Baffin Island & Greenland Tour

Journey to some of the most pristine and jaw-dropping destinations in the Arctic on this Baffin Island and Greenland tour. Explore the crystalline icebergs, staggering wildlife, and colorful cliffside villages of western Greenland. On Baffin Island, visit communities that have thrived for millennia in this icy realm. See the 1,000-foot limestone cliffs that are home to hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds. Cruise in Zodiacs through the majestic fjords of Northeast Baffin, with a great chance to spot Narwhal, Beluga and Bowhead Whales, Harp Seals, and perhaps the Arctic’s most iconic animal, the Polar Bear. Due to the expeditionary nature of this itinerary, voyage highlights and wildlife listed are possible experiences but cannot be guaranteed. Our Expedition Team will work hard to ensure that opportunities for adventure and exploration are the best possible, taking into account the prevailing weather and wildlife activity.

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• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Day 6
• Day 7
• Day 8
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• Day 11
• Day 12
• Day 13
• Day 14
• Day 15
• Day 16
• Day 17
• Day 18
• Day 19

• Saturday, July 22: Arrive New York, USA

  Arrive in New York City, the convenient starting point for this epic adventure. Overnight at our group hotel with a welcome dinner to meet your fellow travelers and Apex expedition leaders. Please note that the direct charter flight from New York to Kangerlussuaq is confirmed but the location and name of the hotel is still being finalized.

• Sunday, July 23: New York / Kangerlussuaq, Greenland / Embark Silver Cloud

  After breakfast at the hotel, head to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport for your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, where the scenery is sure to astound before you even touch down: from the air, the Greenland Ice Cap stretches as far as the eye can see, covering about 80 percent of the country’s land mass. A former U.S. military base, Kangerlussuaq is located just above the Arctic Circle. Surrounding the settlement is some of Greenland’s most diverse fauna, including shaggy Muskoxen, Gyrfalcons and Caribou. Head to the harbor to board the Silver Cloud, your expedition vessel for the next 16 nights. Toast to the adventure to come as the ship heads down the 100-mile-long Kangerlussuaq Fjord under the midnight sun. Keep an eye out for Peregrine Falcons, as this fjord hosts 130 of their nesting sites.

• Monday, July 24: Sermilinnguaq Fjord / Maniitsoq

  Many deep fjords cut into Greenland’s west coast, fed by glaciers from the enormous ice cap that crowns the world’s largest island. Some 40 miles southeast of the entrance to Kangerlussuaq Fjord is Sermilinnguaq Fjord, 7,400 acres of which have been deemed an Important Bird Area: Razorbills, Brünnich’s, Common and Black Guillemots, Glaucous Gulls, and Black-legged Kittiwakes all have robust colonies here. This morning, explore the narrow waterway by Zodiac, watching birds flit among the impressive sea cliffs. Then, head south to Maniitsoq, Greenland’s sixth-largest town. Home to fewer than 2,700 inhabitants, the town is known for its magnificent carvings and beadwork, and houses a delightful museum. Enjoy a hike through the rugged terrain here, or kayak along the small natural canals that intersect the archipelago to see why the town has been dubbed the “Venice of Greenland” by locals (kayak space is limited).

• Tuesday, July 25: Nuuk (Godthab)

  Established in 1728, Nuuk is Greenland’s first town and current capital, housing nearly 30% of the nation’s population. It’s practically cosmopolitan compared to Greenland’s other towns, possessing the country’s only traffic lights, roundabouts and university. Enjoy a walking tour of this charming town to see Inuit ruins, the home of Nuuk’s missionary founder, Hans Egede, the parliament building, and the Church of our Saviour, whose towering spire provides a noticeable landmark.. At the Greenlandic National Museum, see the famous Qilakitsoq mummies and an outstanding collection of traditional dresses. You may choose instead to spend the day hiking in the hills above town.

• Wednesday, July 26: At Sea

  Enjoy the onboard lecture series about the fascinating history of polar exploration, as well as the natural history of the Canadian Arctic, as you make the roughly 500-mile trip across Baffin Bay. Spend time on deck watching for White-beaked Dolphins, Minke Whales, seals and Walrus. Birders may spot Pomarine Skuas, Little Auks, Brunnich’s Guillemots, Northern Fulmars, and Glaucous Gulls.

• Thursday, July 27: Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

  Canada’s newest capital, located at the head of Frobisher Bay in southeastern Baffin Island, was founded in 1942 as an American air base. Today, Iqaluit is Nunavut’s largest and fastest growing community, and is the political and economic hub of the Canadian Arctic. Walk through town and see the many colorful Inuit murals and carvings displayed along the streets. Visit the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum and Nunavut Legislative Assembly Building, both of which house incredible collections of Inuit artwork and artifacts, including tools, boats, jewelry and clothing. This afternoon, enjoy a walk in nearby Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park. The picturesque park houses ancient Thule ruins and many varieties of wildlife— Caribou and Arctic Fox are common sightings, along with 40 avian species, including Lapland Longspurs, Northern Wheatears, Red-throated Loons, and Gyrfalcons. Look for the rare Woodsia Fern and Purple Mountain Saxifrage, the official flower of Nunavut.

• Friday, July 28: Lower Savage Islands

  Late this morning, arrive at the Lower Savage Islands, a group of three main rocky islets off the southern tip of Baffin Island. Polar Bears are known to spend the summer months here as they have plenty of land to roam and opportunities to feed as the ice vanishes with the summer’s warming temperatures. Conditions permitting, explore the narrow channels between the islands by Zodiac to search for King Eiders, Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, and Black Guillemots, as well as Polar Bears and Harbor Seals, among the unusual rocky formations. You may also choose to kayak along the main channel and among some of the smaller islands to get a closer look at their jagged coastlines and coves.

