Baffin Island and Greenland

Let’s Break the Ice

Our adventure begins as we board the northbound charter flight from Ottawa, Ontario, to Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut (population: 8,000). Located at the chilly head of Frobisher Bay, Iqaluit offers an instant bite of Inuit culture—it’s visible on menus offering muskox burgers and pan-seared Arctic char.

The Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum and Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre are magnetic attractions as is the igloo-inspired St. Jude’s Cathedral (referred to as the “Igloo Cathedral”). There’s also a myriad of shops and galleries displaying intricate Inuit carvings.

We transfer by Zodiac to the Ocean Nova through the Iqaluit harbor. Is your heart-pounding with anticipation yet? 

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

Geology and Gold

Today we sail through this captivating bay named for bygone explorer and gold seeker Sir Martin Frobisher. He returned to England with his mineral treasure which proved to be nothing but ore.

There’s a lot to absorb as the Arctic surrounds swallow us up. Our on-board geologists will walk us through the evolution of the landscape as we scan for wildlife. The scenery will be ever-shifting with the luminescent light and golden silence of the Arctic.

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

Ice Floes and Polar Bears 

Kitigtung is one of several rugged rocky islands that speckle the dramatic Baffin Island coast along the Davis Strait. “Lady Franklin Island” was named by Arctic explorer Charles Francis Hall as a tribute to British Royal Navy explorer Sir John Franklin’s wife.

We explore the coastline by Zodiac on high alert for polar bears, seabirds cruising overhead and marine life emerging from the dark depths below. Atlantic puffins and the rare Sabine’s gull sometimes delight birders.

In the company of expert Inuit team members, we learn about the time and weather-worn rock formations of this uninhabited isle. The geology of Nunavut is just as surprising as the wildlife found here. 

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

A Sensory Adventure

Today we stop to smell the flowers—the seasonal and fleeting tundra blooms will be at their peak as this is the height of Arctic summer. 

Join an interpretive hike that best suits your interests accompanied by members of the expert Expedition Team who are eager to share insightful stories, history and species identification for burgeoning botanists, birders and geologists. 

This is a treasured opportunity to connect with the wilds of Canada’s largest island and your fellow Wild Women at a relaxed pace that permits a full sensory experience.

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

The Heart of Arctic Life 

Panniqtuuq (“the place of the bull caribou”) is a coastal plain backdropped by snow-laden mountain peaks and a valley split by a winding river. According to local legend, a man named Attagoyuk gave the community its name and the local high school is named in his honor.

This Inuit hamlet of just 1,325 residents is a dry community and has been self-governed since 1973. Sitting at just north of 66° latitude, Panniqtuuq is one of three Nunavut communities with a fish processing plant and successful Arctic char and Greenlandic turbot fishery.

On a colorful community tour we have the opportunity to visit the Angmarlik Visitor Centre. The exhibits dig deep into both Thule and modern Inuit life. The small centre also serves as a local library and elder’s drop-in centre.

Panniqtuuq is world-renowned for its carvings, tapestries and prints. We visit the Uqqurmiut Inuit Arts Centre’s print and weave shop, where talented Inuit artists create pieces. There will be an opportunity for us to purchase the ultimate take-home gift: the colorfully patterned crocheted toques (wool caps) with ear flaps and tassels known as the “Pang” hat.

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

Deep Dive into Maritime History

We spend two indulgent days exploring the Cumberland Peninsula, a stunning Arctic region that juts out from the southeastern coast of Baffin Island. 

The Cumberland Peninsula is considered part of the Arctic Tundra biome—the world’s coldest and driest biome (as is the rest of Baffin Island). It was also thought to be a potential missing link in the early search for the mighty Northwest Passage.

We deep dive into the extreme maritime history of this region to develop an even greater understanding of its past and present significance. As weather and sea conditions permit, we take advantage of every opportunity to walk in the vast tundra and explore the silent, ice-strewn region by Zodiac.

