Arctic Expedition: Baffin Island and Greenland

Orientation at 6:00 PM followed by Dinner at 7:00 PM. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will set out on foot to explore Canada's capital city. With a local expert, we will explore some of Ottawa's iconic landmarks, including Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal, and Byward Market. We’ll learn about the history, architecture, and culture of the area.

On your own.

We’ll have independent time to explore Canada’s capital city before meeting back at the hotel for a mandatory Adventure Canada Orientation. This Orientation is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

Aboard the charter flight to Qausuittuq (Resolute), NU.

Transfer to the airport via motorcoach for our charter flight to Resolute on board a 737 aircraft.

Aboard the charter flight.

Arrive in Resolute, NU. Qausuittuq, or “place with no dawn” is truly the land of the midnight sun — daylight persists constantly from about April 29 to August 13 each year. The community’s English name, Resolute Bay, honors the HMS Resolute, one of the ships in the Franklin search expedition commanded by Captain H.T. Austin. “Resolute” also describes locals who survived being relocated, in 1953, Inuit from Inukjuak, Quebec, and Mittimatalik by the Canadian government. We will take a zodiac to the ship. While on board, rotating members of the ship's resource staff will offer educational presentations on a variety of topics. Many are active researchers with expertise in areas such as history, paleontology, geology, and biology. At each expedition port of call, you will have a choice of field trips that will vary by location such as nature activities (minimal walking), short walks (about .5 - 1.5 miles), longer walks (2-3 miles) and photography sessions led by resource staff. Expedition ships — more rugged than traditional sailing vessels — are designed to venture into remote landscapes, enabling us to seek opportunities for getting up close to nature and wildlife. These educational adventures have flexible schedules. The itinerary may change daily based on weather, sailing conditions, and potential wildlife sightings. There may also be serendipitous occasions to experience something unexpected. The schedule that follows is tentative and a representative outline. Changes in the schedule, including ports of call, can be expected due to weather and other local conditions. Updates will be provided aboard ship. Thank you for your understanding.

Aboard ship, we’ll have a 3-course a la carte plated meal with meat, seafood, and vegetarian options, plus water, coffee, tea; other beverages available for purchase. The chefs try to incorporate local delicacies when possible.

At leisure. Rotating members of the ship’s staff will offer fun educational activities and presentations.

Aboard ship.

We’ll gather in the onboard meeting space for an illuminating lecture by an onboard expert that will expand on the program theme.

Aboard ship.

A field trip to Beechey Island led by a local expert will further enhance and enrich our day’s experience. In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England on an attempt to sail through the Northwest Passage for the first time. Not a soul returned from the fateful expedition. The three graves found at Beechey Island left no indication as to the fate of the rest of the British party. With the discovery of Franklin’s flagship, HMS Erebus in 2014, and Terror in 2016, the graves at Beechey Island and nearby ruins of Northumberland House are bound to be a haunting highlight.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

Today is the first of five days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), which is Canada’s newest National Marine Conservation Areas. We will spend these days exploring the ocean wilderness of Lancaster Sound via zodiac with our onboard expert. Large populations of marine mammals, including narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales transit and feed in this area. We’ll learn about this area’s fascinating marine life. There is a great selection of landing sites available. Weather, wildlife, and sea conditions will influence our choice of landing today. We’ll return to the ship for lunch.

Aboard ship.

We'll gather in the onboard meeting space for an illuminating lecture by an onboard expert that will expand on the program theme.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

We’ll set out on an expert-led walking field trip to Devon Island to observe and learn about its unique geology. Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island on earth comprising over fifty thousand square kilometers. The island's geology consists of reddish Precambrian gneiss and Paleozoic siltstones and shale; these, combined with its harsh climate, have led NASA to test its Mars rovers on Devon Island!

Aboard ship.

We’ll continue to explore Devon Island. Its finest features include massive landforms, shining glaciers, long-abandoned ruins, and undisturbed habitats for Arctic wildlife.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

Today we'll continue exploring Lancaster Sound via zodiac. We'll keep our eyes peeled for polar bears and other wildlife. Weather, wildlife, and sea conditions will influence our choice of landing today. We’ll return to the ship for lunch.

