Labrador Explorer

Itinerary

Day 1: St. John's

Ships have been sailing to the Arctic from St. John’s for hundreds of years. So often in fact that Newfoundlanders still sing traditional songs about leaving for "the Labrador."

Day 2: L’Anse aux Meadows

At the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland is a lonely rocky beach at the edge of a low lying meadow across which north Atlantic winds can whip. When you approach from the sea in Zodiacs you will be able to imagine the small band of Vikings approaching that same beach 1,000 years before to establish the first European settlement in North America. The tiny beach and the archaeological remains just above it have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 3: Labrador

The economy of Labrador has always been based on natural resources, particularly cod fishing. You’ll visit Battle Harbour which has been partially restored to act as a living museum depicting the harsh life of cod fishermen and their families. From Battle Harbour, you will continue northward to Hawkes Harbour to visit an abandoned whaling station.

Day 4: The Coast of Labrador

Labrador is one of the oldest European words in use in Canada. It is a variation of the name of Joao Fernandes Lavrador, who in 1498, was credited as the first European to sight the eastern coast of North America. We now know that Vikings may have been the first Europeans to explore the coast 500 years before Lavrador.

Day 5: Hopedale

You’ll visit the Hopedale Moravian Mission, the oldest building east of Quebec, erected in 1782. The history of the Inuit people is intertwined with the work of the Moravian missionaries.

Day 6: Okak Bay, Cape Mugford

The abandoned mission you visit today was also a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. You’ll explore the lush sub-arctic tundra and open-rock barrenlands, typical of the coast of Labrador. At Cape Mugford, you’ll learn about Ramah Chert, a stone found only in two places on Labrador’s coast. The chert was used by Paleo-Eskimo peoples and Maritime archaic Indians over 7,000 years ago.

Day 7: Torngat Mountains

The Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve was established in 2005 to protect the highest mountains east of the Rockies. You’ll explore breathtaking fjords with barrenland views. The Inuit have inhabited the region for 7500 years.

Day 8: Nachvak Fjord

You’ll pass the second location of Ramah Chert en route to Nachvak Fjord, where, if conditions permit, you’ll go ashore to hike in the mountains.

Day 9: Button Islands

Unbeknownst to the Allies, during the Second World War, Nazis established a secret automated weather station in October 1943 in Martin Bay. It was discovered 30 years later by a historian doing research in the German naval archives.

Day 10: Akpatok Island

Your exploration of this northern island may include a hike through a slot canyon to view some archaeological remains and a Zodiac cruise along the base of a bird cliff which is inhabited by 500,000 breeding pairs of Thick-billed Murres between May and September.

Day 11: Hudson Strait to Lower Savage Islands

This strait is rich in marine life, supporting many seabird colonies along its shore. In the Lower Savage Islands you will be on the alert for polar bears. If none are spotted you will go ashore.

Day 12: Monumental Island

The last few nautical miles of this expedition are spent sailing Frobisher Bay to Iqaluit. En route you visit Monumental Island, known as a habitat of polar bears and walrus.

Day 13: Iqaluit

After disembarkation, those who have added your charter air transportation to their expedition package will tour the capital of Nunavut before boarding their flight.

Trip Details

Ship	Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Highlights	Small and comfortable Russian reserach ship, l'Anse aux Meadows, remote Torngat Mountains National Park, spectacular coastlines.
Trip Notes	This voyage operates aboard the Akademik Ioffe.Mandatory Travel Insurance: Passengers traveling on this expedition are required to be covered by a travel insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage. As this voyage travels to remote regions of the world, we recommend that the policy’s emergency evacuation benefit be higher than minimum. Included: Arrival transfer in Longyearbyen, port transfers from/to the meeting point and departure transfer in Reykjavik on last day of the voyage; Shipboard accommodation; all voyage activities and excursions; education program; Highly experienced expedition leader, crew and lecturers; All meals and afternoon teas if not on shore; Access to public viewing areas; Shore excursions by zodiac boat; Onboard lectures, videos, slide and film shows; Onboard medical officer; Port taxes; Comprehensive pre-departure booklet, ship’s notes and expedition manual. Not Included: Airfare; Any visa and passport fees, airport taxes; Any pre-trip or post-trip hotel accommodation; Laundry, postage, telephone calls, drinks, medical expenses and gratuities to staff and crew; Travel insurance and emergency evacuation charges; fuel surcharge ($22 per person, per night).
Payment Policy	2007/2008 Season:A deposit of $1000 per person (11-15 day Antarctica expeditions); $1500 per person (20 day Antarctica expeditions and all Arctic expeditions); or $2000 per person (on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov) is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment Methods: Deposit: credit cards are accepted (VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover). Final payment: check or wire.WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.2008/2009 Season:A deposit of $1000 per person (11-15 day Antarctica expeditions and Arctic Adventure ships); $1500 per person (20 day Antarctica expeditions); or $2000 per person (on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov and Arctic Icebreaker Adventures) is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.* Payment Methods: Deposit: credit cards are accepted (VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover). Final payment: check or wire.WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.* Final payment due 120 days prior to departure for the following sailings: 12/30/2008 (Ocean Nova), 1/5/2009, 1/14/2009 (Orlova), 1/24/2009 (Clipper Adventurer), 2/2/2009, (Ioffe).

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-07-10	2008-07-22	+

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