Expedition Greenland, Newfoundland And St Lawrence River

The name Kangerlussuaq means "Big Fjord" in the local Kalaallisut language. The settlement of about 500 people is located in western Greenland on flat land at the head of a fjord with the same name. Kangerlussuaq is the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport and most of the economy here is dependent on the air transportation hub and tourism. The rugged lands around the settlement support terrestrial Arctic fauna including muskoxen, caribou, and Gyrfalcons.

What is life like in the Greenland Arctic and along Canada’s most famous river? Encounter the wonders of nature in the vast expanse – topped off with an adventure through the locks. The world’s largest island provides the prologue to your expedition. The HANSEATIC inspiration begins its explorer route in Sisimiut on the west coast of Greenland. Follow in the footsteps of the Saqqaq culture and visit the old town, which resembles a museum village. Hike from Ilulissat to the ice fjord, just a taste of what awaits in Disko Bay, where glittering sculptures drift slowly through the water – with you at the centre as you cruise and take a Zodiac ride. With its octagonal church and the museum, the settlement of Qeqertarsuaq, which was founded in 1773, tells stories of modern life and the former whaling centre on Disko Island. Your ship will chart a flexible course through the fjords of Greenland. The Zodiacs are put to good use here again. With a little luck, you might spot whales, surrounded by the colossal scenery.

Qassiarsuk has an interesting history – this is where Erik the Red founded Greenland’s first Viking settlement in around 985. In Unartoq, round off your experiences by bathing in the hot springs as you watch the icebergs drift by. The island is best known for its thermal springs. They are created by groundwater that is heated in a fissure in the earth and then flows back to the surface. The springs are described in records as early as the 14th century.

Away from the usual routes, Canada’s sparsely populated east coast is a real insider’s tip. Newfoundland is an open book of eventful history, ranging from the indigenous people and the Vikings to European explorers. Trace the Icelandic/Greenlandic settlers as you explore the excavations at L’Anse aux Meadows independently. Afterwards, you will travel to the remote settlement of Red Bay on the opposite side of Labrador's south coast. With only about 250 inhabitants, the local museum landscape is all the more astonishing and offers you interesting insights into the whaling era. Back on Newfoundland, the small town of Woody Point welcomes you, which is the starting point for various excursions into the hinterland. Hiking in Gros Morne National Park1 between the mountains and coastline also reveals an array of varied sights with table mountains, fjords and lakes.

Acclaimed for its unearthly landscape, Woody Point is probably as close to Mars as you will ever get in this lifetime. Situated on the west coast of the island, the Tablelands behind Woody Point in the Gros Morne National Park are composed of peridotite — like much of the surface of Mars — and  NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, plus others are studying this unique land form searching for insights into possible bacterial life on the red planet. The story of the Tablelands earned Gros Morne its World Heritage Site status from UNESCO in 2010, and the area remains a geological wonder, showcasing a time when the continents of Africa and North America collided. When the plates struck 485 million years ago, the peridotite was pushed to the surface, and remained above sea level. The rock lacks the nutrients to sustain plant life, thus giving the Tablelands a barren, isolated appearance. As the name suggests, the flat topped mountains dwarf the tiny village (population 281!), yet Woody Point has retained its character and the historic houses and buildings dating from 1870 have been beautifully maintained.

Havre-Saint-Pierre, a charming coastal village in the Canadian province of Quebec, is a gem for nature lovers. Located on the northern coast of the St Lawrence River, the village is an ideal starting point for excursions to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve1, known for its impressive limestone monoliths. Enjoy the peace and beauty of the area and admire the diversity of the wildlife both in the forests and on the water. With a little luck, you might spot caribou, whales or seals.

Havre St. Pierre is a tiny seaside port on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. It was settled in 1857 by Acadians from the Magdalen Island, and still today locals speak a dialect more similar to Acadian French than to Quebec French. It was originally called Saint-Pierre-de-la-Pointe-aux-Esquimaux until 1927, when it was officially shortened to Havre St Pierre. Until recently the local economy relied mainly on fishing and lumbering, today it is mainly a titanium ore-transhipment port. Nearby is one of the world’s most amazing natural phenomena – the Mingan Archipelago. They are the largest group of erosional monoliths in Canada, and were declared a Nation Park in 1984. These limestone monoliths have formed over thousands of years by wave action, strong winds and seasonal freezing and thawing. The result is a unique set of large limestone sculptures.

