Greenland and Baffin Island – The Ultimate Arctic Island Exploration

Starting with a flight from Copenhagen, you arrive late in the evening at the international airport in Kangerlussuaq. After a transfer to the port and embarkation on your expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen, we will sail almost the entire length of the fjord (190km) before reaching the open sea.

Sisimiut is the second largest town in Greenland, situated 40 km north of the Arctic Circle. It is a modern, growing settlement with a history that goes back 4,500 years. For example, its name means `The People Living in a Place of Fox Dens´. There are a variety of optional excursions to discover the area.

This small town is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the mouth of the fjord you can see enormous icebergs that have run aground. These ice masses originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. Join one of our many excursions here.

This strait was named after English explorer John Davis who searched for a route through the Northwest Passage between 1585 and 1587. Wind down and watch the waves aboard the ship or enjoy a lecture from the Expedition Team as we head north towards Baffin Island.

After crossing the Davis Strait and sailing up through Baffin Bay, we arrive at the northern part of Baffin Island and the entrance to the legendary Northwest Passage. From here, we start our exploration of the high Canadian Arctic and attempt to successfully complete a circumnavigation of Baffin Island, provided the elements work in our favour.

Unpredictable ice conditions in this remote region lay the grounds for a true expedition where adventure is the only certainty.

Along the way, we aim to land at sites that are linked to early exploration history, visit traditional Inuit communities, and hope to spot Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, foxes, whales, seals, and large colonies of seabirds. There will also be opportunities for small expedition boat cruising between ice floes, and in true expedition style, we will go ashore and experience the pristine wilderness first hand.

The ship captain and Expedition Leader will continuously assess the current weather and sea conditions, adapt activities accordingly, and adjust the itinerary to where the sea ice allows us to go. Like all true explorers, we respect and work with nature, not against it.

Here are some of the places in the region that we plan to explore together:

Picturesque Pond Inlet, called 'Mittimatalik' in Inuktitut, is a traditional Inuit community on Baffin Island. It overlooks Eclipse Sound and the mountains of Bylot Island and is known as a great place to see large pods of narwhal.

Welcome to the largest uninhabited island on Earth. The only signs of human life are at the long-abandoned settlement of Dundas Harbour along with several archaeological sites from the Thule period.

The sheer cliffs on this oval isle attract the largest number and greatest diversity of sea bird species than any other site in the Canadian Arctic. Most commonly seen are thick-billed murres, northern fulmars and black guillemots.

This is the final resting place for three members of the lost Franklin expedition which sailed into the Northwest Passage in 1845 but never returned. It is customary for explorers to stop and pay their respects, as did Roald Amundsen in 1903.

An abandoned Hudson’s Bay Trading post located at the southern end of Somerset Island. The storehouse here is still used as a shelter by occasional travellers, with bunk beds and shelves of canned goods.

Located on a small island, this hamlet is an active and vibrant community, and considered a cultural centre for the Inuit. It is also home to Artcirq, the only Inuit circus troupe in the world, who host an arts festival here every summer.

This beautiful settlement, situated on a hill next to a bay, has earned international recognition for its many Inuit artists, inspired by the unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultural traditions here.

Named ‘the Heel’ for a distinctive nearby rocky outcrop in nearby Glasgow Inlet, this is Baffin Island's southernmost Inuit community. The 400 people here still maintain the traditions left by their ancestors 4000 years ago.

The dramatic towering limestone sea cliffs here, with waterfalls cascading off the plateau above, are a key habitat for many migratory birds. Drifting ice floes also attract walrus, seals, foxes, polar bears and whales.

We cross the Labrador Sea back towards Kangerlussuaq. Days at sea are spent at your leisure aboard the ship. Relax while gazing out at the view, learn more from the knowledgeable Expedition Team in our lecture series, or swap experiences of the expedition with your fellow explorers.

Returning to Kangerlussuaq, we take a trip to the Reindeer Glacier at the Greenland Ice Cap, stretching 1,500 miles north and reaching heights of up to 3,200 metres above sea level. Enjoy a farewell barbecue meal aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen before disembarking and transferring to the airport for a late evening flight to Copenhagen.

Arrive at Copenhagen airport early in the morning from where you can head home. Alternatively, extend your trip to explore how this trendy and thriving capital mixes royal history and modern architecture with sustainable living and a world-class restaurant scene.