Canadian Arctic And Northern Lights

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow the path of 16th-century whalers and 19th-century explorers
• Marvel at the glistening bergs, growlers and glaciers in the iceberg capital of the world
• Immerse yourself in Inuit culture and traditions as you wander their ancestral homelands
• Look up at towering cliffs crammed with seabirds while below narwhal swim gracefully
• Learn about the history of Viking exploration, and Dorset and Thule people from our experts on board

ITINERARY

Day 1 Kangerlussuaq
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen.

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Day 2 Day at sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Day 3 Ilulissat, Disko Bay
Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat is home to many sled-dogs.

Day 4 Qeqertarsuaq
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland's largest island, on its west coast, part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO-listed site for its icebergs. The Lyngemark Glacier rises above the town. The area’s hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic origin. The area is fertile and home to species not found elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move through floating icebergs.

Day 5 Sisimiut
The northernmost city in Greenland, just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport. Abandoned settlements lie between Sisimiut and the Thule district to the north. The area is home to humpback whales, walrus, and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.

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Day 6 Nuuk
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk has a thriving arts scene. Nuuk has a busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral, colourful wooden houses and avant-garde architecture. It also serves as the gateway to Inuit experiences and natural adventures on the fjords among the icy seas and spectacular mountains.

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Day 7 Day at sea
Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

Day 8 Iqaluit, NU
The native Inuit are an integral part of Iqaluit, a remote community at the head of Frobisher Bay. The bay provides insight into Inuit history and culture including dog-sledding on handmade qamutik sleds led by qimmiq - North America's oldest and rarest purebred canine. Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum displays Inuit artwork while Crystal II, an ancient Thule Inuit settlement, lies outside of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.

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Day 9 Lady Franklin Island, NU
Most known for its huge vertical cliffs of Archean rocks, reputedly the oldest stones in Canada, Lady Franklin Island is an uninhabited isle off Hall Peninsula on Baffin Island. Black guillemots, ptarmigan and gulls all nest in this ice-filled area of the Davis Strait. Lumbering walrus haul out to the south at Monumental Island, a well-known denning site for polar bears. Nearby, the Cumberland Sound is home to its own species of beluga whale.

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Day 10 Torngat Mountains National Park, NL
Staffed completely by Inuit, Torngat Mountains National Park takes its name from the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning place of spirits. Here, Inuit share their stories of spirits and traditions in their homeland, where for centuries they have been fishing and hunting polar bears and caribou. This magical land made up of dramatically spectacular mountains and deep fjords nudging up to iceberg-filled waters is only accessible by boat.

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Day 11 Hebron, NL
The remote Arctic outpost of Hebron, an Inuit community, provides insight into Inuit traditions and Arctic life. The Hebron National Historic Site showcases Arctic landscapes, including fjords, icebergs and wildlife, while shedding light on Inuit heritage through abandoned mission buildings. In 1959, during an Easter service, Moravian church officials abruptly closed the mission, relocating 58 families to other coastal Labrador towns.

Day 12 Day at sea
Today as you sail, you’ll bask in the endless comforts of your ship. From the deck, marvel at the dramatic sea views. Relax with a nurturing facial treatment or massage in the spa or delve into the ship’s learning resources. Or, simply take refuge in your cabin and enjoy the opportunity to rest.

Day 13 L'Anse Aux Meadows, NL
The 1,000-year-old Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows (Meadows Cove), on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, is the first and only authenticated Viking site in the Americas, believed to have been occupied by Leif Erikson. He was the first European to explore Canada's east coast in around 1021. Some of the 800 original Norse artefacts and eight sod houses are on view during a tour of the recreated village, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 14 Bonne Bay, NL
Bonne Bay, Newfoundland’s only true fjord, is part of Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Waterfalls and rocky pinnacles dot the cliffs, while majestic whales breach the surface of the fjord and playful dolphins frolic in the waves. Woody Point is a small town on its south side, known for its heritage wooden buildings, with the John William Roberts House, a testament to the town's shipbuilding past.

