Compare Solo - Maple Leaf Trail plus Niagara by Titan Travel vs High Arctic Explorer - Greenland to Canada (Ocean Endeavour) by Intrepid Travel

Day 1 London - Toronto
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a direct, scheduled Air Canada flight to Toronto where our coach will transfer you to the Chelsea Hotel (3T+). Be sure to explore vibrant Toronto with its sophisticated architecture, elegant shopping malls and plentiful choice of dining. A visit to the CN Tower is a must, with its observation deck, some 1,700ft high.

Day 2 Toronto - Niagara Falls - Toronto
Our coach takes us to Niagara in time for lunch and the great experience of the Horseshoe and the American Falls - appreciate their awesome power from the promenade. Early evening we return to Toronto and our hotel.

Day 3 Toronto - Ottawa
We depart Toronto and follow the north shore of Lake Ontario to Kingston, gateway to the Thousand Islands. Here we enjoy a relaxing cruise to discover this attractive archipelago varying from small outcroppings to much larger, inhabited islands. Later, we continue on our journey to the nation’s capital, Ottawa and, after a brief orientation tour we transfer to our hotel, the centrally located, historic Lord Elgin (4T) or Metcalfe Hotel (4T).

Day 4 Ottawa
Ottawa’s fine parliament buildings, picturesque parks and canals invite the stroller and today is free to explore this capital city at your leisure. Parliament Hill is home to Canada’s national government and worthy of a visit, or there are museums and galleries aplenty. Or follow the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it winds through downtown Ottawa until it reaches locks next to Parliament Hill, where it joins the Ottawa River.

Day 5 Ottawa - Québec City
Today’s destination is Québec City and we journey there following the St Lawrence River, making a stop for lunch at Chez Dany Sugar Shack. The lunch menu offers local cuisine, accompanied by live traditional music. We arrive later in Québec City and our hotel for three nights, the Delta Québec (4T).

Day 6 Québec City
This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Québec City with its fort, gates and cannons, narrow cobbled streets and ancient greystone houses. Later you are free to further discover the old walled city and visit the many interesting shops, enjoy fine French cuisine and maybe take a walk along the promenade overlooking the St Lawrence River. You may wish to take a horse-drawn carriage around the old city - a great way to become acquainted. Alternatively, take an optional excursion to Wendake, the Huron-Wendat Nation Reserve.

Day 7 Québec City
Today is at leisure. Alternatively join an optional excursion to Taddousac - travel along the Charlevoix Coastline, stopping at Chute Montmorency Falls, before boarding a ship in Baie-Sainte-Catherine to enjoy a whale-watching cruise. Whales, including fin, minke and beluga whales may be seen.

Day 8 Québec City - Montréal
We have an early start today to make the most of the Beauce region, an area enriched by the Chaudiere River that flows from just north of the American border into the St Lawrence River, and to enjoy the greatest concentration of maple groves in Québec. Shortly after crossing the St Lawrence River we stop at the Chaudiere Falls, an impressive waterfall and suspension bridge, named ‘asticou’ (boiler) by the Abenaki Indians because of the kettle-shaped basin at the foot of the cascades. The river was the scene of a gold rush in 1846 when a nugget the size of a pigeon’s egg was found. By the beginning of the 20th century over $1 million worth of gold had been extracted. Our route takes us along the tree-lined banks of the Chaudiere as we pass through the towns of Saint Marie, Valley Junction, Saint Joseph de Beauce and Beauceville. This afternoon we travel to Montréal and the Best Western Ville Marie (3T+), where we stay for two nights.

Day 9 Montréal
We enjoy a guided tour of this city, often rated as one of the ‘most liveable cities in the world’ and delightfully situated at the confluence of the St Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. The remainder of the day is at leisure for further exploration.

Day 10 Montréal - In flight
This morning is free for some sightseeing before we transfer to Montréal Airport and a direct, scheduled Air Canada flight to London.

Day 11 London
Arrival at London Heathrow Airport where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.

Day 1 Toronto, Canada to Kangerlussuaq,Greenland

Your Arctic adventure begins in Toronto, Canada, from where you’ll hop aboard an included early morning charter flight to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, a tiny town with a population of just 500. Here you’ll find the Ocean Endeavour ship, your home for the next 13 days. Board a Zodiac boat which will take you to the Ocean Endeavour – these sturdy inflatable vessels will get you on and off the ship throughout your journey. Then it’s time to set sail! Cruise down the Kangerlussuaq Fjord for your first dose of epic scenery as you cross the Arctic Circle. The 190-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by snow-dusted mountains and dramatic glaciers, ensuring your first day in the Arctic will be one to remember.

