Autumn Northern Lights: Greenland to Nova Scotia

On the first day of our voyage, we board our flights to arrive in Nuuk, Greenland's small but perfectly formed capital city! A mixture of skyscrapers and traditional wooden houses, the quaint and the cosmopolitan, Nuuk is a city of contrasts. The vibrant bustling capital of Greenland, Nuuk feels much larger than it’s 19,000 inhabitants, and offers a wealth of experiences to visitors.

Upon arrival in Nuuk Airport, we will be driven past the city center of Nuuk to the city harbour, where Ocean Albatros awaits. Embark your expedition vessel, settle into your comfortable stateroom and prepare for adventure! After the mandatory safety briefing and drill, dine in comfort with your fellow explorers as we set sail along the coast of Greenland.

On the next day of our expedition, we will arrive at the small village of Kangaamiut, an incredibly picturesque settlement in Greenland’s central Qeqqata region. Surrounded by cold rich waters and a vast back country brimming with game, life in Kangaamiut moves at a slower pace, and locals still live a largely traditional lifestyle, surviving by hunting and fishing. Hike to the heliport atop the hill for stunning views over the town and the surrounding fjordlands, or meet the friendly local people during a display of traditional clothing, foods, and seal-flensing. The artists of Kangaamiut are well-known throughout Greenland, and some of the locals' most splendid work can be viewed in the town's small museum.

In the afternoon, we will sail inland into Evighedsfjorden/Kangerlussuatsiaq, one of the many deep fjords carved between the steep mountains of this region. The Danish name 'Evighedsfjorden' means 'The Eternity Fjord', referring to the vast size of the inlet, while the Greenlandic name 'Kangerlussuatsiaq' translates as 'The Rather Large Fjord' - something of an understatement! Evighedsfjorden stretches around 100km into the glacier-clad mountains, bisecting the large ice cap which overlies much of the land between Nuuk and Sisimiut - Greenland's two largest cities. We will aim to explore on a Zodiac cruise in front of the Evigheds Glacier, which flows into the fjord from the Maniitsoq Ice Cap above. Watch for calvings from the glacier, and guillemots and kittiwakes on the nearby bird cliffs.

Separating southwestern Greenland from eastern Nunavut, the Davis Strait was named for John Davis, one of the many European explorers who ventureed into this region in search of the Northwest Passage. The area was formerly a hotspot for European whalers, who came to harvest the vast numbers of northern right whales which once frequented the area. The coasts of the Davis Strait are sparsely inhabited, with Nuuk and Iqaluit being by far the largest. Extreme tidal ranges and heavy winter ice once made access to the region a serious challenge, although modern expedition vessels such as the Ocean Albatros can now navigate such waters with ease.

Days at sea are never dull. We will arrange a variety of activities onboard for our guests to enjoy to engage the mind, body and soul. Join your knowledgeable Expedition Team lecturers in the Theatre to hear specially-crafted lectures on local history, wildlife, geology, culture and more, unwind with a massage in the Albatros Polar Spa, or simply watch the seabirds gliding along the ship from our hot tubs as the Ocean Albatros flies across the Davis Strait.

Situated in the calm waters of the vast Kuugarjuaq fjord off Cumberland Sound, Pangnirtung surely occupies one of the most scenic locations in the Arctic. A small town nestled amid sweeping glacier-capped mountains and miles of pristine tundra, Pangnirtung represents what most people think of when considering Inuit hamlets in Canada. Even the place names here drip with description; Kuugarjuaq roughly means 'Becoming a Large River', while Pangniqtuuq (ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᖅ), the Inuktitut name of the town means 'The Place of Bull Caribou' - although the town is often known throughout Canada simply as 'Pang'.

The local Inuit in the region have only had contact with Europeans in the last 100 years; the settlement was established as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, around which the modern town grew as government services were established in the area. Today home to around 1,500 people. The town is today known both for its outstanding natural beauty which have earned it the epithet 'the Switzerland of the Arctic', and the enterprise of the local residents. Government initiatives have promoted the growth of Inuit Art in Pangnirtung, and artworks from the town such as carvings, prints and woven goods are sought after worldwide - expecially the famous Pang Hat, the closely knitted iconic headware of Nunavut.

Two barren and isolated rocks pierce the sea off the southeast coast of Baffin Island – these are Monumental and Lady Franklin Islands, two of the most wildlife-rich areas in Nunavut.

Monumental Island was named in English in honour of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition - however the Inuktitut name ᐅᒥᐊᙳᐊᖅ/Umiannguaq references the island's shape, translating as 'The Little Boat'. Lady Franklin Island was named in honour of Franklin's wife, who sponsored seven expeditions in search of her missing husband - a sadly fruitless endeavour.

