Expedition High Arctic - In the Land of Extremes
An exploration of coastal Greenland & the Canadian Arctic aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
- 1 August 2021
For this expedition we are delighted to be working with our associates at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and their five-star vessel, the Hanseatic Inspiration. This unusual voyage combines the remote Canadian Arctic with its diverse wildlife, history and rich Inuit culture with Greenland’s west coast of great towering cliffs, walls of glacial ice, winding fjords, vast icesheets and flowing glaciers.
The expedition begins with five days of exploration of the Canadian Arctic. Lying north of mainland Canada, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago consists of 94 major islands and forms the world’s largest High Arctic land area. Here we follow in the footsteps of the legendary explorers including Amundsen, Baffin and Franklin, who over the course of 300 years risked their lives to search the Arctic for the fabled Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Our journey continues to coastal Greenland, one of the last great wilderness areas where man has made little difference to the landscape and tourists are still a rarity. It is a marvel to behold; for most visitors their first encounter with Greenland is a humbling experience as they witness nature in the raw and look out across a magnificent Arctic world. Experience magnificent scenery as the Hanseatic Inspiration meanders through spectacular colossal accumulations of peculiarly shaped icebergs in Disko Bay followed by a call into Sisimiut, home to some 5300 inhabitants. The region is home to a rich animal kingdom and we hope to spot seals, whales, polar bears, caribou, musk ox, walrus, Arctic wolves and foxes as well as thousands of seabirds that nest in the cliffs.
Highlights will be numerous and we will make good use of the fleet of Zodiacs as we navigate small bays and view icebergs of all shapes and sizes. After a day of exploring you will return to the five-star Hanseatic Inspiration where you can be assured of excellent service, food and sumptuous surroundings and, in between the landings and while at sea, you can pass the time on deck looking for wildlife, attend the series of lectures by members of the expedition team or simply relax on board enjoying the facilities. This expedition promises to be a unique experience bringing with it new thrills with spectacular natural experiences in a world far away from the stresses of modern life.
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Hanseatic Inspiration
Operated by our German associates, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the Hanseatic Inspiration is a new five-star expedition ship launched in October 2019. With a maximum of just 230 passengers (199 passengers in Antarctica), this unique vessel offers an informal and relaxed atmosphere on board with more open deck space than any other expedition ship. There is a qualified expedition team of naturalists who will accompany you ashore and provide informative talks in the comfort of the well-designed HanseAtrium, and a crew of 175 offering the most exquisite and attentive service on board.
Itinerary
Please note that flexibility is key to a successful expedition in the Arctic. Although we have outlined an itinerary below, this is only a preliminary plan and the exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions and the wildlife encountered.
Day 1 London to Dusseldorf, Germany.
Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this afternoon and transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay.
Please note that the departure airport for the charter flight to Greenland is subject to change. Should it be necessary to change to another airport in Germany, we will advise and amend the flight from London and hotel accommodation accordingly.
Day 2 Dusseldorf to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.
After breakfast in the hotel transfer to the airport for our specially chartered flight to Kangerlussuaq. On arrival transfer to the Hanseatic Inspiration and embark. Sail this evening.
Day 3 At sea.
Enjoy a day at sea as we cruise towards Baffin Island. Join one of the lectures or relax and enjoy the facilities on board.
Days 4 to 8 Northern Canadian Arctic (Baffin Island & Ellesmere Island).
Along remote coastlines, the Hanseatic Inspiration presses on to the settings of great exploratory achievements. A flexible route will provide plenty of fascinating tales for your travel diary. Glistening ice, impressive glaciers and a vast, isolated land becomes the backdrop for wonderful natural spectacles and wildlife sightings. We will discover what it is like to live in such extreme conditions during our time on Baffin Island. The world discovered this habitat of polar bears and whales in the 17th century, when English seafarer William Baffin came here on the search for a north-west passage. Life in the small settlement of Clyde River reflects the Inuit traditions and their way of life. Depending on local conditions, we will go ashore and walk through these stunning natural surroundings with panoramic views of cliffs and glaciers. The team of onboard experts will provide fascinating information about the region’s geology and history. It was not until the start of the 19th century that Ellesmere Island, the most northerly island in the Arctic, was discovered and we will experience how those explorers must have felt when they first caught sight of the coast.
Days 9 & 10 Smith Sound & Nares Strait.