• Saturday, July 29: Monumental Island / Franklin Island

  Early this morning, enter the Davis Strait and arrive at isolated Monumental Island. Cruise in Zodiacs around its exposed rocky cliffs, an excellent place to spot Black Guillemots, Gyrfalcons and Northern Gannets. Walrus have been known to haul out here. Look for them, and groups of curious Harp Seals, here and on the many skerries by the island. There is also a chance to spot a Polar Bear along the shoreline. This afternoon, head to nearby Lady Franklin Island, named for the wife of Sir John Franklin, the Arctic explorer who died trying to discover the Northwest Passage. Lady Franklin is home to striking vertical cliffs of Archean rock, likely some of the oldest stone in Canada. With a bit of luck, it is possible to see Atlantic Puffins and even a rare Sabine’s Gull here.

• Sunday, July 30: At Sea

  Spend the day at sea as you head to the northeast coast of Baffin Bay. Attend lectures on the area’s fjords and marine mammals. Join the naturalists on deck as they search for whales, dolphins and seabirds.

• Monday, July 31: Isabella Bay (Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area)

  Your first stop in Northeast Baffin will be the shoreline and islands of Isabella Bay, which was folded into Canada’s Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area in 2010. The area provides key protection for an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 Bowhead Whales that inhabit the area during late summer and fall, feeding on the abundant zooplankton blooms that occur in two deep troughs in the bay. Bowheads have been recognized as threatened in Canada, and this is the first sanctuary in the world designed especially for them. Pending permission, set out to spot these powerful creatures. Bowheads are known for their massive bony skulls, which they use to break through ice up to 24 inches thick to breathe. The Ninginganiq NWA also supports healthy populations of Polar Bears, Ringed Seals, King Eiders, Long-tailed Duck, Dovekies, Northern Fulmars and Narwhal.

• Tuesday, August 1: Sam Ford Fjord

  The low light of sunrise is perfect for spotting the faint blow of the Narwhal in stunning Sam Ford Fjord. Adventure travelers and climbers alike have called this one of the most impressive sights in the world: a 68-mile waterway of vertical walls etched through the mountains by ancient glaciers. A Zodiac ride up the fjord will give you more chances to spot bears, seals and whales. At the end of the fjord, wade out to a sandy beach for a short hike over rocky terrain to the edge of a glacier.

• Wednesday, August 2: Gibbs Fjord

  Navigate into spectacular Scott Inlet. Upon entering, feast your eyes on the impenetrable fortress of 4,000-foot walls, towers and buttresses of Sillem Island, dividing Gibbs and Clark Fjords. As you circumnavigate the ice-capped island, keep watch for Bowhead Whales and Narwhals, as well as Polar Bears and seals on the ice floes, and Caribou roaming the mainland. Disembark with a chance to see Thule ruins, Arctic wildflowers and staggering views of the surrounding glaciers.

• Thursday, August 3: At Sea

  As you navigate back across Baffin Bay watch for birds and sea life, and learn more about the history of Greenland.

• Friday, August 4: Upernavik, Greenland

  Upernavik means “the place of spring”, where people have long come to hunt and trade when the ice breaks up. The mainstays of the area’s hunter-culture are Ringed, Harp, Hooded and Bearded Seals, and Walrus, all of which can be found this time of year in the surrounding waters. You’ll be sure to see Polar Bear and seal skins as you walk in town, the northernmost in Greenland. It’s also one of Greenland’s oldest towns, founded officially in 1772, but inhabited for over 900 years by the Thule people. The small museum houses a stunning collection of artifacts and artwork from Northwest Greenland, as well as the northernmost Viking artifacts ever found. Take Zodiacs to get a closer look at the impressive bird cliffs of Apparsuit and Kippaku, looking for Eider Ducks, Black Guillemots, Puffins, Little Auks and occasionally Great Northern Divers.

• Saturday, August 5: Qeqertarsuaq

  Be on deck as the ship plies through Disko Bay, strewn with icebergs of every shape and size. Dock at Qeqertarsuaq, the only town on 3,300-square-mile Disko Island, standing verdantly amid the stark white of the icebergs packed all around it. Basalt rock formations stand at odd angles around the town, and the hulking Lyngmark Glacier towers above it. Visit the church, nicknamed the “Lord’s Ink Pot” due to its characteristic octagonal shape, as well as the museum, located in the old bailiff’s house, which showcases everyday life during the colonial period, when the colony, ‘Godhavn’, held a powerful position. Conditions permitting, enjoy a hike to the magnificent Blaesedal Waterfall near the village.

• Sunday, August 6: Ilulissat

  It’s on to mainland Greenland, and Ilulissat, whose name means “icebergs” in the Kalaallisut language. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town sits beside the Ilulissat Icefjord, a magnificent waterway whose towering glacier calves up to 20 million tons of ice per day—one of the fastest and most productive glaciers in the world. In town, see a demonstration of ancient fishing methods. Visit the small museum located in the former home of Greenlandic folk hero and famed polar explorer, Knud Rasmussen. Embark a fishing boat to navigate amongst the brilliant and massive white and turquoise icebergs. You may choose to hike to a beautiful lookout point over the Icefjord.

• Monday, August 7: At Sea

  Recap the journey with your fellow travelers and expedition team as you head south toward Kangerlussuaq. Be on deck as the ship approaches the Kangerlussuaq Fjord, keeping an eye out for Peregrine Falcons, Gyrfalcon, and rare White-tailed Eagles.

• Tuesday, August 8: Kangerlussuaq / New York

  Disembark the Silver Cloud and transfer to the airport for your charter flight to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. The charter flight is expected to land late this evening.  Overnight at our group hotel.

• Wednesday, August 9: New York / Depart

  After breakfast, return to the airport for your flights home.