Situated well offshore, well away from the nearest human settlements and icebound for most of the year, these undistrubed islands are a haven for polar bears and walrus, which are commonly seen in the area along with the vast flocks of seabirds which nest on these remote islands. Although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, these are two of the best sites in Nunavut to see Arctic wildlife; keep binoculars and cameras at the rea

The Lower Savage Islands are a group of rugged low-lying islands at the mouth of Frobisher Bay, the vast inlet leading to Iqaluit. Eons of time, and the passage of ice, wind and sea have carved two deep channels into these islands, which almost seem made for exploring by Zodiac. While the landscape is barren and stark, the southern Baffin region experiences some of the largest tidal variations on Earth, and these strong currents keep the waters in and around the islands fresh and rich in nutrients. Thus, these waters are a hotspot for Arctic wildlife, which we hope to see during a day spent Zodiac cruising in the area.

Translating from Inuktitut as 'The Big Bay', Kangiqsujuaq sits in a calm and sheltered fjord off Ungava Bay. It is one of the larger towns in Nunavik, the Inuit homeland in the Canadian province of Quebec, which covers the northern third of the province. The natural setting of Kangiqsujuaq could not be more perfect, and the town sits in a verdant valley nestled between mountains, and backed by a lake which provides pure drinking water to the town.

While culturally similar to towns in Nunavut, Kangiqsujuaq is part of Quebec, and the local language and culture are subtly different to those in Nunavut. Slighty warmer and greener than Baffin Island, locals in Kangiqsujuaq are known for their unique method of shellfish harvesting, where locals will venture under the ice during low winter tides, harvesting mussels in the temporary ice caves before the sea returns.

Outside Kangiqsujuaq lies one of Canada's most productive copper and nickel mines; while mining continues to be controversial in Canada's Inuit lands, residents of Kangiqsujuaq has prospered from their mineral wealth. Locals are proud of their Inuit culture, and stunning murals and artworks adorn alost every building.

In the center of Ungava Bay lies Akpatok Island. Barren, remote, and surrounded by sea ice for most of the year, Akpatok is only accessible for a few months in the height of summer. Akpatok Island is one of the most geologically unique in Nunavut. Unlike Baffin Island and the narby Canadian mainland, which are composed of ancient metamorphic rock, Akpatok is composed of much younger sediments, the layers of which have been eroded by millenia of wind, water and ice. This has produced the island's stunning cliffs, composed of layers of white limestone and indented by gullies and valleys dripping with greenery, resembling a long-lost ancient temple or fortress.

'Akpat' is the Inuktitut word for 'Guillemots', which hints at the island's main residents. Thousands upon thousands of Brunnich's Guillemots flock to this island in summer, clustering on narrow rock ledges to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. Once fledged, the chicks jump from the rocky ledges into the water, ready to start their lives at sea. However, mindful of the potential bounty, arctic foxes and sometimes even polar bears frequent the island, roaming the shores and plains of the island in a never-ending hunt for prey.

The best way to explore this magnificent island is by sea, and (conditions permitting) we will offer a thrilling adventure with our skilled expedition staff to explore the magnificent scenery and wildlife of this remote island.

At the northernmost tip of Labrador lie the Torngat Mountains, the highest peaks in Canada east of the Rockies. This vast wilderness is shared between the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, with the border running along the highest peaks of the range. In the Inuktitut language, tongait roughly translates as 'place of spirits' - the otherworldly landscapes of these mountains make it easy to understand why. The Norse also visited this area around 1000 years ago, naming the area 'Markland' - the Land of Forests, and probably came here to gather wood (a rarity in their strongholds of Iceland and South Greenland).

Protected as a National Park, the vast majority of the Torngats are inaccessible to all but Inuit hunters from Nunatsiavut - the Inuit homelands in Labrador. Fewer than 600 people visit the park each year, which is well known for it's large and dangerous populations of polar bears and black bears - therefore, the safest way to explore this vast wilderness is from the expedition vessel itself. As autumn returns to the North, join your Expedition Team on deck as we explore the fjords and mountainscapes of this stunning wilderness - keep your binoculars at the ready!

Following the coast of Labrador, we sail in the wake of 10th Century Norse explorers, the first Europeans to visit this vast land (known as Markland in the Norse Sagas). As did the Viking explorers of old, watch the golden sunrise from your private balcony, or enjoy with friends in the Observation Lounge on Deck 8. Through the day, feed your curiosity with our Expedition Team, who will share specially-crafted lectures and hands-on workshops with our guests. Be sure to join the Expedition Team on the outer decks of Ocean Albatros as well, and feel the temperature rise as we leave the Arctic behind and enter the Canadian Maritimes. As we sail south, ensure you are on the outer decks during the evenings, where we hope to see the breathtaking northern lights - the aurora borealis.

