Newfoundland & Torngat Mountains "Spirit Mountains Expedition" – 11 Nights

Starts: St. John's, NL (YYT)

Finishes: Kuujjaq (YVP)

2010 Departure Date: July 2 to 13

Included

• Ship accommodations, onboard lectures and access to all public areas.
• All shipboard meals; certain meals during land portions as described.
• Shore excursions and zodiac cruises.
• Sightseeing with an English-speaking guide as described. (Some guides speak French or other languages and reasonable efforts will be made to serve passengers in those languages; however, such service is not guaranteed and the core program will be conducted in English.)
• Group transfers and baggage handling throughout.
• All port dues.
• A comprehensive trip handbook.

Charming outports give way to the stunning drama of the Torngat Mountain coast as we leave the modern world behind. A unique voyage to the spectacular, rugged beauty of one of Canada's least-visited regions, the coast of northern Labrador. Along the way we visit important historical and archaeological sites, and take the time for a leisurely exploration of the uncharted fiords and narrow channels formed where the Torngat Mountain Range falls into the deep North Atlantic waters. The views are breathtaking as our voyage takes us steadily deeper into the southward-drifting masses of sea ice and icebergs. "Torngat" comes from the Inuktitut word "turngait", meaning "spirits". Inuit legends hold that it is here in these mountains where the spirit world overlaps our own.

Itinerary:

Day 1 St. John's

Come early and enjoy the parks, historical sites, music, food and famous east coast hospitality before we depart. Watch for breaching Humpback whales as we cruise past the Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve, home to some of the world's largest colonies of puffins, storm petrels and gannets.

Days 2 through 10

Among the places we may visit are:

L'Anse aux Meadows

The UNESCO world heritage site where Norsman Leif Ericson is thought to have founded "Vinland" in 1000 AD. As we explore the reconstructed sod huts and Norse ruins, we'll see evidence that the Vikings discovered North America 500 years before Columbus.

Red Bay

An ideal natural harbour, and the site of five Basque whaling stations that operated between 1540 and 1610. Red Bay National Historic Site has the world's only wooden chalupa, a preserved early Basque whaling boat.

Battle Harbour

ne of the oldest and most picturesque communities along Labrador's south coast. Once a bustling fishery, it is now abandoned and silent. Beautifully restored, it provides a marvelous place to wander and reflect on how life has changed in such a short period of time.

The Wonderstrands

The endless miles of sandy beach are described in the Viking Sagas. The remote islands and islets around Man of War Point are a favoured spot for wildlife, and the sheltered waters provide numerous opportunities for zodiac cruises and hikes on shore.

Makkovik

Rich in natural and cultural heritage, Makkovik is surrounded by many offshore islands, large, deep bays and several major rivers. We explore the town's rich combination of Inuit and settler traditions. The Inuit people, who have occupied the region for thousands of years, have a cultural heritage intertwined with the land and sea.

Nain

Set on the shores of a scenic inlet, Nain is the most northerly inhabited community in Labrador. We take in a cultural performance and visit with local artisans as our chefs stock up on fresh seafood from the local fishery, including scallops, salmon and Arctic Char.

Hebron

We sail past the dramatic heights of towering rock at Mugford Tickle on our way to Hebron. Inhabited by indigenous peoples at least 6,000 years ago, Hebron is the site of a Moravian mission station first constructed in 1833. The scenery here is spectacular, as we explore the abandoned buildings and hike out into the hills.

Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve

The north coast of Labrador, where the Torngat Mountain Range rises to more than 1,800 metres (almost 6,000 feet), is among the wildest and most magnificent coastlines in North America. We marvel at the cascading waterfalls and ancient burial grounds that dot the shoreline, and take to our zodiac boats to explore these remote fiords, carved by glaciers millions of years ago – a true photographer's paradise.

Killiniq

Killiniq and the Button Islands mark the entrance to the Hudson Strait. The ocean here is rich in nutrients, attracting marine mammals including polar bears, seals and several species of whales. Killiniq is the site of an abandoned Moravian mission and, until quite recently, was a thriving Inuit village. It is deserted now save for the many polar bears that spend their time waiting for the winter ice to return.

Day 11 Kuujjuaq

Catch the excitement this morning as we carefully manoeuvre up the Koksoak River to our anchorage just outside Kuujjuaq. After a brief tour of the town and buffet lunch, we transfer to the airport and prepare for our journey home, enriched by the many wonderful memories of our northern adventure.