Day 2 Sisimiut Coast

Wake up aboard the Ocean Endeavour – be sure to gaze out the windows over breakfast, as views don’t get much better than this! Today will be spent exploring western Greenland along the Sisimiut Coast. You’re going to want to have your camera ready for this journey – prepare to pass by glaciers, fjords and islands against a staggering backdrop of mountains. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get off the ship and hike through the inspiring landscape, or set off on a Zodiac cruise for a closer look at these natural wonders. As you traverse the complex waterways, learn the stories of the Saqqaq, Dorset, Thule and modern Inuit people who have called the Sisimiut region home for 4500 years.

Day 3 Ilulissat

After travelling north overnight, disembark the ship and head out to explore the town of Ilulissat and its surrounds – the name Ilulissat directly translates to ‘icebergs’ in Kalaallisut, Greenland’s official language, and you’ll soon find out why! Neatly organised colourful houses make the town postcard-pretty, but it’s the nearby icefjord that really puts this place on the map. A walk along a boardwalk will lead you to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where towering white ice formations dwarf the buildings of the nearby town. Spend some time soaking up this memorable sight, and perhaps have a wander around Ilulissat’s charming shops and museums, then set out on a Zodiac cruise to admire the icefjord from a different perspective. Weave and bob your way around impressive icebergs – this really has to be experienced to be believed!

Day 4 Western Greenland

An expedition landing on Greenland’s wild and wonderful west coast means the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may like to get active with a rewarding hike, or stretch your legs with a more easygoing stroll through the everchanging landscapes. There’s plenty of unbelievable photography opportunities here, or you may prefer just to sit back and take it all in. However you choose to spend the day, the sights of soaring mountains and vibrant tundra flowers are sure to stick with you long after your adventure is over.

Day 5 At Sea, Davis Strait

Cross the Davis Straight today on your way towards Nunavut, Canada. This day at sea is the perfect opportunity to add a deeper layer to your discoveries of the Arctic. Enriching workshops and presentations delivered by experts on board the Ocean Endeavour paint an in-depth picture of the region’s fascinating history, geology, wildlife and cultural heritage. There’s even a workshop on how to best use your binoculars, so put your new skills into practice and get out on deck in search of whales, seabirds and other marine life.

Day 6 Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Canada

A world away from Toronto where your adventure began, see a different side of Canada in the beautiful Arctic community of Mittimatalik. With a population of just 1600, this place may be small, but there’s so much Inuit culture and history to uncover here. Dive straight in with a performance by the Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group, where they will take you on a journey with their drum dancing, throat singing and storytelling. After the performance, enjoy some time to explore the town and soak in the spectacular views of nearby Bylot Island. There are often gorgeous handcrafted goods for sale if you want to pick up a keepsake to remember your time in this unique corner of the world.

Day 7-11 Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island

The next five days will be spent exploring the rugged landscapes of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area (Lancaster Sound). The area is home to narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales who feed in this area – set out in search of them by ship and Zodiac. Stop by Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island. The vast, barren landscape is dotted with glacial valleys, flat-topped mountains and ice caps, and while it may not be a place you’d want to live, it’s certainly a joy to explore. Hike over tundra, cruise a glacier face and keep a lookout for polar bears and other wildlife from ship and shore. Let expert guides show you ancient archaeological sites that unearth the history of the Inuit people and their ancestors who once laid roots on this now abandoned island. Visit the eerie remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.

Day 12 Beechey Island

Make a sobering visit to the Franklin Expedition historic site on Beechey Island, a memorial to the failed expedition of British explorer Sir John Franklin in 1845. Attempting to cross the Northwest Passage, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror vanished – searches for the wrecks were unsuccessful for 170 years, only to be both be discovered in 2014 and 2016. Pay your respects while learning the stories of the men who are buried here as you visit their graves and the nearby ruins of Northumberland House.

Day 13 Qausuittuq (Resolute) to Ottawa

It’s time to say goodbye to the Arctic after a final day in Qausuittuq (Resolute). With a name meaning ‘place with no dawn’, Qausuittuq experiences long, dark winters, but your visit in the peak of summer means day-round sunlight. The unique topography of the landscape is characterized by shoreline gravel flats, rocky coastal bluffs, and deposits of glacial moraine. First established in 1953, the community began under false pretenses, as the Canadian government relocated Inuit families from Inukjuak, Québec and Mittimatalik, in an attempt to assert Canadian sovereignty. Learn about this dark chapter in Canadian history and how the community lives on today. Qausuittuq now serves as an important staging post for High Arctic research, tourism and military activities. Bid farewell to the Ocean Endeavour as you disembark and take a Zodiac transfer for your included charter flight to Ottawa, Ontario. Your Arctic adventure comes to an end upon your arrival at Ottawa airport – prepare to leave with memories to last a lifetime.