The world’s southernmost population of beluga whales lives in the waters off Tadoussac. Where the Saguenay Fjord joins the St Lawrence River, the village of Tadoussac, with its 800 inhabitants, welcomes you. One of the oldest places in Canada, it was settled by Europeans as early as the 17th century. Colourful houses with restaurants and small shops line the main street. Surrounded by green wooded hills, the pace of life here seems to be more relaxed. The proximity to expansive nature, rolling coastlines and the river makes it a popular starting point for outdoor activities1 of all kinds.

Sitting on the natural junction where the River Saguenay unloads into the massive Saint Lawrence, a visit to strategically located Tadoussac leaves you fantastically placed to explore some of Quebec's finest history, wildlife and scenery. Sail a little further up the Saguenay, and you’ll be confronted by the glorious Saguenay Fjord, as you cruise through verdant hills of dense forestry, and steep cliffs. Or, alternatively, voyage out onto the deep waters of the Saint Lawrence river, where you can spot the surface parting, as the world's largest animals - blue whales - slowly emerge from the depths to gulp in air. With a fantastic supply of krill to tempt the whales, you can even spot the various species that visit from Tadoussac’s shoreline – just make sure you brush up on your whale knowledge beforehand, at the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre.The town was the first trading post established by the French when they landed here, and it remains the oldest of the settlements still in existence. As the name suggests, Tadoussac's Old Chapel, has an impressive history, and is North America's oldest wooden chapel. You wouldn't necessarily know it from the outside, however, as the charming little church gleams tidily with a fresh lick of cherry red and white paint.

Untouched wilderness meets savoir vivre in Quebec. Enjoy the contrasts of the French roots and Canadian sense of freedom on a city walk with tea at Chateau Frontenac1. The 80 m (262 ft) high Montmorency Falls and Ile d’Orleans1 are also something to look forward to.

Québec City's alluring setting atop Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant) evokes a past of high adventure, military history, and exploration. This French-speaking capital city is the only walled city north of Mexico. Visitors come for the delicious and inventive cuisine, the remarkable historical continuity, and to share in the seasonal exuberance of the largest Francophone population outside France.The historic heart of this community is the Old City (Vieux-Québec), comprising the part of Upper Town (Haute-Ville) surrounded by walls and Lower Town (Basse-Ville), which spreads out at the base of the hill from Place Royale. Many sets of staircases and the popular funicular link the top of the hill with the bottom. Cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and elaborate cathedrals here are charming in all seasons. The Old City earned recognition as an official UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, thanks largely to city planners who managed to update and preserve the 400-year-old buildings and attractions without destroying what made them worth preserving. The most familiar icon of the city, Fairmont Château Frontenac, is set on the highest point in Upper Town, where it holds court over the entire city.Sitting proudly above the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers, the city's famous military fortification, La Citadelle, built in the early 19th century, remains the largest of its kind in North America. In summer, visitors should try to catch the Changing of the Guard, held every morning at 10 am; you can get much closer to the guards here than at Buckingham Palace in London.Enchanting as it is, the Old City is just a small part of the true Québec City experience. Think outside the walls and explore St-Roch, a downtown hot spot, which has artsy galleries, foodie haunts, and a bustling square. Cruise the Grande-Allée and avenue Cartier to find a livelier part of town dotted with nightclubs and fun eateries. Or while away the hours in St-Jean-Baptiste, a neighborhood with trendy shops and hipster hangouts.

If you’re looking to take things up a notch, a lock adventure on the St Lawrence River is just the ticket. The HANSEATIC inspiration will scale seven locks with a height difference of up to 15 m (49 ft). You can watch the thrilling manoeuvres from the spacious decks during the day.

After passing through the maze of the Thousand Islands and cruising on Lake Ontario, your adventure of rich contrasts comes to an end in Toronto – but your experiences will stay with you forever.

After passing through the maze of the Thousand Islands and cruising on Lake Ontario, your adventure of rich contrasts comes to an end in Toronto – but your experiences will stay with you forever.