%3Aformat(webp)%2Fheader_media%2F7160698b-3343-4f8e-a24f-aa4b61f95e2c-local-people.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
High Arctic: Art Meets Land
15-day Arctic expedition from Resolute to Nuuk aboard Ocean Nova.
Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
%3Aformat(webp)%2F1d8a5e87-36e5-4858-a289-4b2e7de90f0c-antarctica21-ocean-nova-145-of-222-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fprovider%2F7f105d51-88e9-48d2-9c30-1a153c0f4de2-antarctica21-ocean-nova-deck-plan-.png&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2F6d1928f8-5b3b-4513-8140-c8ef96f8c047-antarctica21-ocean-nova-129-of-222-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
The Ocean Nova is a sturdy but nimble expedition vessel, originally built in Denmark to sail through the ice-packed waters off Greenland. With its ice-strengthened hull, and after a full refit in 2006, she was converted to become the perfect Antarctic cruise ship. Since then, she has been upgraded and improved every year to maintain her excellent reputation.
For our air-cruises, Ocean Nova has capacity for only 67 passengers who will find themselves in comfortable outside cabins. The ship offers three categories of accommodation for Antarctic cruises: dedicated Single Cabins, Twin Cabins, … Read more about Ocean Nova
%3Aformat(webp)%2F623c3968-9afb-4777-aaf1-db5d87a53a2e-ocean-nova-june-2022-19-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fservice%2F2de55378-eaac-4edb-9229-78e4f3e2e27d-ocean-nova-305_hr-2.jpg.webp&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2F1f48c449-c61a-4591-9458-77f88388d5f5-ocean-nova-june-2022-21-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fc782fc3e-0f22-4bdc-9f2d-1be6b4624738-ocean-nova-june-2022-31-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Fitness Center
Bar
Lecture Theater
Zodiac Fleet
Observation Lounge
Private Flight to Antarctica
Medical Services
Library
-5% for children ≤ 10
When booking online, you can choose the option to "Upgrade to single occupancy". This will guarantee you the whole cabin to yourself, for an additional fee. If you don't select this option, then another traveler of the same sex might be placed into the same cabin with you. Exceptions may apply.
Passage aboard the Ocean Nova
Applicable taxes and credit card fees
Complimentary expedition jacket
Special access permits, entry, and park fees
Expert expedition team
Guided activities
Sightseeing and community visits
All Zodiac excursions
Port fees
Pre-departure materials
Educational program
Interactive workshops
Evening entertainment
All shipboard meals
Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
Commercial and charter flights
Program enhancements/optional excursions
Gratuities
Personal expenses
Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
Possible fuel surcharges and administrative fees
Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation
Premium internet access available at an additional cost
Sea ice, weather, wildlife, permissions and the expedition leader’s safety assessment can substantially alter this High Arctic route.
Whales, seals and seabirds may be encountered but are never guaranteed.
The voyage starts in Qausuittuq (Resolute) and ends in Nuuk; pre- and post-trip hotels are not included.
Commercial and charter flights, gratuities and optional programs are not included.
Mandatory medical evacuation insurance is required by the operator and is not included in the voyage price.
After completing your booking, you will receive an invoice from your travel specialist by email. A deposit of 30% of the trip price is required to secure your booking. Payment can be made through bank transfer or by credit card through a secure payment link.
Full payment is expected 30 days before your trip. Payment can be made in installments.
Long-haul flights and the on-the-ground program generate 4.5 t CO₂e on this trip. Polartours regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys and actively reduces emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.
From 2018 to 2024, we supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians.
More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact
All cruises in the polar regions operate to itineraries that are more-or-less fixed. We say "more or less", because wildlife (breeding, seasonality) and weather always play an important role in routing. Most cruises will offer a range of land-based and water-based activities that you will enjoy at various points in your cruise, including:
All boats carry English speaking, scientifically trained guides. They will lead you on your excursions, allowing you to learn as much as possible about the unique wildlife and habitats of the Polar Regions.
Choosing the right ship for a cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic seems difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Our fleet is over 30 vessels, we are sure that there is the perfect one for you. Please, follow these simple steps, and you will be able to find your ideal ship:
In addition: We work with responsible partners who provide a great experience for their passengers. All of our providers are committed to sustainability and to preserving the beauty of the polar regions. You don’t need to worry about the impact of your cruise, because we’ve already taken care of it.
We love to help people find their dream vacation to the Arctic and Antarctic. Whether you give us a call, contact us via email, or use our website inquiry form, one of our Polar travel experts will be more than happy to answer any questions, recommend ships and itineraries, and walk you through the whole process!