Keep watch for polar bears, Arctic foxes and one of the smallest species of whale, the beluga. They are known as the “canaries of the sea” as their song includes chirp, click, squeal and whistle.  

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

Adventures at Sea

Our day at sea is totally free range—as we sail across the Davis Strait towards Greenland, sit in on an engaging workshop, presentation or documentary screening. Learn more about Inuit culture, the changing Arctic environment, geology and explorer history. There will also be an interactive demonstration of Inuit games—join in, try your skill!

Join your fellow Wild Women to share stories in the lounge over tea, or find a quiet spot to reflect on the deck and scan for whales and seabirds who follow in our frothy wake.

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

Choose Your Own Adventure

We can choose our own adventure today as we make landfall on the west coast of Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)! Several activities will be offered during this expedition landing: hiking, walking (for those who’d like to take in the scenery at a slower pace), photography-focused walks or you can simply enjoy some solitude.

The ship’s team of enthused naturalists, marine biologists and geologists are ready to share their knowledge and experience. It’s a unique opportunity to learn from seasoned Arctic experts. From the surprising mountain backdrop to the tiniest, resilient tundra flowers, today’s landing will offer everything you didn’t know you needed!

Greenland’s west coast is designed for hikers, birders, poets, photographers, daydreamers and self-proclaimed philosophers—prepare to fall under the coastal spell and have fun with your crew of Wild Women in this remarkable moment in time!

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

Ice Queens for a Day

Ilulissat literally translates to “iceberg” and it’s a no-brainer to see why. Located at the open mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord (a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site), this waterway is the main artery of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier and the source of countless icebergs in the North Atlantic. 

The 34 mile-long (55 km) floating natural sculpture park is jammed with surreal icebergs. We will cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs and learn about growlers, bergy bits and calving.

A boardwalk that skirts the harbor will permit us to view the icebergs from shore. In town, you can choose your own adventure. Expect a howling soundtrack from the local motley crew of Greenland sled dogs. Museum nuts will want to check out the namesake Ilulissat Museum and its tribute to Danish explorer and hometown hero, Knud Rasmussen. Or head to the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre. There are several cafes and shops too. 

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

The Culture of the Circle

Sisimiut means “the people living in a place where there are fox dens.” How magical is that? For the first 2,000 years, the people of the Saqqaq culture occupied the area until Dorset culture was introduced 2,500 years ago. Dorset culture pulsed strong for 1,500 years and was followed by the Thule (ancestors of Canada’s modern-day Inuit population).

Sisimiut is the second largest city in Greenland (population: 5,600). This cool and contemporary Arctic Circle community has a city bus and skate park where lanky teens might be showing off their best ollies and BMX wheelies.

We’ll explore West Greenland’s complex coastal waterways of time-scraped glaciers, islands and fjords. The waters are relatively warm here due to the West Greenland Current and a subarctic location just 25 miles (40 km) north of the Arctic Circle. We will have the opportunity to hike and explore this coast by Zodiac as well.

Included Meals

All on-board meals 

Accommodations

Your cabin on the Ocean Nova

Connections That are Iceberg Deep

With 118 miles (190 km) of endless panoramic scenery to stare at, we travel down the longest fjord in the world, Kangerlussuaq Fjord (Søndre Strømfjord) and cross the invisible lines of the remarkable Arctic Circle on our way to Kangerlussuaq.

Kangerlussuaq, the town pocketed at the eastern head of Greenland, is a former U.S. Air Force base and the island’s primary flight hub. Here we disembark for our return charter flight to Toronto, Ontario. Zodiacs transfer us to waiting buses for the short trip through the land beyond the airbase—be on the lookout for muskox!

Forever knitted together by this transformative experience, it’s time for polar bear hugs goodbye. The Arctic landscape and the wonders held tightly within the Inuit culture, landscape and wildlife will remain in our hearts, minds and stories. 

Included Meals

All on-board meals