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.

In the magical Arctic light, the wonders of the west coast of Greenland will be illuminated north of the Arctic Circle. A vast and silent landscape, home to relics of a 4,500-year-old culture – seemingly almost forgotten by the world. In Sisimiut, where the remarkable old town seems like a museum village, the oldest settlement traces date back over 4,000 years, deep into the Saqqaq culture. Join your experts to hike over rocks and through tundra – to relics from the whaling era. A hike to Tele Island will also take you back thousands of years to see ancient ruins and graves, crowned by magnificent views of Sisimiut and the coast. Another eternal scene can be found in Ilulissat when the glacier calves in the world-famous ice fjord. On a hike with your experts, enjoy the glittering, shimmering ice masses, which appear in many different towering formations. An incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site. Disko Bay will provide even more memorable moments: ice sculptures in all manner of forms drift slowly through the vast area. Enjoy this natural spectacle from your front-row seat on deck – or take a Zodiac ride to the centre of the action. Illuminated by the sunlight, the ice gleams in a fascinating play of colours from white to azure blue. Qeqertarsuaq, founded on Disko Island in 1773, is particularly full of character – enter the small town through the whalebone gateway. Explore Godhavn – the “good harbour”, Qeqertarsuaq’s translation – with your experts or wander through the Arctic tundra to the Windy Valley. The chances of seeing whales are always very good in these waters. Your ship will chart a flexible course through the fjords of Greenland amid majestic mountain ranges and the deeply carved coastline. The Zodiacs will be used repeatedly. With a little luck, you might spot whales, surrounded by the colossal scenery.

Natural wonders lie ahead in the south coast of Greenland. The crew – experienced in polar voyages – react flexibly, always with the aim to offer you the greatest possible experience. The small settlement of Qassiarsuk will take you back around 1,000 years and bring the history of the Vikings to life. It was here that Eric the Red founded the Greenland’s first Viking settlement around the year 985. Ruined Norman walls and replicas of Thjodhild’s church and Erik’s long house bring the Norsemen back to life – as do the excursions by your on-board experts about the colonisation of Greenland. Immerse yourself in nature: the bath in the geothermal springs of Unartoq offers you a relaxing view of the bay as well as the rocky and hilly panorama. Perhaps sparkling icebergs will add the spectacular icing on the cake as you savour the moment with all your senses.

Remote locations invite you to go hiking. Rivers rush through the landscape like lifelines. The home of moose, wolves and caribou. The coast is also home to seals and whales: Newfoundland and Labrador, which until a few years ago could only be reached by seaplane or dog sled. Trace the Icelandic/Greenlandic settlers as you explore the excavations at L’Anse aux Meadows independently. The remains of a large Viking settlement were discovered here in the 1970s. The archaeological site at the northernmost tip of Newfoundland is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an open-air museum of sorts, with a Viking boat, a chieftain’s house, a church and a fairground. Reconstructed peat houses illustrate life around the year AD 1,000. The fishing village of Red Bay seems to have been forgotten by the world. The sheltered natural harbour on the coast of Labrador was once a centre of Basque whaling. It is not known why whaling stopped here. The most likely explanation is that the site was abandoned after the whales were depleted by over-hunting. Today, a museum provides fascinating insights. Off to the heart of the Gros Morne National Park: surrounded by fjords, bays, lakes, plateaus and mountain valleys, the small town of Woody Point is the perfect starting point for your outdoor activities* in the wilderness. Idyllically situated on the shore, the buildings from the early days of the 19th century, some of which are historic, tell you about the heritage of fishermen and loggers. With around 280 inhabitants, there are hardly more people living here than there are guests on your expedition ship.

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.

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 activities* 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.

Jacques Cartier first set foot in the area around Saguenay in 1535. The explorer was amazed by the vastness of the region and named it “Kingdom”. The reference has stuck, and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean never misses an opportunity to remind its visitors of this with a variety of cultural and historical activities. It was only in 2002 that the present-day city of Saguenay was officially created by merging the surrounding small towns and communities. In one of the largest side branches of the St Lawrence River, the Saguenay Fjord, nature is particularly vibrant and beautiful. Keep an eye out for whales. With a little luck, you can see belugas as you cruise. These whales can be found here year-round hunting for fish and plankton. The open deck areas and the deck tour at the bow are the best places to observe them. The mighty mountain landscapes frame the scenery and make the passage an unforgettable experience.

On your approach along the impressive the St Lawrence River, an iconic structure already provides a hint of Quebec’s French flair: the Chateau Frontenac, a hotel in the style of a Norman castle, sits majestically high above the city. Take a fascinating journey of discovery through the picturesque old town: wander down the narrow, cobbled lanes, past traditional French architecture, charming boutiques and bistros. The ensemble is enclosed by a centuries-old city wall, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. In addition to the slower pace of life, Quebec is characterised by a vibrant cultural scene in which art galleries, theatres and street artists come together.

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.

A highway of water: the St Lawrence River is a transport route, lifeline and the “home of whales” in North America. It connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. During your extraordinary passage, the ship will have to negotiate seven locks with a difference in height of up to 15 m (49 ft). Exciting manoeuvres that you can experience directly during the day: since your ship is built for expeditions and direct encounters with nature, you can use the many open decks to observe the lock passages. The Observation Lounge on Deck 8 also offers you a beautiful view of the action ahead. With your lock adventure on the St Lawrence River, you will experience a nautical feat that only a few ships can accomplish.

Where the St Lawrence River creates the border between the United States and Canada, your small expedition ship will pass through a photogenic labyrinth of skerries. Cruising through the Thousand Islands offers highly diverse island contrasts. In fact, there are not just 1,000, but more than 1,800 islands. Each island is different: some are covered in green forests, some have an English castle or colourful cottages – and the best views of them can be enjoyed from the many open deck areas.Whether it’s a drinking water reservoir, a recreational area or a rare ecosystem, experiencing Lake Ontario makes you aware of its diversity. The eastern part is lined with dunes and many nesting sites for coastal and migratory birds. The western side of the lake is characterised by urban cities like Toronto. The southern side is particularly fertile, with fruit-growing areas and vineyards.

Where the St Lawrence River creates the border between the United States and Canada, your small expedition ship will pass through a photogenic labyrinth of skerries. Cruising through the Thousand Islands offers highly diverse island contrasts. In fact, there are not just 1,000, but more than 1,800 islands. Each island is different: some are covered in green forests, some have an English castle or colourful cottages – and the best views of them can be enjoyed from the many open deck areas.Whether it’s a drinking water reservoir, a recreational area or a rare ecosystem, experiencing Lake Ontario makes you aware of its diversity. The eastern part is lined with dunes and many nesting sites for coastal and migratory birds. The western side of the lake is characterised by urban cities like Toronto. The southern side is particularly fertile, with fruit-growing areas and vineyards.