Arctic & Alaska

Baffin Bay Secrets

14 Days aboard Le Boreal. From NZD $28,167pp.
Details

Overview

Set sail aboard Le Boréal for a memorable 14-day expedition cruise to the discovery of Baffin Bay. You will embark in Kangerlussuaq for an unforgettable journey in the heart of the most magnificent Arctic landscapes. The first destination is the North-West coast of Greenland which will welcome you with its majestic icebergs, colourful villages encircled by mountains and its basalt formations. This is the ideal opportunity for meeting the local population and learning about Greenland Inuit culture.

The North of Greenland will then reveal its remote villages of peat houses where the last bear hunters and narwhal fishers live in the middle of the Arctic tundra according to their ancestral traditions. You will also see the remains of ancient Inuit civilisations and will discover Savissivik, the largest “iceberg graveyard” in Greenland. During the last days of your cruise, Le Boréal will sail along the eastern coast of Baffin Island, in the Nunavut, Canada. With its immense cliffs, bird colonies and fjords, this destination will definitely delight you.

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Itinerary Highlights

  • Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with your naturalist guides.
  • Hiking opportunity.
  • Visit traditional villages and encounter the Inuit people.
  • Disko Bay, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, to see the Northern Hemisphere’s largest icebergs.
  • Landscapes: ice floes, jagged mountains, icebergs, ice caps, steep-sided valleys, sheer cliffs, huge glaciers.
  • Wildlife: polar bears, Arctic terns, walruses, whales, musk oxen.

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Kangerlussuaq
  • Day 2: Sisimiut
  • Day 3: Disko Bay
  • Day 4: Paul-Emile Victor Base Camp, Eqi Glacier
  • Day 5: Tugtutoq
  • Day 6: Kullorsuaq
  • Day 7: Savissivik
  • Day 8: Qaanaaq (Thule)
  • Day 9: Pond Inlet, Nunavut
  • Day 10: Sam Ford Fjord, Nunavut
  • Day 11: Isabella Bay, Ninginganiq Wildlife Area
  • Day 12: Kivitoo, Nunavut
  • Day 13: Itilleq
  • Day 14: Kangerlussuaq

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: Kangerlussuaq

From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometres from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons and eagles live.

Later this afternoon embark your ship to begin your expedition.

Day 2: Sisimiut

During your cruise, we invite you to discover Sisimiut, founded in 1756 and the second largest town in Greenland. This small town is typical of Greenland, boasting bewitching panoramas: here and there, colourful stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town centre, it is home to a number of historic buildings, a small church and a museum which retraces the history of the Inuit people, as well as many craft shops. When your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.

Day 3: Disko Bay

To the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, scattered with countless icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the region’s many humpback whales. The encounters with wild fauna and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile nature will be pure moments of wonder for you.

Contact us to enquire about available optional excursions in Disko Bay.

Day 4: Paul-Emile Victor Base Camp, Eqi Glacier

"The most beautiful place in the Arctic" is how Paul-Émile Victor described Greenland, a land of great table icebergs and of towering ice formations calved by the giant glaciers of the polar ice cap. The Eqi Glacier is one of the region’s most impressive sights. Here, the silence is broken only by the roaring and cracking of the ice. It is impossible to know if one is shivering from cold or from the sheer thrill of being here... Imagine the vast outline of a glacier, its translucent crystals glowing with an ice-blue fire in the sunlight. Paul-Émile Victor’s shelter cannot be overlooked; it was from here that the French Polar Expeditions’ anthropological and geographic explorations set off in the 1950s.

Day 5: Tugtutoq

The small uninhabited island of Tugtutoq, a former Inuit encampment, is located in the Upernavik region. The power of this place lies in its soft landscapes, which conceal many archaeological treasures nestling in the wild tundra. After a stop on a beautiful beach, you will have the opportunity to walk around ancient peat houses from the Thule civilisation, built according to a traditional method. The graves of a cemetery, dotted here and there between the rocks, seem to remind visitors of the presence of ancestors in these places marked by the Thulean culture.