The small town of Rigolet sits at the entrance of Hamilton Inlet, in the heart of Labrador. The local name of the town is Tikigaaksuagusik ('Land Resembling an Index Finger'); around 95% of the town's population are Inuit, and Rigolet is the southernmost Inuit community on Earth - further south than much warmer cities such as Copenhagen, Oslo and Helsinki.

Inuit arrived here around the year 1600, arriving in a land where trees grow, rather than tundra. At this time, Europeans were beginning to exploit the region, largely hunting for whales and seals. The long arm of the Hudson's Bay Company arrived in Tikigaaksuagusik in 1836, where European settlers arrived in the pre-established Inuit community. At the junction between Inuit lands to the North and the more temperate Canadian South, Rigolet prospered on the export of fish, furs and other natural goods.

Despite a small population of just over three hundred, Rigolet is well-known throughout Canada. The artists of the town excel in traditional crafts such as stone-carving, sealskin fashion and basketry. The boardwalk built to connect the trading post buildings to the town has been lengthened and enlarged over the years, and today is one of the best ways to explore the breathtaking nature around the town. Humpback whales, vast schools of salmon and soemtimes eagles can be seen from this weatherproof path - the longest boardwalk in North America.

St Anthony is perched at the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland, on rolling hills unchanged since the days when the Vikings arrived on these shores. Newfoundland is believed to be the land referred to in the Norse Sagas as 'Vinland', a land of timber, rich fishing and safe anchorages. Vinland was believed to be a legend for hundreds of years, until archaeologists discovered the remains of Norse buildings at the northernmost tip of Newfoundland at L'Anse aux Meadows - exactly where the sagas stated.

This sensational archaeological discovery rewrote world history. It pushed European arrival in the Americas back by 500 years, and confirmed the claims made in the Sagas. Evidence suggests that while the Norse never fully settled in the area, they sailed much further south to the St Lawrence River, probably in search of timber and other supplies. The site was abandonded by the 1100s, but the outlines of buidlings can still be seen over 1000 years later.

Today, L'Anse aux Meadows is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Canadian National Historic Site, and remains the first and only Norse site in the Americas outside Greenland. The Sagas state that Leif Erikson himself founded the site, although the truth of this is lost to time. We will arrive in the chamring town of St Anthony, from where we will offer an optional excursion (charge applies) to L'Anse aux Meadows, following in the footsteps of Norse explorers a thousand years ago - the original Nordic-American experience!

Nestled in the sheltered fjords of western Newfoundland lies the sleepy town of Woody Point, a slice of quintessential Newfoundland. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, life in Woody Point moves at a slower pace, surrounded by majestic trees and imposing mountains. Woody Point is the gateway to the incredible Gros Morne National Park, a wonderland of fjords, lakes, mountains and waterfalls, just a stone's throw from town.

And the stones here tell a fascinating story! As you ascend into the mountains, patches of forest give way to a bald, rocky Martian landscape - these are the famous Tablelands, a geological marvel which can be observed almost nowhere else on Earth. Millions of years ago as the predecessor to the Atlantic Ocean closed and Europe and North America collided, a slab of rock from the ancient ocean floor became trapped in these mountains, and has remained here ever since. Poor in nutrients, this rock provides poor soil, leading to the stark difference in vegetation here - a thumb-sized branch on the tablelands can be hundreds of years old! This lack of nutrients prompted evolution to think again, and entire communities of insect-eating carnivorous plants can be seen along the paths through the area. The area is a magnet for geologists, who can observe processes of Erth history which are otherwise inaccessible. The nearby Gros Morne National Park Center tells visitors of this fascinating geological and ecological history, as well as the fascinating story of the Indigenous Mi'kmaq people.

During our last relaxing day at sea, a variety of activities will be arranged on board to provide our guests with the chance to reflect on their voyage. Relax with an expertly crafted cocktail in the Nordic Bar in the company of new friends, soak up the knowledge and passion of our Expedition Team during lectures in the Lounge, or simply enjoy the flight of the fulmars which accompany us southwards.

During your last evening onboard, join the Captain and Officers of the Ocean Albatros for the Farewell Cocktail Party, followed by a presentation of photos and video by our onboard photographer - the ideal opportunity to re-live your Arctic adventure. Skål!

During the final morning of our expedition, Ocean Albatros will arrive in the sheltered harbour of Halifax, the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Bustling city streets and glittering buildings may seem strange after the serene wilderness of the Arctic! Halifax is the ideal gateway from which to explore Nova Scotia, or indeed to venture further into Canada, with direct flight connections around North America, as well as Europe.

After a hearty breakfast, it is time to bid a fond farewell to the Crew and Albatros Expedition Team, and descend the gangway back to dry land with memories of the voyage of a lifetime.