The Viking Trail to the Americas
Daily Itinerary 18 Days / 17 Nights
Reykjavik, Iceland – Greenland – Iqaluit, Baffin Island – Labrador – St John’s, Newfoundland
PS78-16
September 11 – 28, 2008
Day 1: REYKJAVIK – (Iceland) We board the M/V Polar Star in colourful Reykjavik to begin our Viking adventure.
Days 2-3: DENMARK STRAIT – As we head towards Greenland, we relax onboard and attend lectures. Our bridge and large deck areas are ideal lookouts for spotting whales, dolphins and seabirds.
Day 4: NANORTALIK – (Greenland) This morning we navigate the narrow waters of Prins Christian Sund with its amazing array of glaciers, icebergs and melting rivers of ice. This is a scenic highlight of the cruise. In the picturesque town of Nanortalik, we visit the open air market and the local museum with Norse and Inuit relics.
Day 5: BRATTAHLID – We land at Brattahlid, where Erik the Red’s wife established the first Christian church in Greenland and today we can see a reconstruction of the village. In the afternoon we walk to the ruins at Igaliku, once the religious epicentre of the local Viking settlement.
Day 6: HVALSEY & QAQORTOQ – In Hvalsey, we see some of the best preserved Viking ruins (1300’s) including the church where the last religious ceremony was performed in 1408 before the people mysteriously vanished from the area. We visit Qaqortoq to wander the streets lined with stoned sculptures and brilliantly painted houses.
Days 7-8: DAVIS STRAIT – We spend two days onboard as we cruise “iceberg alley” which separates Greenland from Baffin Island. Our lecture program continues as we look out for icebergs and wildlife.
Day 9: IQALUIT (Canada) – We make landfall at the capital of Nunavut on Baffin Island to embark on a community tour which includes displays of beautiful Inuit art, and enjoy an arctic luncheon.
Day 10: SAVAGE ISLANDS – Today is a day in the wilderness with Zodiac cruising and perhaps a landing in Frobisher Bay. There is the possibility to see Polar Bears, seals and a variety of seabirds here.
Day 11: AKPATOK ISLAND – A delight for geologists and naturalists alike, this limestone island is knows for its fossils, gigantic cliffs and a good opportunity for sightings of Polar Bear and peregrine falcon.
Day 12: TORNGAT MOUNTAINS – Known to the Inuit people as “land of the spirits”, these mountains were formed from rocks thought to be almost four billion years old. Black Bear and Polar Bear live amongst the area’s majestic network of fjords, cliffs and peaks. Zodiac landings are planned at Saglek and Nackvack.
Day 13: CAPE MUGFORD & HEBRON – In Hebron, we explore the buildings that Moravian Brethrens left behind after bringing their mission to the area. The settlement was abandoned in 1959. We also visit Cape Mugford, home to unique volcanic rock formations.
Day 14: HOPEDALE – This community was also settled by Moravian missionaries. We explore the ruins and see what is thought to be the oldest building east of Quebec.
Day 15: BATTLE HARBOUR –Battle Harbour, first settled by Europeans in 1770, was home to the Labrador Schooner Fishery. Today it is an excellent restoration giving insight into the rugged lifestyle of those days.
Day 16: ST. ANTHONY & L’ANSE AUX MEADOWS – In St. Anthony, we visit the museum honouring Sir Wilfred Grenfell who dedicated his life to the fisherman living in these remote and challenging areas. We visit L’anse Aux Meadows where the series of mounds are the remains of the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America, and Norstead, a reconstructed Norse village.
Day 17: BONAVISTA – We spend the day exploring Bonavista, where Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) is said to have first glimpsed North America (1497). We visit a replica of Cabot’s ship the Matthew, the restored historic lighthouse (1843) and reconstructed fishing village.
Day 18: ST JOHN’S – Disembark in the beautiful natural harbour of St John’s.
Number of Meals Included
17 Breakfasts
16 Lunches
17 Dinners
Expedition Map