NORTHWEST PASSAGE Epic High Arctic EXPEDITION IN BRIEF The Trip Overview Experience highlights of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland Visit traditional Inuit and We don’t use the term “epic” lightly. On this 17-day voyage, journey back in time Greenlandic communities View arctic wildlife, such as to the height of Arctic exploration, navigating the waters and visiting the sites whales, walrus and muskoxen that were key to the discovery of the Northwest Passage—eyes peeled for polar Explore the Ilulissat Icefjord, a bears, walrus, muskoxen and more. This quintessential Arctic adventure stops at UNESCO World Heritage Site many traditional Greenland and Canadian communities, plus Ilulissat Icefjord, a Cruise in a Zodiac to get up UNESCO World Heritage Site. close to the spectacular scenery For trip inquiries, speak to our Polar Travel Advisers at 1.844.493.5045 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for more details or get a free quote here. Named after explorer Frederick William Itinerary Beechey, of the Royal Navy, Beechey Island is a Canadian National Historic Resolute Qaanaaq GREENLAND Site. It’s an important stop on our Beechey DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN OTTAWA, CANADA voyage, as this is the final resting place Island Cape York Your arctic expedition begins in Ottawa. Dundas of three members of Sir John Franklin’s Harbour Explore Canada’s capital city on your ill-fated 1845–46 expedition to find Upernavik own before spending the night at your the Northwest Passage. The graves, Ban Bay Uummannaq well-appointed hotel. on a remote windswept beach, were FROM OTTAWA Ilulissat DAY 2 | FLY TO RESOLUTE discovered in 1851 by the crew of British and American vessels searching for signs ARCTIC Kangerlussuaq This morning, board your charter flight CIRCLE Ban Island to Resolute. Upon arrival, you’ll have a of Franklin’s lost expedition. chance to walk around this small Arctic Radstock Bay is a popular research town before enjoying your first of many location for observing polar bears, Davis Strait TO Zodiac cruises as you’re transferred to which are often seen here in summer. OTTAWA your ship. An impressive Thule archaeological site provides insight into how these pre-Inuit NORTHWEST PASSAGE DAYS 3 TO 6 | EXPLORING Epic High Arctic CANADA’S HIGH ARCTIC people lived in the Far North. Flight to Reykjavik or Ottawa Remote and rich in history, the For almost 5,000 years, the hamlet of On the Ocean Adventurer Canadian High Arctic is as awe Arctic Bay and its surrounding area inspiring as it is informative. has been occupied by Inuit nomads For trip inquiries, speak to our Polar Travel Advisers at 1.844.493.5045 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for more details or get a free quote here. migrating from the west. Surrounded Canada’s most northern settlement, Grise DAY 9 | QAANAAQ, GREENLAND by soaring cliffs teeming with seabirds, Fjord will be your final shore visit in Your first stop in Greenland is Qaanaaq, this is a great spot to go ashore and learn the Canadian High Arctic. Now home formerly known as Thule, one of the about the Inuit community’s traditional to about 150 residents, the traditional, northernmost towns in the world (there’s way of life. mostly Inuit community was created a reason ancient philosophers called in 1953, when the federal government it Ultima Thule, or “edge of known The eastern end of Lancaster Sound resettled eight Inuit families from territory”). Here, local Inuit share their affords numerous hiking opportunities northern Quebec. Hunting and fishing culture and traditions, and the museum on Devon Island. We’ll anchor at Croker are a significant part of their way of life. sheds more light on what it’s like living Bay, where we’ll Zodiac cruise along the Visit the monument to the first Inuit near the top of the world. face of an active glacier. We’ll try to keep settlers, as well as the remnants of the a safe distance, but still hope to get close DAY 10 | AT SEA “old camp” where they lived. enough to appreciate the splendor of As we sail south along the west coast of calving ice. Walrus frequent the waters DAYS 7 AND 8 | EXPLORING Greenland, presentations by our on- here, so be sure to have your camera SMITH SOUND board experts will prepare you for the handy. A hike to a nearby archaeological Before saying goodbye to Canada, we’ll adventures that lie ahead. site is another possible excursion. At try to cruise as far north as possible, Dundas Harbour, trek along a beach to a exploring both sides of Smith Sound, the former Royal Canadian Mounted Police uninhabited passage between Ellesmere outpost. Encounters with muskoxen are Island and Greenland. possible here. For trip inquiries, speak to our Polar Travel Advisers at 1.844.493.5045 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for