Kayaking Adventure in Alexandra Fiord, Ellesmere Island

We’ll meet you at Resolute Airport, Nunavut, and transfer you to the spectacular South Camp Inn. Resolute is one of the coldest inhabited places on earth, yet manages to be quite charming thanks to its culture, history, and community.

We’ll have dinner, during which you’ll be briefed about the expedition and we’ll perform an equipment check. We’ll be bringing sleeping tents, which can accommodate up to two travelers, a kitchen tent with a tarp, cooking stoves and utensils, dry packs for food and equipment, first aid and repair kits.

In the morning of day 2, you’ll be treated to a hearty breakfast and then it’s time for a charter flight to take us to Alexandra Fiord where the adventure will begin!

Alexandra Fiord is located on the Johan Peninsula in the northeastern part of Ellesmere Island with the waters of Buchanan Bay washing against its eastern shore. Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures inhabited Alexandra Fiord between 2500 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E. These days, the inlet is mostly a playground for scientists and researchers, who study wildlife and geology.

Once there, we’ll set up the camp and prepare the kayaking equipment. Then, we’ll do a bit of hiking to explore the inlet.

During those brief summer months, the snow on the island melts away and the ice in the bay breaks up, opening up the arctic landscapes to expeditions on foot and in the water. From day 3 to day 13, we’ll explore Alexandra Fiord and Buchanan Bay, hiking the mountains under the midnight sun, glimpsing wildlife, and venturing into deep fjords. We’ll kayak in the waters of Buchanan Bay, where shores are dotted with the remains from Thule, Dorset and Viking cultures, photograph the extraordinary nature and wildlife that thrives in this isolated area. Be ready to document the Arctic as it wakes up before your eyes!

If the weather conditions are right, we’ll move our camp around the surrounding fjords, allowing us to stay in a different area each night.

On day 13, we’ll return to the Alexandra Fiord airstrip where we’ll camp overnight to await the flight back the next day.

We’ll board a charter flight to Resolute, Nunavut from the Alexandra Fiord Airstrip. Once we’ve landed, we’ll be transferred to the South Camp Inn for another delicious dinner and a chance to swap stories about the unforgettable experiences we just shared.

In the morning, we’ll board a flight to Ottawa.

This expedition is rated at three on the difficulty scale. It’s perfect for adventure-seeking sea kayakers with previous arctic camping experience and good health. Anyone with chronic injuries and recurring health issues should consult a physician before embarking on this trip.