Ocean Nova, High Arctic Expedition: Where Art Meets Land ex Ottawa to Toronto

Highlights
– Sail through the luminous northern realms that stirred the Group of Seven’s imagination and shaped a new way of seeing Canada.
– Walk the haunting shores of Beechey Island, where the Franklin Expedition’s story still whispers in the northern wind.
– Watch whales surface against sculpted cliffs in Tallurutiup Imanga and feel the wild majesty of Devon Island unfold.
– Stand in Aujuittuq, Canada’s northernmost community, and hear moving stories of Inuit endurance, adaptation, and pride.
– Wander through Alexandria Fjord, a hidden Arctic garden where wildflowers bloom beneath timeless cliffs of ice and stone.
– End your journey in Nuuk, Greenland’s vibrant cultural heart, where northern light illuminates art, heritage, and renewal.

Itinerary
In the High Arctic, weather, ice, and community priorities guide every journey. Flexibility leads to the best discoveries.

Day 1: Qausuittuq (Resolute), NU, Canada – The North Beckons
Arrive by charter flight from Ottawa and step into Qausuittuq, set on gravel flats and moraine beneath the glow of continuous summer light. The community’s history of relocation in 1953 intertwines with its present role as a hub for Arctic research and travel. As you prepare to embark aboard the Ocean Nova, take time to orient yourself to the stories and landscapes that shape this place.

Day 2: Beechey Island – Echoes of Exploration
Come ashore on Beechey Island, where Arctic history feels near enough to touch. This windswept National Historic Site holds the graves of Franklin’s men and echoes of Inuit knowledge that helped uncover their fate. Here, Inuit knowledge has been central to uncovering the fate of Franklin’s lost ships, reshaping how this history is understood. As you walk the shoreline, the stark beauty invites reflection on exploration, endurance, and cultural memory – threads that still weave through this storied place.

Days 3: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island – Whales, Ice, and Vast Horizons
Sail through Tallurutiup Imanga, one of Canada’s largest marine protected areas, alive with whales, seals, and seabirds. Beneath towering cliffs and drifting ice, the sea glimmers with shifting light. Step ashore on Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island, where glaciers meet the sea and tundra unfolds in broad, glacial valleys. Here, light and silence create their own compositions, inviting stillness, reflection, and a deep sense of the Arctic’s living beauty.

Day 4: Aujuittuq (Grise Fjord) – Life in the Place That Never Thaws
Set amid stark mountains and sweeping tundra, Aujuittuq, “the place that never thaws,” is Canada’s northernmost community. Here, residents share powerful stories of their families’ 1953 relocation from northern Québec and Mittimatalik – stories of resilience and adaptation that continue to shape life here. Walking the tundra with local hosts, you’ll learn how deep knowledge of land, sea, and season sustain this community of enduring strength, ingenuity, and culture that define life at the top of the world.

Days 5: Ellesmere Island – Mountains at the Edge of the World
Explore the rugged coastline of Ellesmere, Canada’s most northerly island. Towering mountains, vast ice caps, and deep fjords define this northern wilderness. The austere beauty recalls Lawren Harris’s Arctic visions – landscapes of pure form and luminous stillness.

Day 6: Kane Basin – Where Continents Nearly Touch
Sail into Kane Basin, where Ellesmere Island and Greenland nearly meet. Glaciers tower, sea ice drifts, and the shifting Arctic light transforms every moment. For generations, Inuit navigated these passages with skill and insight – long before explorers heading toward the Pole followed in their wake.

Day 7: Alexandria Fjord – An Arctic Oasis
Framed by steep glacial cliffs and mirrored waters, Alexandria Fjord reveals a softer side of the High Arctic. In late summer, tundra mosses and wildflowers lend muted colour to the valley beneath sheltering peaks. Here, the stillness feels sacred—as though the land itself was holding its breath.

Day 8: Qaanaaq, Greenland – Heart of Inughuit Culture
Set against a backdrop of mountains and drifting sea ice, Qaanaaq is one of the world’s northernmost towns and a centre of Inughuit culture. Here, knowledge of the land, sea ice, and animals continues to shape daily life, alongside modern influences. Traditions such as dog-sledding and hunting remain vital to community identity, reflecting deep connections to place. Meeting residents offers a rare opportunity to experience a way of life defined by continuity, adaptation, and enduring northern relationships.

Day 9: Kap York – Land of Meteorite Iron
Step ashore at Kap York, where meteorite fragments once provided iron for tools. You’ll walk shores where geology, history, and human ingenuity intersect. Feel the stark forms and elemental contrasts of the landscape and recall the Group of Seven’s Arctic canvases, where every line and shadow carried story and spirit.

Day 10: At Sea – Crossing the Greenland Waters
Spend a day at sea as the ship sails south along Greenland’s rugged coast. Attend lectures, workshops, and cultural presentations that bring Arctic history, art, and ecology into sharper focus. From the deck, watch for whales surfacing among icebergs and seabirds soaring overhead, each fleeting moment a study in movement and light.

