Wilderness from Greenland to the East Coast of Canada

Kangerlussuaq Havn is the eastern Greenlandic gateway to the Scoresby Sund — the world's longest fjord system — where sheer basalt cliffs, colossal icebergs, and one of Earth's most isolated Inuit communities await expedition vessels from Ponant and Hapag-Lloyd. Visit July through September for muskox encounters, midnight-sun ice photography, and the Arctic in its most concentrated and demanding form.

Nuuk, Greenland's diminutive capital, is a city of vivid contrasts — colourful colonial houses against Arctic granite, Inuit heritage alongside contemporary Nordic culture, and world-class museums steps from untamed fjords. Visitors should not miss the Greenland National Museum's Qilakitsoq mummies and a Zodiac excursion into the surrounding iceberg-studded fjord system. The prime cruising season runs from June through September, when extended daylight illuminates the landscape in an ethereal sub-Arctic glow and waters remain navigable for expedition vessels.

Iqaluit is the capital of Canada's Nunavut territory on Baffin Island, where Inuit culture, Arctic wildlife, and vast tundra landscapes converge at the edge of habitation. Visit during the brief August-September expedition season for beluga whale sightings, Inuit throat singing, and the overwhelming beauty of the Arctic tundra in summer bloom.

Grinnell Glacier on Baffin Island's Meta Incognita Peninsula is a remote Arctic destination where ancient ice calves into dark fjord waters surrounded by tundra wildflowers, caribou, and the narwhal and beluga that feed in the nutrient-rich meltwater. Accessible only by expedition ship during the brief August-to-September window, every visit is unique and weather-dependent. This is High Arctic expedition cruising at its most profound — a landscape of overwhelming scale and humbling natural power.

Akpatok Island is a massive limestone plateau in Canada's Ungava Bay, rimmed by 245-meter cliffs hosting over a million nesting murres and serving as one of the eastern Arctic's most important polar bear denning sites. Visitors experience the overwhelming spectacle from Zodiac cruises along the cliff base, watching endless streams of seabirds against towering stone walls. The visiting window is limited to late July through early September when ice permits access.

Torngat Mountains National Park occupies Labrador's remote northern tip, where 3.9-billion-year-old mountains plunge into the Labrador Sea amid fjords, glaciers, and polar bear territory. Must-dos include Inuit-guided hiking with bear guards, base camp cultural immersion, and wildlife watching for caribou, Arctic foxes, and seals. The season runs only from mid-July to mid-September, when expedition ships and charter flights provide the sole access to this profoundly wild Arctic sanctuary.

Nain is the northernmost settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador, a small Inuit community serving as the capital of Nunatsiavut and the gateway to the spectacular Torngat Mountains National Park. Must-dos include experiencing Inuit culture and brass band music, tasting Arctic char and bakeapple berries, and exploring the glacier-carved Torngat Mountains. July through September offers the only ice-free window for visiting this remote Labrador coast.

Rigolet is a remote Labrador Inuit settlement of fewer than three hundred people at the entrance to Hamilton Inlet, where traditional hunting and fishing culture persists in one of Canada's most spectacular wilderness settings. Must-dos include tasting smoked Arctic char prepared in family smokehouses, experiencing the Northern Lights in pristine dark skies, and learning about Inuit culture at a community feast. July–August offers the mildest weather, while winter brings extraordinary aurora viewing and dog-sledding adventures.

Battle Harbor, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, offers an authentic North American experience where stunning natural landscapes meet communities of genuine character. Visitors should explore the surrounding wilderness and sample the honest, locally sourced cuisine that defines the region. The ideal visiting period is May through October, when the climate is at its most welcoming for outdoor exploration. Cruise lines including Ponant feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

L'Anse aux Meadows is the UNESCO-listed site at Newfoundland's northern tip proving Vikings reached North America around 1000 AD — five centuries before Columbus. Visit June through September via Seabourn or Viking for reconstructed Norse buildings, Parks Canada interpretive programs, and the haunting experience of standing where medieval Greenlanders made landfall on a windswept coast still visited by icebergs from their homeland.

Twillingate is Newfoundland's "Iceberg Capital," a colourful outport town where massive Arctic icebergs drift past the harbour each spring, complemented by humpback whale watching and dramatic coastal hiking. Must-do experiences include boat tours among towering icebergs, sampling cod tongues and iceberg vodka, and watching for whales from Long Point Lighthouse. Late April through July offers the peak convergence of icebergs, whales, and seabirds.

Bonavista is a historic Newfoundland outport where John Cabot reportedly made his 1497 landfall, perched on dramatic Precambrian cliffs that now host whale-watching, iceberg viewing, and the acclaimed Skerwink Trail. Must-do experiences include hiking the clifftop paths past sea stacks and puffin colonies, tasting pan-fried cod tongues and traditional fish and brewis, and touring the restored Ryan Premises mercantile complex. Visit in July and August for the warmest weather and peak whale activity, or late June to catch icebergs drifting south from Greenland.

St. John's is North America's oldest English-founded city, a colourful Newfoundland harbour capital where Jellybean Row houses climb steep hills, Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal, and icebergs drift past the harbour mouth each spring. Must-dos include climbing Signal Hill for Atlantic panoramas, the screech-in cod-kissing ceremony, and hiking to Cape Spear — the continent's easternmost point. Visit July or August for warm weather and iceberg season.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is France's last territory in North America, a fog-wrapped archipelago off Newfoundland where croissants, crêpes, and the euro coexist with cod fishing and Prohibition-era history. Must-dos include exploring the rum-running Heritage Museum, dining on fresh cod and French wines, and visiting the haunting cemetery on Île aux Marins. June through September offers the best weather for this improbable outpost of French culture.

Miquelon Island, Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Ponant. Must-do experiences include walking the historic center to experience the layered architectural heritage, and seeking out the regional culinary traditions at a locally favored establishment away from the port area. The optimal time to visit is May through September, when mild temperatures and long days favor unhurried exploration.

Halifax, the historic capital of Nova Scotia, is a refined Atlantic port where centuries of maritime heritage meet a flourishing culinary scene anchored by Digby scallops, donairs, and one of North America's oldest farmers' markets. Visitors should not miss the star-shaped Citadel Hill and the harbourfront boardwalk's constellation of galleries and tasting rooms. The ideal season stretches from late June through October, when autumn's blazing foliage transforms the entire province into a masterwork of colour and the cruise terminal welcomes the world's finest vessels.