DOSSIER COMPLET

Introduction

Croisière en Arctique

Départ le 12 août 2012. Mini-groupe francophone exclusif, accompagnée par notre conseillère Carole Gobeil. Voici une croisière dans l'Arctique canadien qui saura plaire aux voyageurs chevronnés. Un voyage opéré par un bateau d'un superbe confort sur les traces des explorateurs Barrow, Parry et Franklin, lesquels ont emprunté ces mêmes voies maritimes il y a maintenant plus d'un siècle.

N'hésitez pas à contacter notre conseillère spécialiste des Terres Polaires afin d'obtenir de plus amples informations au sujet de cette croisière dans l'Arctique canadien!

Itinéraire

Day 1 - Sondre Stromfjord (Kangerlussuaq)
Sondre Stromfjord is one of the world's longest fjords and cuts into the interior of Greenland. Our flight into Greenland will see us land at a former American Airbase (Bluie West Eight and Camp Lloyd), located just miles north of the Arctic Circle. We will board our expedition vessel by zodiac and weigh anchor. Throughout the evening and through the night we will sail down this incredible fjord, crossing the Arctic Circle again, before reaching the ocean and Davis Strait. We turn north out of the mouth of Sondre Stromfjord and cross the Arctic Circle yet again, remaining north of this point for the rest of the voyage.

Day 2 - Sisimiut
We will explore the fjord behind the town of Sisimiut before visiting the town in the afternoon. We will hope to meet a few of the traditional Greenlandic kayakers and perhaps see a demonstration of “Eskimo Rolling” by one of the former champions of the Greenland Kayaking Championships.

Day 3 - Ilulissat and Jacobshavn Icefjord
One of the wonders of the world, the Jacobshavn Icefjord spews massive tabular icebergs out into Disko Bay. Our approach to Ilulissat will be dependant upon the amount of ice in and around the mouth of the icefjord. Ilulissat was the hometown of Knud Rasmussen, one of Greenland's most famous explorers and anthropologists, born here in 1879.

Day 4 – 5 Baffin Bay
Our crossing of Baffin Bay will be dependent upon the extent of the so-called "middle ice". Our goal will be to find the edge of this and then follow it around and to the coast of Baffin Island. Our time at sea will depend upon the extent of the ice and amount of wildlife. Pilot whales, numerous species of Arctic seal and seabirds abound in Baffin Bay, as to icebergs, especially close to the coast.

Day 6 - Fjords of Northeast Baffin Island
Rising straight out of the water and almost blotting out the sky, the cliffs of these fjords are incredible. We will sail up a few of these fjords, looking for a place to get out and stretch our legs (that does not require a rope and harness). The mouths of these fjord complexes are often rich in wildlife due to the confluence of fresher glacial melt water from the fjords mixing with the seawater of Baffin Bay.

Day 7 - Pond Inlet
We will visit the town of Pond Inlet and make our base at the Natinnak Centre there. A spectacular cultural exhibit at the Natinnak Centre will be the background of a display put on for us by the Elders and youth of Pond Inlet. Inuit Carvings, Jewellery, and other local craft will be available to purchase from the local artisans here. Take time to meet the children of Pond Inlet and marvel at their athletic abilities as they demonstrate the challenges of the Inuit Games.

Day 8 - Lancaster Sound and Devon Island
Lancaster Sound is in many ways the wildlife "super-highway" of the Arctic. A massive outlet for water from the high Arctic archipelago, there is a mixing of water here that is very rich in nutrients. Coupled with areas of open water for much of the year, Lancaster Sound is home to a diversity and concentration of wildlife that can be staggering, given the sparseness of the region be travelled. Our stops along the shore of Lancaster Sound will be very dependent upon ice conditions and weather.

Day 9 – Beechey Island and Prince Leopold Island
Beechey Island holds great importance in our quest to complete the Northwest Passage. It is here that Franklin's ill-fated expedition spent its last "comfortable" winter in 1845 before disappearing into the icy vastness, sparking an incredible series of search expeditions that finished the charting of Canada's northern archipelago. Roald Amundsen stopped at Beechey Island during the first successful complete transit of the Northwest Passage almost sixty years later. Following our visit to Beechey Island, we sail south toward Prince Regent Inlet, stopping for a view of the bird cliffs at Prince Leopold Island. A migratory bird sanctuary, Prince Leopold Island is home to thick-billed murres, black guillemots, northern fulmars and blacklegged kittiwakes. Totaling several hundred thousand birds Prince Leopold Island is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the Canadian Arctic.

