Highlights

Discover the region of Thule, the mythical territory of the Far North, on an itinerary along the coastline of Baffin Bay. Between Greenland’s west coast with its mountains softened by glaciers to the Arctic mountain range’s steep slopes and Thule’s high Arctic tundra, you will sail through the polar region’s most spectacular landscapes.

Explore Baffin Bay and the High Arctic region of Thule, a mythical territory of the Far North and one of the most difficult to access.
Discover the landscapes (Arctic Cordillera, pack ice, drifting icebergs, brash ice, etc.) and the wildlife (opportunities to glimpse or observe polar bears, cetaceans, musk oxen, seabirds, etc.).
Activities: opportunities for dinghy outings and shore visits with your naturalist guides, kayaking, visits to traditional villages, encounters with the Inuit communities, etc.

Map/Itinerary

Please note: This itinerary is meant to serve as a general guide. Plans may change along the way, depending on weather, sea conditions, or choices made by the Expedition Leader and team to give you the safest and most rewarding experience.

Day 1Embarkation day - Paris/Kangerlussuaq

Flight Paris/Kangerlussuaq.
Approximate flight duration: 5 h
Meet & greet at the airport by a local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the pier for embarkation.

We suggest you to be at the check-in counter 2 hours before departure.
We highly recommend you arrive in Paris the day before this flight.

Day 2Sisimiut

During your cruise, we invite you to discover Sisimiut, founded in 1756 and the second largest town in Greenland. This small town is typical of Greenland, boasting bewitching panoramas: here and there, colourful stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town centre, it is home to a number of historic buildings, a small church and a museum which retraces the history of the Inuit people, as well as many craft shops. When your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.

Day 3Disko Bay

To the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, scattered with countless icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the region’s many humpback whales. The encounters with wild fauna and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile nature will be pure moments of wonder for you.

Day 4Paul-Émile Victor Base Camp, Eqi Glacier

“The most beautiful place in the Arctic” is how Paul-Émile Victor described Greenland, a land of great icebergs and of towering ice formations calved by the giant glaciers of the polar ice cap. The Eqi Glacier is one of the region’s most impressive sights. Here, the silence is broken only by the roaring and cracking of the ice. It is impossible to know if one is shivering from cold or from the sheer thrill of being here… Imagine the vast outline of a glacier, its translucent crystals glowing with an ice-blue fire in the sunlight. Paul-Émile Victor’s shelter cannot be overlooked; it was from here that the French Polar Expeditions’ anthropological and geographic explorations set off in the 1950s.

Day 5Akulleq

In the curve of Uummannaq Bay, opposite a narrow passage between two islands, you will discover the moonscape of the small desert island of Akulleq. The ochre yellow and orange of this mineral site look ablaze under the sunshine of the polar summer. From the island’s summit you will be able to contemplate a panoramic view of the bay’s magical landscape and its huge icebergs with surprising shapes.

Day 6Kullorsuaq

Well beyond the Arctic Circle, in the majestic landscapes of Greenland’s Northwest, you will find the village of Kullorsuaq, the last bastion of Greenland’s traditional hunters. Here is where you will find Greenland’s true character… Vast mineral expanses, sumptuous mountains, impressive glaciers and, above all, the local population which still lives off fishing and seal or bear hunting. Hospitality and respect for nature are essential elements in the daily lives of these men, who live an austere life. When we drop anchor in this remote part of the world, set off to discover these friendly people who are also talented craftsmen, deftly sewing the furs and skins of marine mammals. This will be a unique and authentic experience.

Day 7Savissivik

Some places in this world are so magical that their beauty cannot be described in words… Savissivik, a small Inuit village with less than a hundred inhabitants, is one such place. Rightly considered to be the biggest iceberg graveyard in Greenland, it is a stunning sight to behold. During your zodiac outing, you will sail between these icy giants. Once on land, you can hike to a viewpoint from which to enjoy breathtaking views over these icebergs, which come in an incredibly diverse range of shapes and colours. Photographers will love it. Savissivik Bay attracts many bears and is also known for having been the home of one of the world’s biggest meteorites, but the latter has now been moved to a museum in New York.