Day 11: Upernavik – Archipelago of Islands and Ice
Nestled amongst a maze of islands, Upernavik is a town where past and present meet on the edge of the Arctic. Visit Greenland’s oldest museum, founded in 1959, with exhibits housed in historic buildings that share stories of Inuit life and colonial history. This is also where a young Knud Rasmussen – later known for his Thule Expeditions – spent part of his youth learning the skills and traditions that shaped his future. As you wander among brightly painted houses and gaze over a sea strewn with ice, you’ll feel how deeply place and story intertwine here.

Day 12: West Greenland – Cathedrals of Ice
Sail among towering glaciers and drifting bergs, each one a shifting sculpture in white and blue. Fjords echo with the sound of calving ice, and mountains rise sheer above waters crowded with floes. The scale and geometry here – immense, elemental, ever-changing – recall the stark forms the Group of Seven once sought to capture in paint.

Day 13: Qeqertarsuaq – Volcanic Isle in Disko Bay
Visit Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island, a place shaped by volcanic forces and known for striking geological contrasts. Black sand beaches meet basalt cliffs, while icebergs drift past offshore. Hike to a waterfall that cascades down from the high tundra plateau, carving bright paths through dark rock. The juxtapositions here – fiery geology against icy seas, flowing water against frozen forms – echo the Group of Seven’s fascination with elemental contrasts.

Day 14: Sisimiut Coast – Greenland’s Rugged Western Shore
Cruise along the dramatic Sisimiut coast, where mountains rise sharply from the sea and small settlements cling to the shoreline. This region reflects Greenland’s seafaring traditions, with communities deeply tied to land and water. As you sail, the shifting light across jagged peaks creates endless new scenes – each one a masterpiece of Arctic colour and form.

Day 15: Nuuk, Greenland – Greenland’s Capital and Cultural Heart
Your voyage concludes in Nuuk, Greenland’s vibrant capital. Explore its lively streets and visit museums that celebrate Inuit art and history. Here, traditional knowledge and modern life come together in creative conversation. Like the artists who once looked north for inspiration, you’ll return home with your vision reshaped by northern light and the enduring power of curiosity.

Imagine waking up to breathtaking sea views through your cabin windows, each one whispering promises of adventure. Built in Denmark in 1992 for Greenland’s icy waters, this ship sails with a lighter carbon footprint than most expedition vessels. Its crown jewel? A glass-enclosed lounge with sweeping 200-degree views–perfect for whale watching and seabird spotting. Prefer the outdoors? The open decks are a dream for photographers and scenery lovers. With a shallow draft and easy Zodiac access, you’ll spend more time exploring and less time ferrying. Meals feature open seating and ocean views, with globally inspired options to suit all tastes-including vegetarian and fish dishes. Desserts, made fresh daily, are a highlight. Special diets? We’ve got you covered! On the Ocean Nova, every moment connects you to nature, each other, and discovery.

Founded in 1987, Adventure Canada was created to bring travellers to Canada’s “blank spaces”, those areas whose remoteness alone made them special. Over the last fifteen years, along with our guests, we have discovered that there is so much that is extraordinary about the places we travel, from the landscape, wildlife and culture to the history, art and archeology that is unique to every destination. It is our belief that there is so much to see “beyond the binoculars” that drives us to delve deeper into our favourite places with every expedition and continually seek out new destinations.

We travel by small expedition ship, the best suited mode of transportation for remote exploration. The number of passengers on our voyages run between 45 and 100, depending on the ship we choose. We believe that these small vessels are superior, as they not only allow us to gain access to places not accessible by larger vessels, but our fleet of Zodiac landing craft permit us to visit some of the most remote places imaginable – the key to expeditionary travel.

Select the Deck to view detail.

Ocean Nova - Main Deck

Ocean Nova - Upper Deck

Ocean Nova - Bridge Deck

Ocean Nova - Top Deck

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Category 6 - Single

* Window
* One lower berth
* Bathroom with a shower
* Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
* Desk with a chair
* Air ventilation
* Heater under desk
* Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
* Cupboard
* Wardrobe
* Approximately 86-114 square feet

Category 5 - Superior Twin

* Window
* Two lower berths
* Bathroom with a shower
* Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
* Desk with a chair
* Air ventilation
* Heater under desk
* Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
* Cupboard
* Two wardrobes
* Approximately 145-156 square feet

Category 4 - Bridge Deck Twin

* Window
* Two lower berths
* Bathroom with a shower
* Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
* Desk with a chair
* Air ventilation
* Heater under desk
* Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
* Cupboard
* Wardrobe
* Approximately 104-112 square feet

Category 3 - Upper Deck Twin

* Window
* Two lower berths or matrimonial bed
* Bathroom with a shower
* Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
* Desk with a chair
* Air ventilation
* Heater under desk
* Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
* Cupboard
* Wardrobe
* Approximately 106-140 square feet

Category 2 - Bunk Bed Twin

* Window
* Bunk bed twin
* Bathroom with a shower
* Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
* Desk with a chair
* Air ventilation
* Heater under desk
* Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
* Cupboard
* Wardrobe
* Approximately 86-122 square feet

Category 1 - Triple

* Window
* Two lower and one upper berth
* Bathroom with a shower
* Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
* Desk with a chair
* Air ventilation
* Heater under desk
* Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
* Cupboard
* Two wardrobes
* Approximately 159 square feet