ARCTIC QUEST CANADA AND GREENLAND - FROM RESOLUTE tO IQALUIT
17 nights Departure: 25 August 2008 Ship: Kapitan Khlebnikov (Icebreaker)
Innovation and Adaptation For 4,000 years successive generations have adapted to the harsh Arctic environment, developing distinctive cultures that left traces on the land, and in our language.  Kayak, parka, husky, anorak, and igloo are words we have borrowed from Arctic peoples. Four Millennia Arctic Quest traces the history of the northern peoples across 4,000 years, from the arrival of the first inhabitants to the 21st Century.  Travellers will learn how the different cultures fished and hunted, sang and danced, and carved exquisite sculptures.  These traditions continue today in small hamlets and villages that dot the coastlines of Baffin Island and western Greenland. The cruise features landings on Greenland, Ellesmere Island and Baffin Island, and shipboard helicopters for flight-seeing.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Ottawa, Canada   Plan to arrive early enough to discover one of the world’s most beautiful capitals, Ottawa, Canada, home to over a dozen national museums and galleries. Day 2 - Embarkation Day   From Ottawa, we fly you above the Arctic Circle to the tiny community of Resolute on Cornwallis Island, where you board the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov. Days 3 & 4 - Lancaster Sound   Sailing past Devon Island, we watch for beluga and bowhead whales into Lancaster Sound, the habitat of narwhals, polar bears and Arctic seals and about two-dozen species of birds.  At Dundas Harbour, we go ashore to visit the remains of millennia old Early Thule winter houses.  The icebreaker negotiates iceberg-dotted Melville Bay icebergs en route to Cape York, Greenland. Days 5 & 6 - Qaanaaq   We continue along the western coast of Greenland, past steep fjords and gigantic blue-white icebergs.  Narwhals may reside in this area at this time of year.  We plan to sail Murchison Sound to Qaanaaq, the world’s northernmost municipality.  We’ll push north into Smith Sound, then into Kane Basin.  Our ultimate goal is the Lincoln Sea at the top of Greenland, often impassable due to pack ice.  So as usual we must be flexible – and on the alert for wildlife. Days 7 to 9 - Eastern Ellesmere Island   On the eastern shore of Ellesmere Island we plan to land at Fort Conger, before exploring Buchanan Bay and its massive twin glaciers.  In Alexandra Fjord, we intend to visit Skraeling Island, where archaeologists have unearthed artefacts of small-tool cultures dating to 4500 BC.  A landing (if conditions permit) is planned at Starvation Camp, Pim Island, where members of Adolphus Greeley’s 1881–84 expedition died. Days 10 & 11 - Coburg Island   At Coburg Island, Zodiacs cruise the base of towering cliffs revealing fledged murres diving in fish-filled waters.  Bylot Island is a vast migratory bird sanctuary with a diverse avian community, including Greater Snow Geese, Snowy Owls, Peregrine Falcons and Gyrfalcons.  We hope to land on the southern shore then end our exploration of the region with a visit to the picturesque hamlet of Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik). Days 12 to 16 - Baffin Island   We sail the steep-sided fjords of north-eastern Baffin Island, where mountains tower above the sea.  Narwhals and beluga are known to inhabit the nutrient-rich waters.  Caribou roam the endless tundra.  The ship continues southward, crossing the Arctic Circle, rounding the headland into Cumberland Sound.  At Pangnirtung we meet local artists famed for the prints and beautifully woven tapestries they create.  En route to Iqaluit we plan more landings, taking advantage of local conditions. Days 17 & 18 - Iqaluit to Ottawa We disembark Kapitan Khlebnikov at Iqaluit to fly back to Ottawa to spend our final night at the Fairmont Château Laurier.
Important reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel.  There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish.  A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage.
Departure Dates and Prices
Prices are per person for 17 nights and do not include international flights.
Departure date Prices per person  25 August 2008 £9,390
Price Includes: Voyage as indicated in the itinerary. Flights as indicated in the itinerary. Pre- and post-cruise hotel accommodations in a shared twin room with breakfast as indicated in the itinerary. All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship. All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac and helicopter (as included in group excursions with no specific amount of helicopter time guaranteed). Programme of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff. Transfers and baggage handling between the hotels, airports and ship as indicated in the itinerary. All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme. Comprehensive pre-departure materials and handbook. Price Excludes: International flights. Passport and visa expenses. Government arrival and departure taxes. Meals ashore. Supplement for single hotel accommodations. Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance.  Excess baggage charges.  All items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges, and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).  Any possible helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group will be charged at an hourly rate to be announced onboard.