Canada's Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage
Canada's Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage
Canada's Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage
12 Days Starting and ending in Calgary, Canada
Visiting: Toronto, Resolute, Ellesmere Island, Calgary
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PLK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 199
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Canada's Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage, where adventure meets breathtaking landscapes. This expedition takes you aboard the Ultramarine, a state-of-the-art Polar Adventure ship, offering unparalleled access to the Canadian High Arctic's most remote islands, including Axel Heiberg and Ellesmere Island. Experience the thrill of Zodiac cruising along active glaciers, and enjoy flightseeing and heli-landings with two onboard helicopters. Immerse yourself in the rich indigenous culture with Inuit guides, and keep an eye out for iconic Arctic wildlife like Polar bears and Musk ox. With a flexible itinerary guided by expert Expedition Staff, each day promises new discoveries and awe-inspiring vistas. Enjoy full board accommodation, all meals, and the camaraderie of like-minded explorers on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Location: Toronto
Accommodation Name: well-appointed hotel
Your Arctic expedition begins in Toronto. Explore this vibrant city on your own before spending the night at your well-appointed hotel.
Day 2 :
Location: Resolute
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, board your charter flight to Resolute, Nuvanut. Upon arrival, you may have a chance to check out some of the town’s sites before being transferred to your ship via Zodiac or helicopter (depending on ship location and weather conditions).
Day 3 - 11 :
Location: Ellesmere Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruising around the remote islands of the Canadian High Arctic aboard Ultramarine, the newest ship in our fleet, you’ll navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that fascinated legendary explorers of long ago. Designed to give Polar adventurers unprecedented access to the hardest-to-reach places on the planet—and equipped with two onboard twin-engine helicopters for unparalleled access to areas only Quark Expeditions can bring you—this one-of-a-kind ship, in its inaugural year, will take you beyond the familiar in Polar exploration. Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team will keep an eye toward immersing you in the best the Arctic has to offer, including reaching Canada’s most northerly islands: Axel Heiberg Island and the rarely visited Ellesmere Island, at the top of the world.
Remember that no two Polar voyages are alike, since each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice conditions. While this voyage has no fixed itinerary, our objective is to visit as many of the incredible highlights this season has to offer, using the opportunities provided by the weather and ice to give you the best experience. Each day, your highly skilled Expedition Team will read the conditions and choose the best course to set, but despite their extensive expertise in these areas, each visit brings something new to discover. That said, our expeditions will have some elements in common, including daily Zodiac cruising, land excursions, a robust education program, a community visit and wildlife viewing opportunities. And thanks to our onboard helicopters, you’ll also discover the ultimate Polar expedition experience: As stunning as Polar landscapes are from your ship, they’re even more striking from the air! Conditions permitting, you’ll enjoy ultra-immersive activities like flightseeing (short sightseeing flights around your ship and surrounding areas) and heli-landings (flying to places we could not otherwise access for shore excursions), two breath-taking options that are unique to Ultramarine and give you an awe-inspiring Polar experience like no other.
While this waterway is known to European cultures as the Northwest Passage, this area has nurtured and sustained the Inuit and their predecessors who have called these shores home for almost 5,000 years. Moving through these remote landscapes you will be travelling through the ancestral homelands of this ancient culture, illuminated in person by Inuit guides onboard and ashore. Nunavut is an Inuktitut word meaning “our land” and the Nunavummiut (the people of Nunavut) are renowned for their incredible resourcefulness, hospitality, good humour, and a deep knowledge of the land and animals that has allowed them to thrive in the far north for millennia.
Ultimately, your Expedition Team will keep its eye northward, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the lucky few Polar adventurers who have transited through the famous Hell Gate to reach the top of the world, the spectacular Ellesmere Island. If conditions are right, the soaring, ominous snow-capped peaks of this polar desert will come into focus as we approach. The northernmost island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Ellesmere is one of the most remote places on the planet, a land of deep fjords, jagged mountains and massive ice shelves. If we’re fortunate enough to reach here, you will be among the rarest of Polar explorers.
One of this expedition’s objectives, weather and ice conditions allowing, is to visit the famous fossil forest on Axel Heiberg Island, Canada’s second most northerly island. Dating back more than 30 million years, the large mummified stumps were discovered in 1985 after erosion swept them clean. The original forest that was here flourished, with some trees reaching as high as 115 feet (35 metres) and growing for 500 to 1,000 years. Birders will want to have their binoculars and cameras at the ready, as the island also affords opportunities for sightings of Snow buntings, ptarmigans, jaegers and Arctic terns, among others.
Wildlife sightings are almost guaranteed, as many of the areas we hope to explore are home to a surprising number of birds and mammals that thrive in this challenging environment. It’s likely that you’ll see Polar bears, muskoxen and several bird species, such as gyrfalcons and dovekies (Little auks). If you’re lucky, you may even spot the elusive narwhal or Arctic wolf, though sightings of these iconic creatures in the wild are rare, even in these areas where we have the highest chances of encountering them.