Day 10 – Fort Ross and Bellot Strait
If ice conditions permit, we will sail south through Prince Regent Inlet and approach the eastern end of the Bellot Strait. Fort Ross, located at the southern end of Somerset Island, is a former Hudson's Bay Company fur trading outpost and ancient archaeological sites nearby tell a story of more than a thousand years of habitation at this site by the Inuit and their predecessors. Upon leaving Fort Ross, we will attempt the passage of the Bellot Strait, entering at slack water, if possible, in order to avoid a current that can be more than 7 knots during the peak flow. The mixing of waters in this strait provides an ample food source for marine mammals and we will keep our eyes peeled for harp seals, bearded seals and even polar bears as we sail through. Upon exiting Bellot Strait, we will turn south in Victoria Strait, taking a bearing for King William Island.

Day 11 – Pasely Bay
Located on the western coast of the Boothia Peninsula, Pasely Bay was the wintering position of the RCMP Vessel St. Roch during the winter of 1941 – 1942. Locked in the ice in early September, the St. Roch was confined within the bay until August of 1942. During this time, the crew members undertook extensive sled patrols, some lasting two months at a time. During our visit to Pasely Bay, we hope to enjoy some hiking in the hills overlooking Larson Sound (named after the Captain of the St. Roch, Henry Larson).

Day 12 – Victory Point, King William Island
Little is known of how the remainders of the Franklin Expedition spent its last months in the frozen Arctic. The vessels, abandoned in the ice of Victoria Strait have left no trace. A lifeboat left abandoned, bits and pieces of copper and iron, cutlery and buttons and a skeleton here and there all tell a story of a desperate race south in search of rescue, a rescue that never occurred. We will visit Victory Point and continue to reflect on the quest for exploration that opened up the Arctic, while sacrificing some of its bravest explorers.

Day 13 – Cambridge Bay
We hope to visit the community of Cambridge Bay, on the southern shores of Victoria Island. Cambridge Bay, also known as Ikaluktutiak or "good fishing place" is a centre for hinting, trapping, and fishing. Local Inuit have had summer camps in the locality for hundreds of years. Today ships visit the region annually bringing supplies. Amundsen spent two winters in this area, learning how to master dogsledding from the locals. Previous to this, McClintock found solid evidence of the Franklin Expedition here in 1859, including naval artifacts, sledges, graves and letters.

Day 14 – Johanssen Bay, Coronation Gulf
An anvil-shaped bay on the south coast of Victoria Island, Johanssen Bay is a wonderful place for a variety of hiking and water-based activities. Kayak up a small river at the east end of the bay, hike onto the ridge on north shore or go on a zodiac cruise along shore of the bay. Our fast paced hike will head for an abandoned DEW line site (Distance Early Warning Radar base) and learn a bit about the Cold War exploration of the Arctic. Johanssen Bay is also a great place to spot musk ox and we will spend some time looking for them before continuing west.

Day 15 – Kugluktuk (Coppermine), Nunavut
We drop anchor off the beach in Kugluktuk and make our way ashore by zodiac. Our charter flight to Edmonton will await us here and we will board the flight for the short flight back to "southern" Canada.

Our expeditions is an innovative high quality expedition cruise company offering safe, educational and comfortable voyages designed to provide the time and flexibility for people to choose their own customized trip to the polar regions. we have developed a brand defined by its focus on people, exceptional customer service and environmental values.

Our commitment to safety
There are no compromises here. Our shipboard guides and crew have the deepest respect for Polar weather and the varying sea and ice conditions in these regions. That respect is apparent in every decision we make from the beginning to the end of all our expeditions. We
carry the most extensive inventory of safety equipment on all excursions. We require our leaders and crew to undergo some of the industry’s most aggressive and effective safety training programs. We are prepared, so you can relax and enjoy your once in a lifetime experience.

