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Day 1
REYKJAVIK
We board the M/V Polar Star in
colorful Reykjavik to begin our Viking adventure.
Day 2 – 3 DENMARK STRAIT
Crossing the Denmark Strait, the
program gets underway with lectures, still leaving time to
relax, read and watch for birds and marine wildlife. While
at sea it is possible to see whale and dolphin and perhaps
late season icebergs.
Day 4 NANORTALIK / GREENLAND
The first impression of this frozen
island is at Prins Christiansund Fjord - the cruise here is
often remembered as a scenic highlight. From there the ship
goes to the picturesque town of Nanortalik to explore the
community and visit the museum and open air market. While in
the Arctic Region, birds to
watch for include kittiwake, fulmar, Arctic tern and eider.
Day 5 BRATTAHLID - IGALIKU
The first Christian church in
Greenland was established in Brattahlid by Erik the Red’s
wife and today there is a replica village. In the afternoon,
walk to Igaliku, to see the ruins of Gadar (Cathedral of the
Fjords). This was once the religious epicenter of the Local
Viking settlement.
Day 6 HVALSEY & QAQORTOQ
The best preserved Viking ruins
(1300’s) are found in Hvalsey including a church where the
last religious ceremony was performed in 1408 before the
people of the area mysteriously vanished. Enjoy a walking
tour of Qaqortoq with its brightly colored homes and large
scale Scandinavian stone sculptures throughout the town.
Day 7 - 8 DAVIS STRAIT
The ship now heads for Canada crossing the Davis Strait,
also known as “iceberg alley”. Attend lectures and watch for
wildlife.
Day 9 NUNAVUT / CANADA
After customs clearance, it is time to
explore the capital of the newest territory of Canada,
Iqaluit - visit the arts centre, museum and park, and enjoy
an Arctic luncheon.
Day 10 NUNAVUT / CANADA
This day is spent exploring Frobisher
Bay in the Canadian Arctic wilderness. Throughout the time
spent in the Arctic and far northern regions a keen watch is
kept for Polar Bear, seals, whales and seabirds.
Day 11 AKPATOK ISLAND
Cruise in Ungava Bay where Akpatok
Island lies. This largely sandstone plateau is home to
walrus, Polar Bear and Thick-billed murres. This island and
the coast of Labrador are known for fine examples of flint.
Day 12 LABRADOR / CANADA
The Inuit believe that the spirit
world overlaps our own in the Torngat Mountains. Today it is
a UNESCO site and National Park. It may be possible to see
Polar Bear on the coast of northern Labrador and also Black
bear, caribou and Peregrine falcon. Cruise into Nachvak
Fjord where mountains tower almost 6000 feet above the
magnificent coastline and wilderness. The remote fjords were
carved by glaciers and today cascading waterfalls and
ancient burial grounds can be found.
Day 13 LABRADOR / CANADA
Early in the morning, cruise Saglek
Bay, located at the mouth of a fantastic fjord system, and
where the cultural remains of Maritime Archaic, early
Paleao-Eskimo and Dorset Eskimo periods have been found. The
untouched landscapes are breathtaking. Guillemots are often
seen here. Later in the morning, visit
Hebron, a former Moravian mission that was the northernmost
settlement in Labrador. The mission disbanded in 1959.
Day 14 HOPEDALE
Hopedale is a largely Inuit community,
transformed by the arrival of the Moravian Missionaries in
1782 and today remains a small but thriving community.
Remnants of the Hopedale Mission include a church, mission
house, storehouses, workshops and other smaller buildings.
In the afternoon, visit the community to learn about the
past as well as life today.
Day 15 GROSWATER BAY
Groswater Bay is home to a fascinating
array of archaeological sites. Located at the mouth of the
longest inlet on the Labrador coast, aboriginal people have
been here for at least 7,000 years likely taking advantage
of the natural resources present - nesting seabirds, seals,
whales and the abundant terrestrial
fauna and flora. Learn about these ancestors as well as the
Vikings and later whalers and traders through exploring the
islands at the edge of the Labrador Sea.
Day 16 WILLIAMS HARBOR
Williams Harbour is a living example
of an “outport”. Battle Harbour was originally settled by
Europeans in 1770 and was famous as a key base for the
Labrador Schooner Fishery. Today it is an excellent
restoration of an “outport”.
Day 17 NEWFOUNDLAND / CANADA
From St. Anthony set off for a day
steeped in Norse history. Visit Norstead (a re-enactment of
a Viking settlement) and then L’Anse aux Meadows, the only
authenticated Viking settlement in North America and a
UNESCO site. Time permitting, visit the home of Sir Wilfred
Grenfell, whose life’s work to relieve the fishermen’s
plight led to the first hospital ships.
Day 18 BONAVISTA
During the afternoon in Bonavista
visit the replica of John Cabot’s ship, Matthew, a restored
lighthouse and Ryan Premises that commemorates the role of
East Coast fishery in Canadian history. In the evening the
ship sets off to cover the remaining few miles to St.
John’s.
Day 19 ST JOHN’S
Disembark in the beautiful natural
harbour of St John’s, North America’s oldest city.
(Please note that this is our planned itinerary – actual
execution is subject to weather and scheduling limitations.
PSE reserves the right to adjust the itinerary as needed
without recourse).
PS
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