Quark - High Arctic Explorer cruise

HIGH ARCTIC EXPLORER

13 nights
Departures: August
Ship: Akademik Ioffe (Icebreaker)

Quark - High Arctic Explorer cruise route

During this 14-day active adventure from Resolute to Resolute, we intend to explore in the Canadian Arctic: Lancaster Sound, Grise Fjord, Beechey Island, Cape Hay Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and Pond Inlet. In Greenland we plan to visit Qaanaaq and Cape York. When the conditions are right, optional kayaking will occur.

Click here for details of the icebreaker Akademik Ioffe.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Ottawa, Canada
	High adventure in the High Arctic begins with a hotel night in Canada's capital city.
Day 2 - Embarkation Day
	Flying from Ottawa to Resolute the topography changes from Canadian Shield to tundra. On embarkation you will be more than 10 degrees above the Arctic Circle where daylight is almost continuous.
Day 3 - Prince Leopold Island
	The sound of thousands of breeding Kittiwakes is unforgettable. Sharp tenor squawks are underscored by a powerful bass line, reminiscent of a gale force wind. You will cruise the base of the island's towering cliffs in Zodiacs. Pack binoculars!
Days 4 & 5 - Devon and Coburg Islands
	Devon Island is a polar desert with a massive ice cap. A portion of the island has been likened to the surface of Mars. Regardless of where you go ashore, you will know you are far from home in a world where the elements rule.
Day 6 - Melville Basin
	Whale watching is a popular activity at sea. At any time of day or night, should whales be sighted, an announcement will be made over the public address system. If the call comes after midnight, slip your feet into your boots and throw your parka over your pyjamas. No one will notice, they'll be too busy taking photos or peering through binoculars!
Day 7 - Qaanaaq, Greenland
	Tidy houses painted in a rainbow of colours rest on slopes that rise from the sea to the hills that surround the tiny community of 600. The architecture is only one difference between Greenlandic communities and those on Baffin Island. Take note so you can compare.
Day 8 - Cape York
	The ice and weather conditions associated with Cape York (Kap York in Greenlandic) combine to create a friendly environment for narwhal and seals. The presence of seals and pack ice may draw hungry polar bears. A wildlife watch will be kept so you won't miss a thing.
Day 9 - Baffin Bay and Pond Inlet
	Our heading will be south and west on the journey across Baffin Bay. Our destination will be Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) on Baffin Island. While there we will attend a cultural demonstration that will include drumming, throat singing and dancing. The local artisans carve stone sculptures that are collected avidly by art lovers around the globe.
Day 10 - Cape Hay Migratory Bird Sanctuary
	The majestic cliffs of Cape Hay, Bylot Island, are breeding grounds for Murres, Guillemots and Kittiwakes. We'll cruise in Zodiacs along the base of the remarkable seabird colony. Bylot Island is situated where the waters of Baffin Bay mix with the water of the Arctic archipelago, creating a rich feeding ground for seals, whales and seabirds.
Day 11 - Devon Island
	Our return to Devon Island may include a hike across an apparently barren landscape. We'll encourage you to look more closely. A rich variety of wildflowers grow closest to the ground on the tundra, an adaptation that allows even the most fragile flowers to survive.
Day 12 - Beechey Island
	A proper High Arctic expedition must include mention of Sir John Franklin's fatal attempt to find the Northwest Passage. The first to die were buried on Beechey Island in 1845. Their grave markers still stand. Expeditions to find the lost ships have been mounted as recently as 2008.
Day 13 - Resolute to Ottawa
	Fly from Resolute to Ottawa, where you spend the night.
Day 14 - Ottawa, Canada
	Depart for home.

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 18 nights and do not include international flights.

Departure date	Prices per person
2 & 13 August 09	Ł4225

Price Includes:
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping. All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage. (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.) All shore landings and excursions per the daily program. Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities. Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled. Photographic Album on DVD. A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings. Hair dryer in every cabin. A Quark Expeditions parka. Coffee, tea, cocoa and bottled water available around the clock. Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader. All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program. Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum of $100,000 per person. One night pre- and one night post-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast as indicated in the itinerary. (The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travellers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel.) Group transfers from the hotel to the airport and from the airport to the ship for embarkation. Group transfers from the ship to the local airport upon disembarkation and from the airport to the hotel at the end of the voyage – plus all baggage handling aboard ship.
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.