Sustainable travel
We view the world as one large ocean containing a series of large islands. This being the case it stands to reason that our actions in one part of the ocean will trickle down and have an effect in another part of the ocean. To this end, we have developed an environmental strategy that looks at all aspects of our operation and works to minimize our impact on both the geographic and marine environment. We are committed to run an operation that is a model to the world in its ecological sensitivity. We are dedicated to minimizing our impact on the areas we visit as well as the areas in which we command our supplies. This shows in our purchasing policies which cover provisioning, supply, waste management and group management.

Personalised service
People really matter on our expeditions and we show this at every opportunity, particularly by allowing our guests to have a say in how their experiences unfold. We provide options and choices throughout the voyage and strive to take care of every detail. Our onboard Adventure Concierges provide an exceptional level of customer service and hospitality to ensure your voyage with us, is unforgettable.

Adventure
With our focus on photography, adventure, ice and wildlife we have led the way with a range of new ideas. Our guests will enjoy daily activity options ranging from zodiac cruises, trekking, kayaking (with top notch gear) and of course the option to wander at a contemplative pace all your own. Stepping onto the beach, or slowly cruising the pack ice, we will have the opportunity to view some of the world’s most impressive wilderness areas and wildlife. We have a full complement of foul weather gear and Lacrosse rubber boots for your use (free of charge), as well as various add-ons (waterproof backpacks, binoculars, trekking poles) vailable for hire, to ensure your comfort in all outdoor pursuits. For those of you who will be kayaking, all of the paddling gear and equipment is top notch for comfort as well as safety.

Value
Traveling to the Polar Regions is a privilege and we want you to experience something special when you choose One Ocean Expeditions. That is why we offer the best value for travelers. Our well-priced expeditions boast a high level of customized service including tasty meals made fresh onboard by top chefs. Our safe, yet adventure-filled, expeditions are sure to change perceptions. Interested in offsetting your carbon footprint? Why not invest in the Gold Standard option through One Ocean Expeditions’ partnership with Planetair/ My Climate. Please see "Our Environmental Commitment" for more information on offsetting your voyage to the Arctic through a simple and accurate carbon calculator available onboard. With One Ocean Expeditions, you will be exploring the Polar Regions with one of the world’s most experienced polar operators. Your expeditions’team is well known for their innovative approaches and attention to detail. You will be well taken care of and it should be a lot of fun.

Budget

**Les budgets présentés sur ce site web ne sont qu’à titre indicatif et non aucune valeur contractuelle (notamment car il n’y a pas de date de départ indiquée). Les prix sont amenés à changer très régulièrement sur ce site en fonction du cours des devises et des nombreuses fluctuations des prestations hôtelières. Pour obtenir un tarif ferme, nous vous invitons à cliquer ici pour obtenir un devis

Autres frais

La croisière offre le même itinéraire d'Ouest en Est, du 26 Août au 09 septembre 2012.
Voyage en anglais.

Before you Book – Important Voyage Details

Itinerary Changes
We put safety first and that means weather, ice, wildlife, political or other conditions may require us to modify the itinerary as we go. We consider this half the intrigue of Polar exploring. In every expedition, our undertake is a little different. It may mean we have to cancel certain shore excursions if conditions are not suitable but we always find other fun things to do. Polar exploring is not predictable which is one of the many reasons we think it is so special.

Medical Documentation
Once you have booked your voyage to the Polar Regions, you will be required to complete a Medical Information Form. This form must be completed, signed and returned to UNIKOUR no later than 100 days prior to departure.

Passport
Well before travelling, please ensure you have a current passport with an accurate photo, valid for at least six months after your scheduled return flight home. Also check that your airline tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport. Some countries may require you to have a return air ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket.

Budgeting
It is a good idea to bring along some $US cash. There are some onboard expenses such as those incurred at the bar, in our gift shop, and for satellite communication, as well as several souvenir shopping opportunities throughout the voyage.

Clothes
We do not need to tell you it is cold in the Arctic. So make sure you come prepared with clothes that will adequately protect you from the weather and wet conditions (sea spray is common onboard Zodiacs). Expensive specialty gear is not required, but you should be dressed in warm, waterproof clothing available upon your arrival in Iqaluit. Please read our pre-departure Information for more details about what to bring on the journey. We also have foul weather gear available on board of the ship. You should prearrange the rental of this gear should you require it.

