EPIC 80ºNORTH
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23 DAYS
There is something new and interesting to see each day as you explore the remote areas of Greenland and Canadian High Arctic. On this 24 day trip expect to see polar bears in their natural habitat, sea birds, enormous glaciers, enchanting fjords, beautiful landscapes and bays choked with icebergs.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
| Day 1 | Reykjavik, Iceland | Explore Iceland’s capital city. |
| Day 2 | Kangerlussuaq, Greenland | Fly from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to board the ship. |
| Day 3 | Greenland’s West Coast & Sisimiut | Disembark the ship in Longyearbyen |
| Day 4-6 | Baffin Island | Hiking in Qikiqtarjuaq to Coronation Fjord, Coronation Glacier, Niaqurnak Point, Isabella Bay |
| Day 7-9 | Canadian Arctic | Ringed seals, arctic foxes, walruses, polar bears, beluga and bowhead whales |
| Day 10 | Devon Island | Northwest Passage, Croker Bay, Philpots Island, icebergs |
| Day 11-12 | Ellesmere Island | Polar Bears, Smith Bay, Bachanan Bay, Alexandra Fjord, Skraeling Island |
| Day 13-14 | Further North | Explore to 80ºN |
| Day 15-18 | Northwest Greenland | Remote community of Etah, glaciers, fjords and inlets |
| Day 19 | Uummannaq | mummies dating back to 1475 |
| Day 20 | Disko Bay & Ilulissat | Icebergs in Disko Bay, Jakobshavn Glacier, archaeological site at Sermermiut |
| Day 21 | Greenland’s West Coast | Sondre Stromfjord |
| Day 22 | Kangerlussuaq | Disembark in Kangerlussuaq, flight back to Reykjavik where you will stay overnight. |
| Day 23 | Reykjavik | Guided tour, Blue Lagoon’s thermal baths |
Day 1 Reykjavik, Iceland
Overview:
Your journey starts in Reykjavik, Iceland. Check into the hotel and spend the day exploring the old town, including Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral. Or choose to explore the Blue Lagoon and soak in the geothermal waters or you can do a tour of the golden circle which visits Strokkur geyser which shoots water up approx 10 meters every few seconds and Thingvellir National Park, where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
Ship
National Geographic Explorer
National Geographic Explorer was completely redesigned and rebuilt prior to being relaunched in 2008. The ship is equipped with an ice-strengthened hull and advanced navigation equipment making it ideal for Antarctic expeditions, and offers a well-appointed interior with vast expanses of glass for an unprecedented connection to the regions explored. The Explorer accommodates guests in 81 spacious outside cabins, most with feature windows and some with balconies. Public areas include a lounge and bar, a spa, fitness centre and sauna, and a choice of dining options that offer regionally inspired cuisine.
The ship is outfitted with the latest equipment for exploration – kayaks and a fleet of Zodiac landing craft, as well as hydrophones, HD cameras, and sophisticated video equipment that allows access to the underwater world.
Day 2-3 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland’s West Coast & Sisimiut
Overview:
Cruise through deep fjords and past glaciers fed by the ice cap. As you trace the coastline keep an eye out for humpback and minke whales. Stop at Sisimiut, a former whaling port, and visit the museum and wander through the 18th century wooden buildings.
Day 4-6 Baffin Island
Overview:
The crew will use their years of experience to navigate the shores of Baffin Island. Here you will have the opportunity to cruise the coastline in search of walrus and other wildlife or step ashore in Qikiqtarjuaq and hike through the tundra to Coronation Fjord where cliffs soar around the Coronation Glacier. Stop at Niaqurnak Point a former Inuit camp where glaciers extend to the water’s edge.
Day 7-14 Exploring the Canadian Arctic, Devon Island, Ellesmere Island, 80ºN
Overview:
Carved by Ice Age glaciers, Lancaster Sound is the eastern gateway to the Arctic Archipelago. Explorers from Europe such as William Baffin ventured here in the 15th century to search for the Northwest Passage. The sound has been an Inuit hunting and fishing location for hundreds of years. Here you will search for ringed seals, arctic foxes, walruses, and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales. You may even see the elusive narwhal, an arctic whale known for the long, spiralling tooth that projects up to ten feet from its upper jaw.
Visit Ellesmere Island and Devon Island. You will see vairous sea birds and incredible scenery. Then continue on to the rarely visited 80ºNorth.
Day 15-18 Exploring Northwest Greenland
Overview:
In Uummannaq visit a collection of mummies dating back to 1475. Sail into Disko Bay which is filled with icebergs. The closer you get to Ilulissat the bigger the icebergs become. Take this opportunity to board one of the Zodiacs and sail through the icebergs seeing the different colours and patterns up close.
Explore the archaeological site at Sermermiut, and view the Jakobshavn Icefjord and its immense, calving glacier from a boardwalk that begins from Ilulissat.
Spend some time sailing the fjords north of Sondre Stromfjord. Take a Zodiac cruise and perhaps a hike across the tundra.
Day 19-21 Uummannaq, Disko Bay, Ilulissat and Greenland’s West Coast
Overview:
In Uummannaq visit a collection of mummies dating back to 1475. Sail into Disko Bay which is filled with icebergs. The closer you get to Ilulissat the bigger the icebergs become. Take this opportunity to board one of the Zodiacs and sail through the icebergs seeing the different colours and patterns up close.
Explore the archaeological site at Sermermiut, and view the Jakobshavn Icefjord and its immense, calving glacier from a boardwalk that begins from Ilulissat.
Spend some time sailing the fjords north of Sondre Stromfjord. Take a Zodiac cruise and perhaps a hike across the tundra.
Day 22-23 Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavík
Overview:
Disembark in the ship in Kangerlussuaq and take a charter flight to Reykjavík and spend the night here. After breakfast the following day you will have a guided tour of Reykjavik before your transfer to the airport.