Greenland to Nova Scotia exploring the Canadian Arctic

Kangerlussuaq boasts a WWII airbase history at the head of a long fjord in western Greenland. The airport’s Kangerlussuaq Museum recounts the tale and showcases Greenlandic Inuit artifacts. This glacial area is a haven for wildlife like muskoxen, reindeer, arctic foxes, and gyrfalcons. Around 10,000 musk oxen, native to Greenland, inhabit the tundra, blending seamlessly into the landscape. Inland, the 60-m tall Russell Glacier calves on the edge of the Greenland ice cap.

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.

Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, the largest island in Greenland, on the west coast and part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Lyngmark Glacier rises above the town and the area’s lush hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic origin. The area is very fertile and home to diverse species not found elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move through floating icebergs and whales.

Disko Island Discovery Walk

Included

02 h 00 m

Join your Expedition Team on a hike to discover the island’s stunning black sand beaches and massive volcanoes
Spend time in the town and get a feel for the authentic experience and isolation that most Greenlandic communities live with
Learn about the longstanding presence of scientists in the region who have had an Arctic Station established for the study of local geology, flora and fauna

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, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is home to as many sled-dogs as people.

Shuttle to Ilulissat Icefjord, boardwalk and Icefjord centre

Included

02 h 30 m

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Icefjord and see the massive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier at the size of nearly 66,000 football fields wide
Hike along the World Heritage Trail boardwalk and discover amazing views of the icefjord and maybe even have some wildlife encounters
At the Fjord Centre, learn all about the cycle of the ice, the abundant wildlife around the icefjord and the human existence in the area throughout thousands of years

Just north of the Arctic Circle and the northernmost city in Greenland, 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 and we have a chance to see abandoned settlements but it also has a cool, modern side. Watch out for humpback whales and walrus between Sisimiut and the Thule district in the north.

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

Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk can easily deceive you that you’re travelling through such a wild and secluded country. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), you’ll see the busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral prominent, colourful wooden houses, avant-garde architecture and a wonderful array of fjords with clear ice waters and an unspoiled mountain backdrop. Look out for whales and on land arctic foxes, arctic hares and reindeer.

Nuuk Sightseeing & entrance to Greenland Museum

Included

01 h 30 m

Engage with old and new Greenlandic culture and traditions with this tour of the capital city and a visit to the National Museum
See the bustling streets of the Colonial Harbour and admire its beautiful old buildings that have stood the test of time
Get to know the history behind this city as you tour past landmarks including the cathedral built in 1849, the award winning Katuaq culture centre and the University of Greenland

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.

The native Inuit are an integral part of Iqaluit, a remote community at the head of Frobisher Bay. Once-considered the possible entrance of a Northwest Passage, the bay provides insight into Inuit history and culture including dog-sledding on handmade qamutik sleds led by qimmiiq - North America's oldest and rarest purebred canine. Inuit artworks are showcased at Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum while Inuit history is evident at Crystal II, an ancient Thule Inuit settlement outside of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.

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

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, which is also a well-known denning site for polar bears. Nearby, the Cumberland Sound is home to its own species of beluga whale.

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

Staffed completely by Inuit, Torngat Mountains National Park takes its name from the Inuktitut word Tongait, meaning place of spirits. We have a rare chance to follow in the footsteps of Inuit as they 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.

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)

Zodiac Cruise or landing near the Historic Moravian Site of Hebron

Included

02 h 00 m

Since time immemorial, the site, located on the edge of a large bay sheltered by a small cove, has been a meeting place for Inuit from different regions as well as a primary hunting and fishing area
Enjoy the surrounding landscape which is remote and rugged
See this Historic Site, a glimpse into the enduring legacy of the Moravian mission after they came to convert Inuit people to Christianity in 1831

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.

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, the first European to explore the east coast of Canada in around 1021. Discover some of the 800 original Norse artefacts and eight sod houses found here on a tour of the recreated village, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Norstead Viking Village

Optional

02 h 00 m

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the only authenticated Norse site in North America
Travel back in time to where Vikings once stood
Discovery is a fearless pursuit; when the Vikings, the first Europeans recorded to reach the new world, landed at L'Anse aux Meadows over 1,000 years ago

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.

Nova Scotia’s lively capital is rich in nautical history and charm. Its seafaring stories can be discovered in the maritime museums, fortresses and bunkers that are peppered throughout the city. There is also an interesting counterculture contingent here, with striking public art and quirky shops on every other corner. Halifax is also home to plenty of fantastic seafood options, from street vendors to fine dining restaurants. The surrounding shorelines are beautiful and also worth exploring. Peggy’s Cove, with its picturesque lighthouse, is a favourite spot.

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Greenland to Nova Scotia exploring the Canadian Arctic

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