more details or get a free quote here. DAYS 11 TO 15 | EXPLORING Cruising farther south rewards with the oldest surviving church in Greenland, WEST GREENLAND spectacular views of Eqip Sermia. The so take time to wander through the With spectacular glaciers, soaring fjords jagged, blue-tinged glacier soaring out of historic area. You’ll also have a chance and vibrant communities, the west coast the crystal-clear water is one of the most to hike amongst the area’s surrounding of Greenland will leave you breathless. beautiful sights in Greenland, and we mountains. hope to Zodiac cruise along its massive Nuussuaq (formerly known as Situated in a scenic hollow on a small front from a safe distance. We may also Kraulshavn) is the only mainland island with no freshwater, the colorful go ashore to explore nearby. community in the Upernavik community of Itilleq, which has about Archipelago. Founded in 1923 as a trading Just south of Ilulissat, which means 130 inhabitants, is surrounded by sea, station, it’s one of the most traditional “iceberg” in Greenlandic, is the mountains and fjords. The final excursion hunting and fishing villages in Greenland. impressive Ilulissat Icefjord. The of your arctic adventure may be a hike It’s not surprising that the red-hued, UNESCO World Heritage Site is home around Itilleq Fjord. to Sermeq Kujalleq, the most productive heart-shaped mountain that rises up DAY 16 | DISEMBARK IN behind Uummannaq gave the traditional glacier in the northern hemisphere. As KANGERLUSSUAQ community its name (Uummannaq means we Zodiac cruise at the mouth of the Enjoy one more Zodiac ride to shore, “heart-like” in Greenlandic). As your fjord, you may be lucky to witness the where you’ll board your charter flight ship approaches the shore, you’ll want wonders of calving ice (listen to the loud back to Ottawa, Canada. Upon arrival to be on deck to take in the incredible roars as the ice breaks off ). Founded in in Ottawa, we will transfer you to your view of the twin peaks towering over the 1741, the traditional town, which boasts included hotel. vibrantly painted wooden houses dotting more sled dogs than people, is famous DAY 17 | DEPART OTTAWA, CANADA the rocky terrain below. The settlement in its own right: it was the birthplace Today, you can make your way home was established as a Danish colony in of explorer Knud Rasmussen, the first at your leisure or spend some time 1758 on the mainland, but it relocated to traverse the Northwest Passage by exploring this historic city. five years later because seal hunting was dogsled, in the early 1920s . Hikes here more plentiful here. lead out to stunning views of the young icebergs as as they float out the fjord to In the nearby archaeological site of Disko Bay. IMPORTANT REMINDER Qilaqitsoq (also known as Qilakitsoq), Embracing the unexpected is part you’ll visit the ruins of an ancient In Sisimiut, you’ll be treated to a of the legacy—and excitement—of settlement, where the remains of eight traditional kayaking demonstration. The expedition travel. When traveling fully dressed mummies were discovered kayak (an Inuit word that the English in extremely remote regions, your under a rock outcrop in 1972 by a pair borrowed) is Greenland’s national expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to of hunters. The famous Greenlandic symbol and can be traced back to the guide route and itinerary details. mummies, which date back to 1475 A.D., country’s first immigrants, who used This itinerary is a tentative outline are on view at the Greenland National vessels that resemble the narrow one- or of what you’ll experience on this two-person boats. The town has several Museum in Nuuk. voyage; please be aware that no 18th-century colonial buildings, including specific itinerary can be guaranteed. For trip inquiries, speak to our Polar Travel Advisers at 1.844.493.5045 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for more details or get a free quote here. Adventure Options Ready for a little adventure beyond your LECTURES ship? Each Quark Expeditions® voyage Daily chats with on-board experts— offers a variety of fun recreational activities our guides, scientists and other special to enhance your polar experience. guests—let passengers rub shoulders with historians, botanists, ornithologists, Included Activities zoologists, geologists and more. HIKING POLAR PLUNGE Led by experienced staff, exploring on foot This rite of passage, experienced just is the best way to appreciate the landscape, once per expedition, sees you safely communities and shorelines. jumping into icy ocean waters under the watchful eye of our staff—and just about every single camera lens on board! For trip inquiries, speak to our Polar Travel Advisers at 1.844.493.5045 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for more details or get a free quote here.