Day 8-9Thule Region

Thule, the region located to the northwest of Greenland, is the mythical name used to designate the Far North. The presence of many drifting icebergs calved from the glaciers of Greenland and sheets of ice floe can make sailing tricky – but spectacular – in this region. You will attempt to sail as far north as possible and if you are lucky enough you will perhaps observe one of the many polar bears that roam this favourable environment. You’ll perhaps visit traditional villages such as Dundas (“old Thule”) and Siorapaluk, Greenland’s northernmost native settlement, where you will probably be greeted by a joyous group of children, who are always happy to welcome visitors.

Day 10At sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 11Pond Inlet, Nunavut

On Baffin Island, located in northern Canada at the mouth of the famous NorthWest Passage, there is a small Inuit settlement at the very bounds of infinity. To get there, cross the Arctic Circle, the imaginary line that separates man from lands of mystery and wonder. It’s not so much the way of life that sets Pond Inlet’s inhabitants apart, so much as the setting. Snow-capped mountains, fjords and glaciers combine in a dazzling natural environment that fills space and expands time. Some discoveries change you forever: this is one of them.

Day 12Dundas Harbour, Nunavut

On the southern coast of Devon Island, Dundas Harbour, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police post in the early 20th century, keeps watch over the entrance to the Northwest Passage. This site has been frequented for centuries by the Inuit, who call it Talluruti – or “woman’s chin with tattoos on it” in Inuktitut – in reference to the lines of the landscape which are reminiscent of their traditional tattoos. Its hills, covered in taiga reflecting greens, browns and golds, are edged by the deep navy waters of a bay dotted with white and turquoise ice floe glistening in the sunlight.

Day 13-14Baffin Fjords exploration

In the Canadian Far North, the Baffin fjords region offers a unique natural spectacle. Immense cliffs rise over 1,000 metres, (3,300 feet) high, plunging into the crystal-clear water of Baffin Bay. Shaped over time, these spectacular geological formations reveal a wild and preserved landscape. When the ice melts, Nunavut becomes an exceptional place for observing Arctic fauna. Set off in search of the polar bears seeking out the freshness of the permafrost. On the surface of the water, discover the enchanting dance of the narwhals and orcas while, in the sky, Arctic fulmars and other seabird species glide around with striking elegance.

Day 15At sea

Day 16Evighedsfjorden

Your ship glides slowly along the water towards the west coast of Greenland, to enter Evighedsfjorden, just a few kilometres south of Kangerlussuaq. Evighedsfjorden means “the fjord of Eternity”, and for good reason: just when you think you’ve reached the end of this stretch of sea measuring over 100 kilometres in length, it seems to go on forever, as though to bring even more pleasure to those sailing in it. The spectacular scenery ranges from glaciers to tundra with an abundant flora, and jagged cliffs where numerous bird species have taken up residence. Take the time to observe the white-tailed eagles and the colonies of seagulls and black-legged kittiwakes flying overhead in the area.

Day 17Disembarkation Day - Kangerlussuaq/Paris

Disembarkation
Meet and greet at the port by a local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Kangerlussuaq/Paris.
Flight Kangerlussuaq/Paris.
Approximate flight duration: 5 h

We highly recommend you stay one night in Paris after this flight.

Inclusions/Exclusions

Inclusions

Flight Paris/Kangerlussuaq and Kangerlussuaq/Paris in economy class.
Transfers mentioned in the programme.
English-speaking assistance.
Full board from arrival to departure day
High-end gastronomy in all restaurants
All beverages in restaurants, bars, and minibars. All drinks are included² (a selection of champagnes, wines and spirits, beers, cocktails, water, soft drinks, hot beverages)
24-hour room service
Butler service for certain suites
Unlimited internet access onboard
Evening events, shows, and other entertainment
Access to the fitness area and hammam or sauna, depending on the ship
All port and security charges

²Excluding premium à la carte beverages

Exclusions

Personal expenses.
Any other service not mentioned in the programme.

Dates & Prices

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