is one of two major breeding grounds for a small sea goose, the Western High Arctic Brant. DNA analysis and field observations suggest that these birds may be distinct from other brant stocks. Numbering only 4,000-8,000 birds, this is one of the rarest goose stocks in the world.
Day 6 : Parry Channel
Parry Channel is a sea passage running east to west through the arctic islands. Named for explorer William Edward Parry, it begins at Lancaster Sound, passes through Barrow Strait, leads into Viscount Melville Sound, finally reaching the Beaufort Sea through M'Clure Strait. Here we will make an expedition stop at Nilson Griffiths Point.
Day 7 : Bathurst Island
Good soil conditions and a rare wetland environment produce abundant vegetation here, making Bathurst a major calving area for the endangered Peary Caribou. Here we also find Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area, a migratory route for polar bears from March to November. The north half of the island is the proposed Tuktusiuqvialuk National Park. There is a long human history on the island, with evidence of Dorset and Thule habitation as early as 2,000 BC.
Day 8 : Beechey Island and Radstock Bay
In 1845 Sir John Franklin took his expedition of 129 men in two ships into the Wellington Channel. Not a soul returned from the fateful expedition. It was two years before search parties were launched. Aside from the bodies of three souls buried here, only relics were found as clues to the disappearance. Until recently, the three graves had left no indication as to the fate of the rest of the British party. Such is the interest in this story, the Canadian government recently announced a new initiative to locate the missing Franklin vessels.
Day 9 : Dundas Harbour and Croker Bay, Devon Island
The largest uninhabited island in the world supports significant concentrations of wildlife, including 26 species of seabirds and 11 species of marine mammals. At Dundas Harbour we find the lonely remains of an RCMP station dating from the 1920s. We have also spotted walrus, polar bear, muskox and caribou here. At nearby Croker Bay, we have a chance to Zodiac cruise though this scenic bay and marvel at icebergs, freshly calved from the glacier at the head of the bay.
Day 10 : Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord)
Aujuittuq means 'place that never thaws,' and at 1,150km above the Arctic Circle, it is Canada?s northernmost civilian community. With a population of 165, we will be welcomed into this peaceful and warm hamlet. Our activities will center around the school where we will have a chance to meet members of the community and learn about their way of life.
Day 11 : Smith Sound and Cape Alexander
We will spend a day exploring north into this fabled body of water that served as the main route for explorers and adventurers searching for the North Pole. Adolphus Greely, Sir George Nares and Elisha Kent Kane all travelled these waters with varying degrees of success. The Sound was named by William Baffin after Sir Thomas Smythe, promoter of voyages to find a Northwest Passage. Only 48-72km wide and 88km long, it is often packed with ice and provides favourable conditions for wildlife viewing. Arriving on the Greenland side of Smith Sound, we will have a chance to set foot on the westernmost tip of Greenland at Cape Alexander.
Day 12 : Kap York
The rugged coastal environment at Kap York is rich in wildlife and is part of an extensive network of traditional hunting grounds. During the spring and summer months the skies and cliffs are dotted with millions of birds, primarily auks and murres. This district boasts the largest seabird population in northwest Greenland. Whalers and explorers often entered these waters and later Admiral Robert Peary's family raised a monument in honour of his achievements on the cape. Sailors' and ships' logs record multiple climbs of the cape in order to survey the ice conditions in Qimusseriarsuaq. We will hike the tundra landscape and enjoy our own magnificent vistas.
Day 13 : Upernavik
Upernavik or "the spring place" is populated by 1,100 people most of whom make their living in the fishing industry this a few small fish processing plants line the harbor. Part of the population relies on polar bear hunting and sealing. Upernavik's location on the small island facing the open sea makes Upernavik unusual in comparison with other Greenlandic towns. Its location on the side of a hill provides a fantastic view of the Davis Strait. Of particular interest in the town is the cemetery. Here permanently frozen ground has forced the villagers to bury their dead in raised graves covered with rock and concrete. Just down the hill, near the Old Town Museum and church, you'll find the grave of Navarana Freuchen who died on the fifth Thule expedition with Knud Rasmussen.