Onboard
Like the weather, sea conditions can also be unpredictable. You will be safe and comfortable aboard with your experienced crew in control of our ship, but you may suffer the effects of motion sickness, unless you have taken precautions. We recommend visiting your doctor prior to departure for medication that can help you avoid this easily treated condition.

Gratuities
We suggest you allow the equivalent of $US10 a day for gratuities for the crew and expedition staff. This is usually collected just prior to the end of the cruise. If you wish, the amount can be paid by Visa or MasterCard.

Sea Kayaking
If you have some experience sea kayaking and are interested in doing this activity during the expedition, you will need to book this option prior to departure from home. We cannot book this activity once onboard. There is a separate document for sea kayakers that you will need
to review beforehand.

Embarkation Protocol
Guests arrive with the rest of the group accompanied by our expeditions’ representative. Full details of embarkation/disembarkation procedures will be supplied with your final documentation. Once onboard, you will be participating in an obligatory lifeboat drill. We will also conduct important briefings on landing procedures and Zodiac operations.

Insurance
On all our voyages, you must have comprehensive travel insurance. Your own domestic government medical insurance and private health care plans will not cover you in most overseas countries. Your travel agent can recommend a policy designed to cover participants on these cruises. Your policy must provide coverage for your medical costs in case of hospitalization, emergency travel and repatriation. We require that you obtain adequate insurance before joining the voyage. Cancellation insurance is also recommended.

Note 1 |Deposit
A non refundable deposit representing 30% of the ground portion is required. This deposit is mandatory in order to validate your inscription. the ground portion balance must be paid 60 days before the departure date. A 2% discount on the ground portion is offered for each payment by check or credit card check. The totality of the international flight fare must be paid at the time of the reservation.

Note 2 |Plane
The airfare allowance is based on the airfare given by the airline companies for a specific class fare. If the class is full, it is possible to offer another class or to book a seat on a different flight. This fare of another class of seats may be different and will impact the price of the trip. The airfare allowances shown for each trip do not take into account the high season prices. Uniktour is only able to guarantee the availability of a seat once the ticket is issued, hence at the moment of payment. The payment can be done by credit card without any extra charges.

Note 3 |Meals
As indicated in the tour description.

Note 4 |Sale terms
The purchase of the current trip involves the complete agreement of our terms of sale which are detailed at this address: www.uniktour.com/voyage/CONDITION_DE_VENTES.pdf

Note 5 |Inscription & Reservation
In order to launch the reservation process and to validate the inscription please fill out online this inscription form: http://www.uniktour.com/voyage/inscription/

Note 6 |Tipping
It is important to include in the budget an amount for the tips at your destination. As a general rule, the amount varies between 10$ to 20$ per person a day for all tipping on board, according to the level of satisfaction.

Note 7 |Travel insurance
It is strongly recommended to subscribe to our travel insurance.
Important: As a precautionary measure, it is advised for each traveler to carry a copy of the passport and the travel insurance police. Make sure to have received the proper vaccination, to have all the necessary visas and that your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months after the date of return. You should also consult the flight schedules 24 hours prior to each flight. Our consultant will discuss mandatory insurance requirements with you.

Here a few important reminders:

Look at the country picture at http://www.uniktours.com/others/photo_map.htm
Read the testimonials of other travelers at www.uniktour.com/voyage/temoignages/index.php
Comment your appreciation of our services at serviceclient@uniktour.com
Consult our Q&A section at www.uniktour.com/voyage/ressources/UNIKTOUR_FAQ.pdf
Please take note that the pictures shown in that section are put randomly and do not necessarily reflect what is written in the text.
These are general pictures of the country.
Traveler's state of mind.

Different cultures:
Most of our trips take place in countries which do not necessarily share the same notions of time and life in general. The best way to enjoy your personal experience is by respecting their beliefs and customs.

An exotic travel:
Every adventure, even when carefully planned, always thankfully keeps its share of unforeseen events. Accepting the fact that these surprises are a part of traveling will help you to fully enjoy your trip That being said, in a case of unplanned events, your guide, our local partners and all the staff at Uniktour will help and propose you alternative solutions that are adapted to the situation.

Prochaines dates de départ

12-08-2012