Step 1: Find your perfect trip. If you have already started looking for Polar Cruises, you will have quickly noticed that the sheer amount of options can be quite overwhelming. To help you navigate the countless departures and itineraries that our fleet offers, we have put together a great filter page for Antarctic and Arctic Expedition Cruises. Use this page to filter all trips by price, date, ship category, and even destinations you wish to visit. We update all dates, prices, and availabilities daily, and are proud to host what is doubtlessly the world's most complete collection of information.
Step 2: Found something you love? We'll hold your spaces, free of charge! If you find a cruise you like, you can either inquire directly with us or make an unbinding booking online. We will then reach out to the shipowners to put a hold on your spaces for a limited time, free of charge. Once we have confirmed your block with the ship, we will send you a written confirmation of your reservation and include full payment details in an invoice. Typically, we are able to hold unpaid reservations for up to 1 week*. This gives us time to clarify all your remaining questions, and also ensures that no other passengers can book your spaces, while we continue our conversation.
Step 3: Confirm your booking. In order to confirm your booking, we ask for a deposit payment. You can pay via bank transfer or credit card. Keep in mind, that we can only hold your spaces for a limited amount of time. If we don't receive your payment after this time, we can no longer guarantee that the places will be available or that the price won't increase. To prevent disappointment, we will automatically cancel your reservation if we don't receive your deposit by the due date stated on your booking reservation.
Step 4: Booking confirmation & Payment. As soon as we have received your deposit and a completed passenger information form, we will be pleased to send your booking confirmation and updated invoice, along with your trip itinerary, important information, and other great tips for your cruise.
Step 5: Final payment. In your initial invoice, we will define a final payment date by when you need to pay us the remaining amount of your trip. Once we have received your final payment we'll send you your cruise documents and voucher. As your trip approaches, we make sure to pass along all necessary information, so you feel super prepared and stress-free.
*For last-minute bookings, we might not be able to hold your spaces for so long. We will also require the full payment of your cruise upon booking.
An expedition cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic is a big deal! Most people plan for this type of trip at least 8 months in advance. This means the earlier you book, the better chance you'll have to reserve your prefered cabins. Early bird discounts are also popular and a great way to get 10-30% off your cruise.
Most expedition cruises offer optional activities like camping and kayaking, but the spaces are limited. A cruise with 120 passengers can have only 10-15 spaces for kayaking. These are reserved on a first come first served basis. The earlier you book, the higher your chance of grabbing a spot.
Even though last minute deals do occur, keep in mind that the airline prices will be much higher if you purchase them last minute. You may save a few hundred on your cruise, but you may end up paying the most for airfare.
Price
Upon Request
Beechey Island’s exploration and Inuit history.
Ellesmere Island and the glaciers of Kane Basin.
Qaanaaq and living Inughuit culture.
Qeqertarsuaq’s volcanic landscape and drifting ice.
Best Price Guarantee: Find a better price elsewhere, and we’ll match it.
Polar Expedition Specialists: We focus exclusively on polar voyages, with advice rooted in real, firsthand expertise.
Travel that gives back: Every booking directly funds our mission to protect and restore global rainforests.
Follow the High Arctic from Qausuittuq (Resolute) to Nuuk on a 15-day expedition aboard Ocean Nova. The voyage crosses Tallurutiup Imanga and Ellesmere Island before continuing through Kane Basin to Qaanaaq, then follows Greenland’s western coast south through Upernavik, Qeqertarsuaq and the Sisimiut Coast.
The route explores the northern landscapes that inspired Group of Seven artists while centring Inuit knowledge, culture and contemporary life. Beechey Island’s exploration history, Aujuittuq’s community stories, Kap York’s meteorite iron, West Greenland’s ice and Nuuk’s museums create a journey through both land and imagination. Wildlife may include whales, seals and seabirds, but sightings are never guaranteed.
Sea ice, weather, wildlife and local permissions shape every landing. The expedition team may adapt the order, route and activities for safety and responsible community access.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fbf7e73aa-46d8-4f77-8679-5a6a014567ad-antarctica21-ocean-nova-23-of-222-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2F17a8128d-d84e-4729-87bc-391e60a809b5-zach-wear-a_5bvihlqzg-unsplash-1-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2Ftrip%2Fchimu-pol0083-45de2a2dd7ee-header.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
%3Aformat(webp)%2Ftrip%2Fchimu-pol0081-89caba649d68-header.jpg&w=1920&q=75)