Day 15 Day at sea
Spend your day at sea enjoying your boutique 5-star ship. Treat yourself to a spa day, attend an expert-led onboard lecture or enjoy the ocean views from the deck or the comfort of our Observation Lounge.

Day 16 Halifax, NS
Founded as a naval base in 1749, Halifax’s seafaring history is well-grounded with the Canadian Museum of Immigration, where one million Europeans landed up until 1971, and the Noon Gun that has fired from the Citadel fortress since 1857. When the Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 pm, April 14, 1912, ships set sail from here. Many victims are buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, while the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic displays rescued artefacts.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Charter flights to the port of embarkation/ disembarkation (Longyearbyen, Ushuaia, Kangerlussuaq, Nuuk)
• Group return transfers from airport to cruise port and to the hotel (where included)
• One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel (Cruise Plus package only, exemptions apply)
• Your selected stateroom
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary hot & cold beverages, beer, wine & spirits any time throughout your cruise
• 24-hour room service
• Lecture programs by expedition team and guest speakers
• One selected shore excursion per port of call
• All expedition landings
• Entry level WI-FI (upgraded packages available)
• Gym, sauna, pool
• 24/7 self service laundry
• Waterproof backpack and refillable water bottle, yours to keep
• In polar regions: branded parka, yours to keep and use of rubber boot
• Onboard gratuities & port taxes

Day 1 Kangerlussuaq
Kayaking with Expedition Team
Optional

Day 5 Sisimiut
Panoramic Sisimiut & Sled-dogs
Included
01 h 30 m

• From the comfort of our vehicle, you'll be treated to a panoramic tour of the city's iconic buildings
• Drive to vantage point at the top of Sisimiut where an awe-inspiring view awaits
• Visit where the majority of the local sled-dogs are kept and get to know their fascinating lives

Historical Walk to the Tele Island
Optional
02 h 10 m

• From Tele Island, see Sisimiut’s famous landmark, Nasaasaq Mountain, soaring 785 meters into the sky
• Enjoy a walking tour of Sisimiut as you learn about the fascinating history if Inuit cultures that have used this location as a hunting grounds for many years
• Other points of interest you will pass on your visit include a burial ground, the local kayak club and the arts and crafts shop

Day 6 Nuuk
Town Walk with your Swan Hellenic Expedition Team
Included
01 h 00 m

• Visit the Capital of Greenland with its modern Scandinavian architecture as well as the more traditional coloured houses
• Discover the Greenland Museum which houses national treasures including the incredible set of 500 year old mummies that were frozen in an icy cave under stones for hundreds of years.
• Roam around the old harbour with and its landmark, the red-wooden church

Day 8 Iqaluit, NU
Inuit Culture and Natural beauty of Iqaluit
Included
04 h 30 m

• Gain an insight into the rich Inuit heritage, exploring the unique traditions and history of the indigenous people
• Discover Inuit culture at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, with Inuit artefacts and fine art, and local galleries with Inuit carvings that demonstrate the region's artistic significance
• Hike in the Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, overlooking the mouth of the river and offering unobstructed views over the ocean

Day 9 Lady Franklin Island, NU
Zodiac Tour, Hiking & Nature Walk with Swan Hellenic Expedition Team
Included
02 h 00 m

• Marvel at the colossal vertical cliffs of ancient Archean rocks, standing as Canada's oldest stones, shaped over 2.5 to 4 billion years
• Discover a bird enthusiast's paradise with nesting black guillemots, ptarmigans, and gulls
• Keep an eye out for walruses, polar bears unique beluga whales that thrive in the icy Davis Strait

Day 10 Torngat Mountains National Park, NL
Cruising & zodiac cruising with Your Swan Hellenic Expedition Team
Included
02 h 00 m

• Take in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Torngat Mountains, the ancestral lands of the Labrador Inuit
• Discover the significance of the park's name, "Tongait" - a place of spirits in Inuktitut - reflecting the deep connection between the land and its people
• Enjoy the awe-inspiring beauty of the fjords and iceberg-filled waters on a zodiac cruise with your knowledgeable Swan Hellenic Expedition Team (weather permitting)