Polar Wilderness Quest

The capital of Greenland, Nuuk, sits in the fjord system of the same name best known for humpback whales, waterfalls and icebergs. This unique city contains mountains and expansive backcountry on one side and a thriving metropolitan on the other, filled with culinary experiences, museums and fashion boutiques. Hiking, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking can be found most anywhere for more active explorers. Nuuk’s cultural center Katuaq displays architectural prowess with a building designed to mimic the waves of the Aurora Borealis. You may find an opportunity to fish for cod or redfish and have it cooked for you at the gourmet restaurant Qooqqut Nuan.

Perched on the seaside in the shadow of ice-capped Sermitsiaq Mountain, Nuuk is the world’s smallest capital city by population, with some 19,000 inhabitants experiencing tremendous cultural and economic growth. Watch for harp seals as you enter the harbor, and hear from local residents to learn how the community has changed over the generations. At the National Museum, examine the extraordinary 15th-century Qilakitsoq mummies found near Uummannaq—a discovery that was featured in a National Geographic magazine cover story in 1985. The Arctic ice preserved these mummies so well that researchers have been able to study their tattoos, their medical conditions and even what they ate.

Translating as the “Fjord of Eternity,” Evighedfjord lives up to its name with soaring peaks and blue glaciers spilling into a mirror-calm sea. Zodiac rides glide past sculpted icebergs, where seals lounge and seabirds skim the surface. The sheer scale of the scenery evokes Greenland’s epic spirit, while tranquil bays invite quiet moments to absorb this pristine landscape shaped by ice and time.

Evighedsfjorden, also called “Eternity Fjord,” is a dramatic fjord located on the eastern coast of Greenland. It features steep, glaciated cliffs and deep, icy waters, typical of Greenland’s rugged fjord landscapes. The fjord is largely uninhabited and remote, offering pristine scenery and opportunities to observe Arctic wildlife such as seals, seabirds, and occasionally whales. Its isolation and striking natural beauty make it a destination primarily for adventurous explorers and scientific research.

Few travel milestones are as memorable as crossing the fabled Arctic Circle. As your ship sails north, you join the ranks of explorers who have ventured into these high latitudes, where the sun lingers on the horizon and ice-choked seas define the landscape. Many mariners celebrate this passage with the lighthearted tradition of becoming a “Blue Nose,” a symbolic order marking your entry into the true High Arctic. Whether you mark it with a toast on deck or simply savor the view, this moment is a highlight of any polar journey.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Disko Bay is a wonderland of shifting light, breaching whales, and iceberg-laden waters. Wildlife thrives here — from fin whales and seabird colonies to occasional polar bear sightings on drifting ice. This region also tells a geological story, with lava flows and basalt formations shaping the dramatic coastline. With every bend in the bay, a new opportunity for awe emerges — underscoring the expedition’s spirit of discovery.

Disko Bay is a large bay located on the western coast of Greenland, opening into the Baffin Bay. It is known for its dramatic Arctic landscapes, floating icebergs, and cold, clear waters. The bay is surrounded by glaciers and coastal settlements, with Ilulissat being one of the most well-known towns nearby. Disko Bay is famous for the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where massive icebergs calve from the Greenland Ice Sheet. It is also an important area for Arctic wildlife, including whales and seals, and is a popular destination for polar tourism and scientific research.

Sitting above the Arctic Circle, visit a land of wonderful extremes, where polar bears roam, and the vastness of scenery is all-encompassing. Taking its name from the Inuktitut word for Big Island - Qikiqtarjuaq, is a place of long, summer nights that feel eternal, and contrast with the inky depths of winter. These blackened nights are illuminated by the ethereal glow of the Northern lights dancing over huge mountain peaks. A small community resides in this remote and wonderful setting, on the sheltered western shore of Broughton Island, separated from Baffin Island by a relatively narrow channel. Across this gap, the majestic, staggeringly tall mountains of Auyuittuq National Park rise. These are some of the continent’s most spectacular peaks, of poetic form and grandeur. The icy waters surrounding Qikiqtarjuaq are strewn with icebergs beginning long journeys, earning the island its title as Nunavut’s ‘Iceberg Capital’. While ice floes drift serenely on the surface, giants move in the depths - and the waters are visited by wildlife such as narwhals, bowhead whales, seals, and orcas. The skies above, meanwhile, are often alive with seabirds, particularly the Northern Fulmar. Cruise along the beautiful shoreline and take to Zodiacs for a deeper level of exploration, seeking out the wonderful wildlife of the region with our expert team on hand to identify the animals and share their fascinating insights into this wonderful region.

Baffin Bay is a vast Arctic waterway known for its dramatic ice formations, towering glaciers, and extraordinary polar wildlife. Located between Canada and Greenland, it offers rare opportunities to witness icebergs, whales, seals, and migrating seabirds in a remote and pristine environment. Its raw beauty and ever-changing sea ice create a powerful sense of exploration at the edge of the Arctic world.