The excitement will grow as, weather and ice permitting, the route takes us to Smith Sound between Greenland and Canada, just like many Arctic explorers before us. In 1909, American polar researcher Robert Edwin Peary travelled through here and the more northerly Nares Strait to become the first person to reach the North Pole.
Days 11 to 14 North-West Coast of Greenland (Etah, Siorapaluk, Cape York).
In addition to the views from the deck and hikes ashore, the onboard experts will bring the legend of the North Pole to life with historical insights. If we succeed in landing on Pim Island, you will feel the drama of the Greely expedition which fell victim to the icy winter of 1884 on the small, rocky island. With a little luck, we will catch sight of rare narwhals, bearded seals and Arctic hares. Only a few cruise ships can navigate the High Arctic and conditions will determine how far the Hanseatic Inspiration travels. If the ice allows we will travel to the north-west coast of Greenland and see places visited by just a few explorers. In the mid- 20th century, the geomagnetic North Pole was still near Etah. Today, it has moved further west. The region’s allure continues in Siorapaluk, Greenland’s most northerly settlement. The barking of the huskies echoes through the village right by the fjord, surrounded by mighty sandstone mountains in shades of red and violet. Experience expedition in the purest sense off Cape York on a Zodiac ride between the icebergs.
Day 15 At sea.
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea. Join one of the lectures in the HanseAtrium or relax with a book in the lounge.
Days 16 & 17 West Coast of Greenland (Ilulissat, Disko Bay, Sisimiut).
Indescribable moments continue on Greenland’s west coast where the glacier calves into the fjord – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – near Ilulissat. A hike with the onboard experts will allow you to enjoy the glittering, shimmering ice masses that gather here – this will set the tone for an unforgettable experience in Disko Bay. Take a Zodiac ride and marvel at breathtaking ice formations drifting slowly through the bay. The colourful houses of Sisimiut, founded at the end of the 18th century as a missionary and trading post, provide a contrast to the blue of the ice. On a hike, you will enter the historic territory of an Inuit culture that is over 4000 years old. And even if you feel reluctant to return to the present, these intensive moments in the land of Arctic extremes will stay with you forever.
Day 18 Kangerlussuaq to Dusseldorf, Germany.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our chartered flight from Kangerlussuaq to Dusseldorf. On arrival in Dusseldorf transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay.
Please note that the arrival airport for the charter flight from Greenland is subject to change. Should it be necessary to change to another airport in Germany, we will advise and amend the hotel accommodation and flight to London accordingly.
Day 19 Dusseldorf to London.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Dates and Prices
1 to 19 August 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
1 Outside cabin Deck 4, 5 & 6 | £12295 | £11995 |
2 Panoramic cabin Deck 4 & 5 | Not Available | Not Available |
3 French balcony cabin Deck 6 | £13295 | £12995 |
4 Balcony cabin Deck 5 | £13795 | £13495 |
5 French balcony cabin Deck 7 | £13795 | £13495 |
6 Balcony cabin Deck 6 & 7 | £14295 | £13995 |
7 Balcony cabin Deck 6 | £16095 | £15795 |
8 Balcony cabin Deck 7 | £16595 | £16295 |
9 Junior suite with balcony 6 & 7 | £18595 | £18295 |
10 Grand suite with veranda Deck 6 & 7 | Not Available | Not Available |
2 Panoramic cabin for sole use | £15845 | £15545 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHI010821
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel between London & Dusseldorf • Specially chartered air travel between Dusseldorf & Kangerlussuaq • Two nights hotel accommodation in Dusseldorf with breakfast • 16 nights aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration on a full board basis • Mini-bar with soft drinks in your cabin restocked each day • Zodiac excursions • Expedition team including onboard lectures • Gratuities • Transfers • Landing fees • Port taxes • Airport taxes • Loan of waterproof boots and parka during cruise.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visas.
N.B. Flight schedules are yet to be released at the time of going to print and the itinerary may change on their release. Itinerary subject to change based on weather and ice conditions.
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Deckplan
Hanseatic Inspiration
Operated by our German associates, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the Hanseatic Inspiration is a new five-star expedition ship launched in October 2019. With a maximum of just 230 passengers (199 passengers in Antarctica), this unique vessel offers an informal and relaxed atmosphere on board with more open deck space than any other expedition ship. There is a qualified expedition team of naturalists who will accompany you ashore and provide informative talks in the comfort of the well-designed HanseAtrium, and a crew of 175 offering the most exquisite and attentive service on board.
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