Aboard ship.

We'll gather in the onboard meeting space for an illuminating lecture by an onboard expert that will expand on the program theme.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

We will continue exploring Lancaster Sound. Once home to Inuit and their ancestors, we will visit archaeological sites with expert interpretation to learn about the human history of this now-abandoned island. We’ll also catch a glimpse of recent human history as we visit the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbor. We’ll return to the ship for lunch.

Aboard ship.

We’ll continue to explore Lancaster Sound. We’ll return to the ship with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

Today we'll continue exploring Lancaster Sound via zodiac. We'll keep our eyes peeled for polar bears and other wildlife. Weather, wildlife, and sea conditions will influence our choice of landing today. We’ll return to the ship for lunch.

Aboard ship.

We'll gather in the onboard meeting space for an illuminating lecture by an onboard expert that will expand on the program theme.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

We’ll gather in the onboard meeting space for an illuminating lecture by an onboard expert that will expand on the program theme.

Aboard ship.

We’ll journey to Mittimatalik. This bustling Arctic community is surrounded by one of the most beautiful landscapes in the eastern Arctic. We will have independent time to explore the town, including its excellent library and other facilities. Next, we will gather in the Community Hall for a cultural presentation from local citizens that will include traditional throat singing, drum dancing, and storytelling. We’ll return to the ship with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

While crossing Davis Strait towards Greenland, we'll relax and enjoy onboard lectures and opportunities to watch for wildlife from the ship's decks. Resource staff will be on deck for the duration, searching for wildlife and contextualizing the mighty landscape through which we travel.

Aboard ship.

Relax aboard the Ocean Endeavour as you enjoy onboard lectures from the knowledgeable resource staff.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

A field trip to explore Greenland’s west coast will further enhance and enrich our day’s experience, choose the activity you like best during an expedition landing. Whether you prefer hiking, walking, photography, or sitting contemplatively, you will have plenty to choose from. From mighty mountains to the tiniest tundra flowers, Greenland’s west coast offers a stunning array of wildlife.

Aboard ship.

We'll gather in the onboard meeting space for an illuminating lecture by an onboard expert that will expand on the program theme.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

Ilulissat translates literally into “iceberg”, and there couldn’t be a more fitting name for this remarkable place. With an onboard expert, we will sail in our fleet of Zodiacs at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The icefjord is the outlet of the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier and is one of the most active and fastest moving in the world at nineteen meters per day. Calving more than thirty-five square kilometers of ice annually, it creates the majority of the icebergs in the North Atlantic.

Aboard ship.

Free time in Illulissat. Explore the bustling town, with museums, cafes, craft shops, and a busy fishing harbor, or use this time to hike out to an elevated viewpoint to observe the icefjord a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

Today we will visit the small town of Sisimiut. People have lived in the area for 4,500 years. We will learn about the Saqqaq, Dorset, Thule, and modern Inuit cultures.

Aboard ship.

We’ll continue to explore Sisimiut, warmed by the West Greenland current, the waters around Sisimiut are free of sea ice, making the area an important fishing and shipping center as well as a habitat for marine mammals.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Enjoy evening activities aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Aboard ship.

Sondre Stromfjord is one of the longest fjords in the world and boasts 168 kilometers of superb scenery. We end our adventure by sailing up this dramatic fjord as the sun rises to greet us. Kangerlussuaq, the town at its eastern head, is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s only international flight hub. Here we will disembark the Ocean Endeavour and transfer to shore via Zodiac. We will then board our bus and ride to the airport for our return charter flight to Toronto.

Boxed lunches available prior to disembarkation.

In flight to Toronto.

Served onboard en route to Toronto.

Evening arrival to Toronto. We'll gather our baggage and check-in at the hotel. Relax for the rest of the evening after a full day of travel and prepare for check out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel.

This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!