Day 6: Kullorsuaq

Well beyond the Arctic Circle, in the majestic landscapes of Greenland’s Northwest, you will find the village of Kullorsuaq, the last bastion of Greenland’s traditional hunters. Here is where you will find Greenland’s true character… Vast mineral expanses, sumptuous mountains, impressive glaciers and, above all, the local population which still lives off fishing and seal or bear hunting. Hospitality and respect for nature are essential elements in the daily lives of these men, who live an austere life. When we drop anchor in this remote part of the world, set off to discover these friendly people who are also talented craftsmen, deftly sewing the furs and skins of marine mammals. This will be a unique and authentic experience.

Day 7: Savissivik

Some places in this world are so magical that their beauty cannot be described in words… Savissivik, a small Inuit village with less than a hundred inhabitants, is one such place. Rightly considered to be the biggest iceberg graveyard in Greenland, it is a stunning sight to behold. During your Zodiac® outing, you will sail between these icy giants. Once on land, you can hike to a viewpoint from which to enjoy breathtaking views over these icebergs, which come in an incredibly diverse range of shapes and colours. Photographers will love it. Savissivik Bay attracts many bears and is also known for having been the home of one of the world’s biggest meteorites, but the latter has now been moved to a museum in New York.

Day 8: Qaanaaq (Thule)

Welcome to Greenland’s northernmost town. With some 600 inhabitants, Qaanaaq, which is also called “New Thule”, perfectly illustrates the quintessence of Inuit culture. Shrouded in darkness during the long winter months, this town, where most people get around by dog sled, was created in the 1950s. The Inuit, who at the time lived some one hundred kilometres further south, were forced to settle here after an American air base was created in their home village.

Day 9: Pond Inlet, Nunavut

On Baffin Island, located in northern Canada at the mouth of the famous NorthWest Passage, there is a small Inuit settlement at the very bounds of infinity. To get there, cross the Arctic Circle, the imaginary line that separates man from lands of mystery and wonder. It’s not so much the way of life that sets Pond Inlet’s inhabitants apart, so much as the setting. Snow-capped mountains, fjords and glaciers combine in a dazzling natural environment that fills space and expands time. Some discoveries change you forever: this is one of them.

Day 10: Sam Ford Fjord, Nunavut

All around you is a raw landscape of spectacular beauty. Nothing seems to want to disturb the silence. You are in the Sam Ford Fjord, on the east coast of Baffin Island. Located only a few kilometres away from the Inuit community of Clyde River, this fjord has the kind of world’s end appearance that only the Arctic lands can offer. From your ship, allow yourself to be dazzled by the series of vertiginous cliffs plunging into the waters of the fjord. These impressively high walls of rock, known worldwide to climbing enthusiasts, are reflected in the waters of the fjord, as though to completely shift perspectives and blur the lines between land and sea.

Day 11: Isabella Bay, Ninginganiq Wildlife Area

Welcome to the kingdom of the cetaceans! Here, those who love the giants of the Arctic won’t know where to look. Isabella Bay is in fact part of the Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area, one of the finest places to observe bowhead whales. From your ship, watch the sumptuous ballet performed by these impressive mammals. With undersea faults over 300 metres deep, Isabella Bay, located on the north-east coast of Baffin Island, attracts cetaceans which come here to feed. In addition to the bowhead whales, the uncontested stars of these parts, the Ninginganiq Wildlife Area is also home to ringed seals, narwhals, polar bears, king eiders, little auks and northern fulmars.

Day 12: Kivitoo, Nunavut

Located on the east coast of Baffin Island, in Nunavut, Kivitoo is a simultaneously calm and unsettling place that you will explore with your naturalist-guides. This former Inuit camp lying in the heart of a heathland landscape was abandoned in 1923. Here you will pass before a broken-down cabin surrounded by metal tanks that stored whale oil at the time when cetacean hunting was in full swing. You will see walrus skulls and the graves of Inuits, revealing their past presence. Kivitoo had its days of technological glory in the 1950s, with the installation of an American radar station on top of the mountain overlooking the area.

