Canadian Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg

Fly to Resolute and Embark: Start your day by taking a chartered flight to Resolute, a small town on Cornwallis Island that is a popular starting point for Arctic expeditions. One of the northernmost communities in Canada, it has a population of 198, according to the 2016 census. Depending on timing, you may have the chance to wander around this small town before boarding your ship. Make sure to dress warmly though, as it is very cold all year round. Depending on your ship’s location and the weather, you will embark either by Zodiac, a heavy-duty rubber dinghy, or by helicopter.

Exploring Canada’s High Arctic: Set sail for the Canadian High Arctic aboard Ultramarine, a ship that comes equipped with two helicopters, and promises an Arctic adventure unlike any other. Your itinerary is variable depending on weather conditions and the ice, but you can visit as many places as conditions allow, including Canada’s most northerly islands. Axel Heiberg Island and Ellesmere Island, located at the top of the world, are well worth the visit. Your Expedition Team will read the conditions and choose the best course to set. Enjoy a daily ride in a Zodiac, a heavy-duty rubber dinghy, as well as land excursions and community visits. Make use of plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. If the conditions permit, take short sightseeing flights around the ship and surrounding areas. Heli-landings, which involve flying to places you would not be able to reach otherwise, are also possible. Both add an extra dimension to your Arctic adventure. For almost 5,000 years, the Inuit and their predecessors have called the land that lines the Northern Passage home. As you travel through the passage, you will have the chance to meet some of the communities that live in these remote areas and learn about their ancestral homeland from Inuit guides onboard and ashore. Pass through Hell Gate to approach the spectacular Ellesmere Island, with its snow-capped peaks. If conditions are right, you can fly up to explore the Devon ice cap, one of the largest in the Canadian Arctic. Visit a former trading post at Fort Ross on Somerset Island and pay your respects at the gravesite of three members of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition of 1845-46 on Beechey Island. Ride a Zodiac along the face of an active glacier near Croker Bay. If you are lucky, you might witness a calving incident and hear the roar of ice breaking off and hitting the water below. All from a safe distance, of course. Walruses are a common sight in the area, so keep a lookout for them.

Disembark in Resolute and fly to Calgary: Disembark in Resolute, Canada at the end of your voyage. From there take your charter flight to Calgary, Canada. On arrival, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.