Day 14 : Karrat Fjord
In Karrat Fjord we will cruise one of Greenland's most spectacular fjords. During ice breakup, narwhals and seals use the long leads created by high winds in this region to hunt the rich waters of the fjord. The cliffs within the fjord should give us good opportunities to see colonies of dovekies. Time spent on deck today should result in some good wildlife sightings, not to mention unbeatable photographic opportunities
Day 15 : Ilulissat / Fly Toronto
250 km north of the Arctic Circle we find the stunning coastal community of Ilulissat. Ilulissat translates literally into "iceberg", and there couldn't be a more fitting name. Our visit will include time in the colourful town and a chance to hike out to an elevated viewpoint where we can observe the great fields of ice. We will also cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The Icefjord is where we find the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, one of the most active and fastest moving in the world at 19m per day and calving more than 35 square kilometers of ice annually. The glacier has been the object of scientific attention for 250 years and, because of its relative ease of accessibility, has significantly added to the understanding of ice-cap glaciology, climate change and related geomorphic processes.
Here you will disembark and transfer to your charter flight which will arrive in Toronto. Transfer to your own return flights home.
Ship Description: Clipper Adventurer (AC)
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Adventurer
Adventurer is a handsome expedition vessel reminiscent of the days of the great ocean liners, with lots of varnished wood and brass. She sails on a wide variety of cruises — in Europe, the Canadian Arctic, the U.S., South America, and Antarctica.
Built in 1975 as the Alla Tarasova in the former Yugoslavia, the 122-passenger M/S Adventurer underwent a $13-million conversion in 1998 in Scandinavia. The new features include: 61 comfortable, all-outside cabins, with lower beds, private bathroom facilities, and individual temperature controls to offer the most comfortable Antarctica tours possible. The window-lined dining room seats all passengers at leisurely single seatings, where superb American and Continental cuisine is served by the friendly staff. There are two lounges — the Main Lounge and Bar on Promenade Deck, seating 130 passengers; and the Clipper Club, also on Promenade Deck, seating 45 passengers. There’s also a library/card room, a small workout room, a gift shop, and a hair salon.
Unique to the Adventurer is a spacious, covered promenade with a beautiful wooden deck (varnished Oregon pine) where passengers can view the seascapes during their Antarctica travels. There’s also plenty of open deck space on the Boat Deck and Sun Deck, while an observation platform located forward below the Bridge is ideal for wildlife viewing.
The Adventurer is an oceangoing vessel equipped with an ice-strengthened hull (A-1 ice class) ideally suited for cruises in such remote environments that Antarctica tours can offer, but supremely comfortable anywhere she sails. A fleet of Zodiac landing craft provides access to areas where no infrastructure exists. The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite navigation and communication equipment including telephone, fax, and e-mail.
The Captain and his officers maintain an open bridge to give passengers an opportunity to observe and ask questions. An experienced cruise staff, physician, and on board lecturers accompany all voyages to enhance the passengers’ enjoyment of the places visited.
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Cat 1 Quad Lower Forward, 2 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window, 150 sq. ft. |
Cat 2 Triple Lower Deck, 1 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window, 150 sq. ft. |
Cat 3Junior Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window, 120 sq. ft |
Cat 4 Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window, 125 sq. ft. |
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Cat 5 Main Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window, 155 sq. ft. |
Cat 6Deluxe Double, shower, midship, two lower berths, double window, 125 sq. ft. |
Cat 7Superior Double, two lower berths, shower, picture window, double window, 130 sq.ft. |
Cat 8 Junior Suite, two lower berths, bath or shower, sitting area, triple window, 160 sq. ft. |
Cat 9Suite, two lower beds, bath with shower, two double windows, mini-refrigerator, sitting area, 215 sq. ft. |
Cat 10 Owner’s Suite, two lower berths, shower/ bathtub, two double windows, mini-refrigerator and microwave, 268 sq ft. |