Day 13: Itilleq

Itilleq is a tiny island lying within the Arctic Circle, 45 km south of Sisimiut. Home to barely 100 people, they mainly earn a living from fishing and hunting in their typical Greenlandic village, whose bright colours evoke those of their traditional clothing. During your visit, you will maybe have the pleasure of playing a game of football with them, enjoying a “kaffemik” (a coffee break) or a moment of contemplation when the gentle light of the midnight sun dapples the horizon.

Day 14: Kangerlussuaq

After breakfast disembark the ship.

Next Departure Date: 20 Jul 2025
DatesCabinFromSpecial Offer
20 Jul 2025 - 02 Aug 2025 NZD$28167ppExpand to view offers
Superior Stateroom NZD$28167ppContact us
Deluxe Stateroom NZD$30211ppContact us
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4NZD$33111ppContact us
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5NZD$34567ppContact us
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6NZD$36300ppContact us
Deluxe SuiteNZD$49089ppContact us
Prestige Suite - Deck 5NZD$65067ppContact us
Prestige Suite - Deck 6NZD$68267ppContact us
Owner's Suite NZD$76978ppContact us

**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply

Cabin Details

Superior Stateroom

21m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.

Superior Stateroom
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom

18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.

Deluxe Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4

18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.

Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5

18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.

Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6

18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access and butler service.

Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
Deluxe Suite

27m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.

Deluxe Suite
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Suite - Deck 5

36m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, 8m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.

Prestige Suite - Deck 5
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
Prestige Suite - Deck 6

36m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, 8m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access and butler service.

Prestige Suite -  Deck 6
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
Owner's Suite

45m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, located on deck 6, French design, panoramic views, individually-controlled air-conditioning, bathtub and shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, desk with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access, 1 private transfer (round trip: airport - hotel - port)

Owner's Suite
Owner's Suite

Le Boreal Deckplan

deck plan

Specifications

  • Length: 466 ft 
  • Beam: 59 ft
  • Draft: 15.3 ft
  • Cruising speed: 14 knots
  • Ice class: 1C
  • Classification: Bureau Veritas
  • Flag: French
  • Guest decks: 6
  • Guest capacity (double occupancy):  up to 264 pax
  • Guest capacity Antarctica: 200 pax
  • Normal crew size: 140
  • Fleet of expedition Zodiac®: (Mark V HD)
  • Gross tonnage: 10 944 UMS
  • Electric motors: 2 x 2300 KW
  • Installed power: 6 400 KW
  • Construction: Fincantieri-Ancône-Italy

Whats included?

  • Charter Flights (Paris/Kangerlussuaq/Paris) & Airport taxes as specified
  • Captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner
  • Bilingual French/English expedition team
  • Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite
  • Presentations by noted naturalists and other experts
  • Complimentary polar parka for you to keep
  • Complimentary boot rental
  • Park entry fees into protected areas
  • Accommodation in your selected stateroom
  • Landings and zodiac outings
  • A full meal plan
  • Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar.
  • Free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day
  • Port taxes

What’s not included?

  • Airfares unless otherwise specified
  • Airport entrance/departure taxes,
  • Passport, visa, and immigration fees 
  • Additional hotel nights 
  • Beverages other than the ones mentioned
  • Laundry services, hair salon and à la carte Spa treatments
  • Personal expenses, on board medical consultations and drug prescriptions
  • Cancellation/luggage/assistance/repatriation/medical insurance(s) 
  • Travel Protection Plan
  • Gratuities
  • Any items not mentioned as included

Notes

*Each trip is different and subject to ice and weather conditions. The itineraries described for expedition voyages illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Arctic

Viking history, Inuit villages and an abundance of wildlife are just some of the wonders you’ll discover in the Arctic. You’ll be amazed by the natural beauty that surrounds you. Search for Polar Bears while cruising through breathtaking fjords or around the nature lovers dream, Spitsbergen.

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Baffin Bay Secrets

14 Days aboard Le Boreal. From NZD $28,167pp.