Greenland & Wild Labrador – Northbound

Voyage Overview

Journey across the North Atlantic—where wild coasts meet immense horizons, and a world alive with story, music, and connection unfolds.

From the bright harbours of Newfoundland to the glacial fjords of Greenland—and along the rugged coastlines in between—you’ll explore a living cultural landscape shaped by ice, time, and enduring relationships with the land and sea. Here, warmth and humanity thrive at the heart of a vast environment. Feel the Newfoundland spirit—alive in song, laughter, and a deep sense of belonging carried on the salt air. Across Nunatsiavut and Greenland, a quiet reverence for the land runs deep. Inuit knowledge, hospitality, and leadership guide each step of the journey, offering a powerful reminder that people and place are inseparable—each giving meaning to the other.

Trip Details

Duration: 15 Days

Ship: Ocean Nova , Expedition Ship, 75 Guests

Start: St. John’s, NL, Canada

End: Toronto, ON, Canada

Itinerary

Day 1: Embarkation in St. John’s, Newfoundland
A Harbour of Stories. Cradled by steep hills and guarded by the dramatic Narrows, St. John’s—Newfoundland and Labrador’s spirited capital—is one of the world’s great natural harbours and one of North America’s oldest cities. Brightly painted row houses climb the slopes beside Signal Hill, where the Atlantic stretches endlessly beyond. In its winding streets and lively waterfront, history and creativity thrive side by side, filling the air with music, laughter, and the unmistakable spirit of Newfoundland.

Day 2: Northeast Newfoundland
Where Sea and Story Converge. Follow the Labrador Current along Newfoundland’s rugged northeast coast, where fishing villages cling to headlands shaped by wind and tide. It’s cold waters once supported the greatest fishery in the world, king cod, drawing settlers to carve out lives along the rocky shores. These coastal communities, though ever adapting, still carry the imprint of their sea-going heritage. Out at sea, whales surface and seabirds wheel overhead, drawn by the nutrient-rich flow. Here, wild landscapes and enduring traditions meet, revealing a shoreline defined as much by people and history as by the restless sea itself.

Day 3: L’Anse aux Meadows
Where Vikings Landed and Worlds Met. At the tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula lies L’Anse aux Meadows, the only authenticated Norse site in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Step back a thousand years to when Norse voyagers made landfall here, marking the first known meeting between Europeans and the Indigenous peoples of this continent. Wander among grassy mounds and reconstructed sod dwellings that bring the past to life, and trace the stories unearthed by archaeologists—guided by the sagas and the clues preserved in the earth.

Days 4-5: The Labrador Coast
Fishing Grounds and Rugged Shores. Along the Labrador coast, sheer headlands give way to quiet coves and forested valleys that reach toward the sea. For centuries, Inuit, Innu, and settler communities have lived within this landscape of contrasts—its beauty matched only by its demands. During the great cod fishery, harbours once filled with schooners, salt fish, and the rhythm of seasonal life. Today, cultural sites and small outports echo those stories, revealing how people and sea have long sustained one another. Guided hikes and Zodiac excursions invite you to trace these same shorelines, where every turn offers a glimpse of Labrador’s raw power and enduring spirit.

Day 6: Nunatsiavut Community
Heart of Inuit Labrador. Come ashore in a Nunatsiavut community, where the spirit of the Labrador coast comes vividly to life. Here, history, art, and daily life intertwine, revealing stories of resilience, pride, and connection to land and sea. Walk through a community where tradition and modern life coexist—where voices rise in song, artisans share their craft, and every conversation offers insight into Inuit self-governance and cultural renewal. Framed by striking coastal hills and ancient rock formations, this visit offers a powerful sense of place and a deeper appreciation of Inuit Labrador.

Day 7: Hebron
Ponder Poignant History. Step ashore at Hebron, a former Moravian mission where the past lingers powerfully. In the 1950s, families here were forced to relocate, leaving deep scars still remembered today. Visit the preserved church, hear stories from descendants, and reflect at the commemorative plaque marking both loss and continuity. Meeting those who continue to return to hunt, fish, and honour their heritage makes Hebron a living story of displacement, memory, and return.

Days 8-11: Torngat Mountains National Park, NL, Canada
Land of Spirits and Stone. Enter Torngat Mountains National Park, a vast, untamed landscape where sheer peaks rise from deep fjords and tundra stretches to the horizon. Inuit hosts guide your exploration of this ancestral homeland, sharing stories that root the land in millennia of knowledge and connection. The Torngats are one of the least accessible places in Canada, protected and co-managed by Inuit to preserve both their natural and cultural heritage. From the possibility of spotting polar bears along the coast to hearing the wind move through glacial valleys, every moment here feels profound—a reminder of the power, beauty, and spirit that define the Arctic.

Day 12: At Sea — Davis Strait
Stories on the Open Water. Cross the Davis Strait, a storied stretch of ocean connecting Greenland and Labrador. While whales and seabirds trace your course, life aboard turns to learning and exchange. Inuit cultural educators, scientists, artists, and historians share knowledge, stories, and laughter that deepen understanding of the Arctic and its peoples. Reflection and discovery flow together on this day at sea.

Days 13-14: Southwest Greenland
Through Ice and Stone. Explore Southwest Greenland, where glaciers carve their way through rock and icebergs drift across mirror-still fjords. Guided Zodiacs and shore landings bring you close to this elemental world: hiking across landscapes shaped by geological time, drifting among sculpted ice, and discovering the quiet, moving power of Greenland’s interior as it flows seaward.

Day 15: Disembarkation & Fly from Nuuk, Greenland to Toronto, Ontario
Where Arctic Tradition Meets Modern Life In Nuuk, Greenland’s vibrant capital, steep peaks rise from the sea and creativity fills the air. Colourful homes and striking modern architecture reflect a city alive with Arctic energy and Inuit pride. Along the waterfront, fishing boats rock beside galleries and cafés, and daily life unfolds against a backdrop of sea and stone. Here, ancient traditions and contemporary life flow together with ease—language, food, and music carrying the pulse of a culture both grounded and evolving. Lively yet intimate, Nuuk offers a glimpse of a modern Arctic city shaped by connection, culture, and imagination.

Published itineraries are examples only, weather, ice, government regulations, and community requests may necessitate changes to the planned schedules. These sometimes necessary adjustments present exciting opportunities for exploration, discovery, and adventure.