Coburg Island, for instance, is a wildlife reserve for such birds as Snowy owls and Peregrine falcons, while the impressive vertical cliffs of Prince Leopold Island are dotted with nesting seabirds like Northern fulmars and Black guillemots. The sheltered shores and steep cliffs of Arctic Bay, a hamlet located off of Admiralty Inlet, provide an ideal nesting habitat for various High Arctic birds such as Snow geese, Thick-billed murres (Brunnich’s guillemots) and kittiwakes. Occupied by Inuit and Thule cultures for almost 5,000 years, this traditional community is also an ideal spot to go ashore and learn more about the Inuit culture, sampling the local cuisine and mingling with artists, perhaps picking up carvings or other handicrafts as a memento of your Polar adventure.
Devon Island is another possible locale for wildlife encounters, as walrus, Polar bears and Musk ox inhabit the area, which is also the location of the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost, established at Dundas Harbour in 1924 to curb foreign whaling and other activities. Nearby is a small cemetery, one of Canada’s most northerly, still maintained by the RCMP to this day. Another exciting excursion your Expedition Team might offer, conditions permitting, is the opportunity to fly up to explore the Devon ice cap, one of the largest in the Canadian Arctic. History buffs will also be intrigued by the chance to visit an abandoned Hudson’s Bay Company trading post at Fort Ross, at the southern end of Somerset Island, and pay their respects to the ill-fated Franklin expedition of 1845–46 at the gravesite of three crew members on Beechey Island, one of Canada’s most significant Arctic sites.
You may have the opportunity to cruise in a Zodiac along the face of an active glacier near Croker Bay and possibly even witness the wonders of calving ice, at a safe distance. Listen closely for the steady crackle and loud roars as pieces of ice break off and crash into the water below. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for the walrus that are often seen in the area.
There is no shortage of natural beauty, wildlife and history in Canada’s High Arctic. Each day, you’ll discover something new and inspiring, whether it is admiration of the tundra flora to survive the rugged environment, a rare bird species soaring overhead, a Polar bear on the hunt in its natural habitat, or the remains of a century-old hut.
Day 11 : Disembark In Resolute, Fly To Calgary
Location: Toronto, Resolute
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After disembarking in Resolute, you’ll be transferred to your charter flight to Calgary, where you’ll spend the night at your included hotel.
Day 12 : End Calgary
Location: Ellesmere Island, Calgary
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights, or spend the day exploring this fascinating city.
What's Included
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Meals
4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners. -
All meals while on the ship
All meals are provided while on the ship, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
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Beer and house wine during dinner
Beer and house wine are included during dinner.
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All accommodation
All accommodation is included during the tour.
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All transport and listed activities
All transport and activities listed in the itinerary are included.
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Full complement of qualified Expedition Staff
The tour is accompanied by a full complement of qualified Expedition Staff.
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Mandatory transfer package including return charter flights between Calgary and Resolute
The mandatory transfer package includes return charter flights between Calgary and Resolute.
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Flights from the UK
Flights from the UK can be included upon request.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
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Single accommodation
Single accommodation is not included but is available on request.
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Visas or vaccinations
Visas or vaccinations are not included and must be arranged separately.
Food
All meals while on the ship included. Typical Meals The ships galley offers good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide variety of drinks from around the world on sale. Breakfast: Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal. Lunch: Three course set meal or buffet, or the occasional BBQ. Dinner: Three or four courses with a starter of soup and/or salad, a choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a dessert, with tea and coffee. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
Accommodation
The Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands is offered on the Ultramarine, a Polar Adventure ship. Full board accommodation on the ship, generally on a twin share basis in a variety of cabin types, all with en suite facilities. Polar Adventure Ships are small ice-rated vessels well qualified for Polar waters, offering intimate adventures with flexible itineraries and superb food and staff.
Mode of Transport
Travel in a small expedition vessel, the Ultramarine, equipped with two onboard helicopters for flightseeing and heli landings. The tour includes mandatory transfer package with return charter flights between Calgary and Resolute, and possible Zodiac or helicopter transfers to the ship depending on location and weather conditions.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the expedition?
During the expedition, you can expect to see a variety of Arctic wildlife, including Polar bears, Musk oxen, and several bird species such as gyrfalcons and dovekies. There is also a chance to spot elusive creatures like narwhals and Arctic wolves, although sightings of these are rare.
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What unique experiences does the Ultramarine ship offer?
The Ultramarine ship offers unique experiences such as flightseeing and heli-landings using its two onboard helicopters. These activities provide unparalleled access to remote areas and offer breathtaking views of the Polar landscapes from the air.
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Will there be opportunities to learn about the local culture during the tour?
Yes, there will be opportunities to learn about the local Inuit culture. The expedition includes community visits and interactions with Inuit guides both onboard and ashore, providing insights into the culture and history of the Nunavummiut people.
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What kind of activities are included in the expedition?
The expedition includes daily Zodiac cruising, land excursions, a robust education program, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Additionally, there are ultra-immersive activities like flightseeing and heli-landings, conditions permitting.
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What is the accommodation like on the Ultramarine ship?
Accommodation on the Ultramarine ship is full board, generally on a twin share basis in a variety of cabin types, all with en suite facilities. The ship is a small ice-rated vessel well-suited for Polar waters, offering intimate adventures with like-minded passengers and staff.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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