Monumental Island in Davis Strait was named by Arctic explorer Charles Francis Hall as a tribute to the memory of Sir John Franklin who died in his quest to find the Northwest Passage. The island is offshore of Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago of the territory of Nunavut. Around the shoreline scores of Black Guillemots dive and fish for little Arctic cods and capelins. Successful birds fly off with a minnow grasped tightly in their beaks. On a far larger scale, it is possible to find groups of walruses with their impressive tusks along the shores of the island. However, the coup de grâce is to spot a polar bear’s white silhouette against the dark background of the bedrock on Monumental Island.

Named in honour of Sir John Franklin’s widow, the lonely and uninhabited Lady Franklin Island lies off of Baffin Island’s Hall Peninsula at the entrance to Cumberland Sound. The island is named for the wife of Sir John Franklin, the Arctic explorer who died trying to discover the Northwest Passage. The geology of the island is striking with vertical cliffs of Archean rocks, likely to be some of the oldest stone in Canada. The waters around Lady Franklin Island offer an abundance seabirds, ducks, seals, and walrus. With a bit of luck it is possible to see Atlantic Puffins here and perhaps even a rare Sabine’s Gull.

The Lower Savage Islands are a small group of islands off of the southeastern tip of Baffin Island, and a common location for polar bears to be found during the summer months. With plenty of land to roam while giving each other a wide berth, plus opportunities to feed, it seems perhaps bears can be found here as the ice vanishes with the summer season’s warming temperatures.

Akpatok Island is the largest island in the middle of Ungava Bay, south of Baffin Island and north of Quebec. Its name is the local name for the Thick-billed Murre, which nests here in vast numbers. In fact, the entire island is designated a Canadian Important Bird Area. Other common wildlife are Polar bears, seals, and walrus. One of the most distinctive features of the island is the steep limestone cliffs ringing the shore. They rise 490 to 820 feet straight up from the sea to a flat plateau. Although is uninhabited today, remains of a Dorset settlement have been documents at the southern end of the island.

Set along a stony coast lapped by sapphire water, Kimmirut is a welcoming hamlet renowned for its Inuit artistry and deep cultural roots. Visitors may browse intricate soapstone carvings, hear stories of life along the south Baffin coast, or join residents for a short walk into surrounding hills. Gentle wildlife and a strong community spirit make this a memorable, human-centered stop.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Glide through the Hudson Strait, gateway between the Atlantic and Canada’s Arctic archipelago. This cruising day offers excellent chances to spot seabirds and whales, while coastal cliffs and shifting ice hint at the rugged landscapes beyond. It’s a tranquil stretch that invites you to pause and savor the North’s elemental beauty.

The rugged Digges Islands host one of the Arctic’s highest polar bear concentrations, making every landing or Zodiac cruise an adventure. Dramatic cliffs rise from the sea, alive with thousands of nesting seabirds, their calls echoing across the water. As you explore, look for Arctic foxes or bears traversing the stony beaches below, and absorb the sense of isolation that defines this remote corner of Hudson Bay. Landings are always guided with care, and take place only when conditions allow a safe and memorable experience.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Coats Island is a wild sanctuary where polar bears spend their summers and walruses sprawl across rocky beaches. The island’s sweeping tundra and cliffs shelter more than 90 species of birds, from peregrine falcons to eider ducks. Cruising close to shore offers the chance to observe this remarkable ecosystem without disturbing its fragile balance, while the solitude of Hudson Bay stretches endlessly in every direction.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Marble Island combines stark tundra beauty with poignant history. Polar bears and belugas frequent its shores, while seals sprawl across glistening rocks. The ruins of Sadlermiut dwellings speak to an ancient Inuit culture once thriving here, giving depth to a cruise among gleaming boulders and wildlife-rich shallows.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Explored by Zodiac, the Walrus Islands offer a thrilling look at Hudson Bay’s untamed life. Massive walruses haul out on rocky ledges, their tusks gleaming in the sun, while polar bears sometimes patrol nearby shores. Seabirds wheel overhead and the soft light of the North enhances every photograph, creating a vivid memory of the Arctic’s abundance.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with our expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Glide across the tranquil sweep of Hudson Bay, a vast inland sea alive with seasonal wildlife. Beluga whales sometimes surface near the ship, their white forms gleaming against dark water, while seabirds ride the breeze overhead. The immensity of this waterway lends a sense of calm and perspective, framing the Canadian Arctic’s rugged coasts and tundra-strewn islands.

Known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” Churchill also charms with its rich cultural heritage and vibrant wildlife. Depending on the season, you may spot beluga whales gathering in the Churchill River or catch a glimpse of roaming bears along the tundra. Join engaging cultural programs to learn about local traditions, or take to the skies on a helicopter excursion, where sweeping views reveal the immense sweep of Hudson Bay and its pristine landscapes.

Located on the shores of Hudson Bay, Churchill is famously known as the "polar bear capital of the world."  With its rugged streets and vast, sweeping landscapes, offers a sense of being at the edge of the world. Surrounded by the untamed beauty of the northern wilderness, it’s the stark solitude and endless expanses that make this remarkable destination truly captivating.

In the evening, share your travel notes with your new friends over dinner in one of up to 10 all-inclusive dining experiences on board your Discovery Yacht.