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Peregrine Travel Centre

Ellesmere Island and North Greenland: Journey to the Top of the World

Ellesmere Island and North Greenland: Journey to the Top of the World

From USD $11,995

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Description

This High Arctic expedition links Canada’s remote Ellesmere Island with the far north of Greenland, travelling through a landscape shaped by ice, silence, and extreme latitude. The route traces legendary waterways—Lancaster Sound, Smith Sound, and Kane Basin—where whales, drifting floes, and immense horizons dominate the experience. Visits to Qaanaaq and Grise Fjord offer a rare look at life in some of the world’s northernmost communities, while landings on Devon and Beechey Island connect travellers with the history of polar exploration. Tartupaluk (Hans Island) marks a symbolic point between nations, and the surrounding channels reveal the raw geology and stark beauty of Earth’s polar fringe. Conditions dictate each day, allowing flexibility for wildlife encounters, shifting ice, and the unexpected rewards of travelling at the top of the world.

Trip Name
Ellesmere Island and North Greenland: Journey to the Top of the World
Days
13
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Length: 73 metres Passenger Capacity: 86 Built / Refurbished: 1992 / 2006 The Ocean Nova, built in Denmark in 1992 and fully refurbished in 2006, is a small yet comfortable expedition vessel accommodating up to 84 passengers. Cabins are spread across two decks and include single, double, and triple accommodations, all with sea views and private facilities. Designed with Scandinavian light woods, the cabins feature ample storage, desks, and flexible bedding arrangements, ensuring a practical and cosy retreat after a day of exploration. Passengers can relax in the Panorama Lounge, which offers panoramic views, daily briefings from the expedition team, and lectures on subjects ranging from ornithology to geology, while the library, small gym, and medical facilities enhance onboard comfort. Dining aboard the Ocean Nova is informal yet enjoyable, with a single-sitting dining room offering a combination of table service and buffet, allowing all guests to dine together while taking in views through the portholes. Life on board is relaxed and immersive, often spent on deck watching for wildlife or simply admiring the surrounding landscapes. With one of the highest ice classes (1B) and a powerful 2000 hp diesel engine, the Ocean Nova is equipped to navigate icy waters or tranquil lochs with ease. A crew of 34, including North European officers, ensures both passenger safety and an enriching expedition experience, complemented by fully enclosed lifeboats and an onboard medical clinic.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1: Qausuittuq (Resolute), NU, Canada
Beneath the lingering glow of the Arctic summer sun, Qausuittuq, “the place with no dawn,” welcomes you to the High Arctic. Set amid gravel flats and rolling moraine, this community carries stories of adaptation and renewal, from relocation in 1953 to its role today as a gateway for Arctic research and travel. Take time to orient yourself to the land and its stories before embarking aboard the Ocean Nova. The North awaits.
Day 2 - Day 2–3: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound)
Enter Tallurutiup Imanga, a thriving marine sanctuary where whales, walrus, seals, and seabirds gather among towering cliffs, deep fjords, and endless horizons. Step ashore on Devon Island, where glaciers meet the sea and archaeological traces reflect centuries of Inuit use and knowledge of this land.
Day 3 - Day 4: Qaanaaq, Greenland
Set against a backdrop of mountains and drifting sea ice, Qaanaaq is one of the world’s northernmost towns and a centre of Inughuit culture. Here, ancient skills and modern life flow together in rhythm with the sea ice. Traditions such as dog-sledding and hunting remain vital parts of community identity, reflecting deep connections to place. Meeting the people of Qaanaaq offers a glimpse of extraordinary adaptation and continuity—life shaped, still, by ice, animals, and seasons.
Day 4 - Day 5–6: Kane Basin
Sail into Kane Basin, where the shores of Ellesmere Island and Greenland almost meet. Towering glaciers, drifting sea ice, and Arctic light set the stage for an unforgettable journey through one of the North’s most dramatic waterways. For generations, Inuit navigated these passages with exceptional skill, later followed by explorers heading toward the Pole. Over these two days, you’ll feel the spirit of exploration alive in the shifting light and every drifting floe.
Day 5 - Day 7: Tartupaluk (Hans Island)
Set foot on Tartupaluk—a place few will ever visit. Perched in the middle of the Nares Strait between Canada and Greenland, this small, rocky island has long been a crossroads for Inuit, who travelled these waters freely for generations. In modern times, it became the focus of a good-natured yet symbolically potent territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark. In 2022, a historic agreement resolved the issue, establishing shared stewardship between Canada and Greenland and affirming Inuit mobility rights. Standing on Tartupaluk, with Greenland to one side and Canada to the other, you’ll feel the quiet power of shared care for the North—and the enduring movement of Inuit across these waters.
Day 6 - Day 8–9: Smith Sound
Venture through Smith Sound, the dramatic channel linking Kane Basin to Baffin Bay and the southern entrance to Sarvarjuaq/Pikialasorsuaq (The North Water Polynya) — “The Great Upwelling.” Surrounded by shifting sea ice, this vast recurring area of open water is the largest Arctic polynya and the most biologically productive region north of the Arctic Circle. Its nutrient-rich waters breathe life into the Arctic, drawing whales, seabirds, and seals. 
Day 7 - Day 10: Aujuittuq (Grise Fjord), NU, Canada
Set amid stark mountains and sweeping tundra, Aujuittuq,“the place that never thaws”, is Canada’s northernmost community. Here, stories of relocation and adaptation shape daily life. Walking with local hosts, you’ll hear how knowledge of land, sea, and seasons continues to sustain the community—a living testament to strength and ingenuity at the top of the world.
Day 8 - Day 11: Devon Island
Vast and elemental, Devon Island reveals a world shaped by ice and time. Here, broad valleys and exposed rock tell of ancient forces, while bursts of Arctic wildflowers bring unexpected colour to the tundra. Along the shore, traces of Inuit presence remind us that even in the quietest landscapes, human stories endure. Immense views, striking geological formations, and profound silence combine to make this one of the most atmospheric stops of the journey.
Day 9 - Day 12: Beechey Island
Come ashore on Beechey Island, where Arctic history feels close and tangible. This windswept National Historic Site holds the graves of three Franklin expedition members and another who died in the search that followed. Here, Inuit knowledge has been essential in revealing the fate of the lost ships. Along the shoreline, the stark landscape invites reflection on the intertwined narratives of exploration, survival, and knowledge that still shape our relationship with the North.
Day 10 - Day 13: Qausuittuq (Resolute), NU, Canada
Disembark in Qausuittuq and board your charter flight to Ottawa. As the Arctic stretches out beneath you, reflect on the light, stories, and relationships that have shaped this journey—connections that continue long after the voyage ends. 
Day 11 - Please note:
Published itineraries are examples only, weather, ice, government regulations, and community requests may necessitate changes to the planned schedules. These sometimes necessary adjustments present exciting opportunities for exploration, discovery, and adventure.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-08-202731-08-2027USD $11,995Cabin Category 1
19-08-202731-08-2027USD $13,995Cabin Category 2
19-08-202731-08-2027USD $15,195Cabin Category 3
19-08-202731-08-2027USD $15,995Cabin Category 4
19-08-202731-08-2027USD $16,995Cabin Category 5
19-08-202731-08-2027USD $22,875Cabin Category 6

Inclusions

    • Passage through Lancaster Sound, Kane Basin, and Smith Sound for concentrated wildlife, pack ice, and sweeping polar scenery.
    • Rare access to Qaanaaq and Grise Fjord, two of the world’s northernmost communities.
    • Landings on Devon and Beechey Island for direct connection to iconic polar-exploration history.

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