Spring Polar Bears & Icebergs of Baffin Island
A true Arctic adventure camping on the ice in Canada's High Arctic seeking out polar bears, their newborn cubs and the Northern Lights. Explore a part of the Arctic which very few people will ever get to experience. Camp in comfortable tents right on the ice, as you move in to the land of the ice bears. This will perhaps be the coldest environment you ever experience with the temperature rarely rising above -20°C, but the pristine white ice, and the opportunity to see polar bears up close with cubs will be one you’ll never forget.
- Watch polar bears roam across the High Arctic.
- Catch sight of newborn cubs accompanying their mothers, having emerged from their dens just a few weeks prior.
- Camp on the ice and watch the Northern Lights illuminate the night sky.
- Learn from Inuit guides and traverse the wild landscapes of the Canadian High Arctic.
- A true Arctic explorer’s safari
DAY 1OTTAWA - IKALUIT - QIKITARJUAQ Today you'll arrive into Ottawa and board your scheduled flight to Qikitarjuaq via Iqaluit. You will be met by your expedition team upon arrival, who will then transfer you to your hotel in time for dinner and a briefing of the trip that lays ahead.
DAY 2QIKITARJUAQ - TENTED SAFARI CAMP After breakfast you will prepare to travel to camp by snowmobile and qamutik (a traditional Inuit sled). During this exciting journey to camp you will get your first glimpse of deep glacial carved fjords, magnificent icebergs and will even get the change to spot some Arctic wildlife. You will arrive into camp before dinner, allowing you to settle into your tents and enjoy a brief tour of the facilities.Overnight: Tented Safari Camp(B, L, D)
DAYS 3-7PHOTOGRAPHING THE BEARS Rise early and transfer to your camp on the sea ice, travelling via snowmobile and qamutik, a type of traditional Inuit sled. Once you've settled into camp, you’ll start your time here with a briefing and overview from your guides. You will get to enjoy full-day explorations of the immense wilderness as Inuit guides bring you out onto the ice to locate, view and photograph magnificent polar bears. Your guides will be on the lookout for mothers and cubs as the young bears explore the wilderness with their mothers, having emerged from their dens just a few weeks earlier. With spectacular pressure ridges that rise up to 10 feet in the air, and pristine white snow as your backdrop, you’ll be sure to take some your best ever photos on this amazing trip. Back at the camp, you’ll enjoy hot lunches and dinners in the large dome tent, which serves as both a kitchen and dining area, as you chat with the other travellers and compare photographs while you warm up! Despite the cold, you’ll be in the High Arctic at the perfect time of year to witness the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) at night, and from the middle of nowhere with no light pollution to spoil the show, you’ll be able to lay back and watch as the lights dance through the night sky.Overnight: Tented Safari Camp(B, L, D)
DAY 8CAMP - QIKIQTARJUAQ After a hot breakfast, spend the morning capturing a few last memories and photographs while on the sea ice. Return to Qikiqtarjuaq and overnight at the local hotel, joining your fellow adventurers for dinner.
DAY 9QIKIQTARJUAQ - IQALUIT - OTTAWA Fly from Qikiqtarjuaq to Iqaluit, with views of mountain peaks and ancient glaciers. Then from Iqaluit, you will continue to Ottawa. You will then be able to catch your international flight home or spend time exploring Canada's capital, depending on your arrangements.
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What to expect
Arrive into Ottawa and board your scheduled flight to Qikitarjuaq via Iqaluit, with views of mountain peaks and ancient glaciers. You will be met by your expedition team upon arrival, who will then transfer you to your hotel in time for dinner and a briefing of the trip that lays ahead. The following day you will prepare to travel to camp by snowmobile and qamutik (a traditional Inuit sled). During this exciting journey to camp you will get your first glimpse of deep glacial carved fjords, magnificent icebergs and will even get the change to spot some Arctic wildlife. You will arrive into camp before dinner, allowing you to settle into your tents and enjoy a brief tour of the facilities.
Photographing the Bears
Rise early and transfer to your camp on the sea ice, travelling via snowmobile and qamutik, a type of traditional Inuit sled. Once you've settled into camp, you’ll start your time here with a briefing and overview from your guides. You will get to enjoy full-day explorations of the immense wilderness as Inuit guides bring you out onto the ice to locate, view and photograph magnificent polar bears. Your guides will be on the lookout for mothers and cubs as the young bears explore the wilderness with their mothers, having emerged from their dens just a few weeks earlier. With spectacular pressure ridges that rise up to 10 feet in the air, and pristine white snow as your backdrop, you’ll be sure to take some your best ever photos on this amazing trip. Back at the camp, you’ll enjoy hot lunches and dinners in the large dome tent, which serves as both a kitchen and dining area, as you chat with the other travellers and compare photographs while you warm up! Despite the cold, you’ll be in the High Arctic at the perfect time of year to witness the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) at night, and from the middle of nowhere with no light pollution to spoil the show, you’ll be able to lay back and watch as the lights dance through the night sky.
Tented Safari Camp
This is a delightful tented camp that can be set up on ice or land, depending on your safari and the time of year of travel. With the appearance of a simple tented camp, this is a little gem that provides you with comfort during your time in the Arctic. Don’t be deceived by how small the tents look, that’s due to the huge, towering icebergs and mountains they are photographed with. They have plenty of room for two, and will keep you snug in the, sometimes bitter, Arctic nights. A lovely tented camp that can be set up on ice or land, keeping your cosy in the Arctic conditions.
Trip Details
This is a small group, set departure. Perfect for photographers, this is a real adventure into the middle of the High Arctic. Be prepared for very cold temperatures and unpredictable weather, with temperatures usually ranging from -40°C to -20°C (-40° to -4°F). The hotel in Qikiqtarjuaq may vary depending on availability. Charter flights from Ottawa to Qikiqtarjuaq are included in the price of the safari.
Dates & Prices arctic-canada
| Date | Guests | Trip Length | Trip Style | Prices from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18 - Mar 26 2024 | 9 Days | Small Group | 18500 | ||
| Mar 26 - Apr 03 2024 | 8 Days | Small Group | 18500 | ||
| Apr 04 - Apr 12 2024 | 8 Days | Small Group | 18500 | ||
| Apr 12 - Apr 20 2024 | 8 Days | Small Group | 18500 |