Project Description:
Lindblad Expeditions has over 50 years of expedition experience and 20 years of experience operating in the polar regions around the world including Nunavut, Greenland, Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, and Antarctica. They are a pioneering expedition travel company that works to inspire people to explore and care about the planet, while promoting conservation and sustainable tourism around the world. Lindblad Expeditions employs highly talented and committed staff to ensure not only memorable experiences for their passengers, but also safe and respectful operations in the areas they travel. Lindblad’s ship, the National Geographic Endurance will be the vessel operating in Nunavut this summer. The Endurance is the flagship of Lindblad Expedition’s fleet, built to be the most technologically advanced, fully stabilized, and accommodating expedition ship in the world.
Lindblad is operating two Northwest Passage trips this season. Please see attached itineraries for full details. The captain and expedition leaders for these itineraries have been selected based on their polar experience. This is a tourist expedition where the goal is to experience the Arctic and visit various sites along the way with minimal disturbance. For the visits to these areas, all passengers will be accompanied by members of Lindblad Expedition staff including the expedition leader, Inuit guide, and a number of naturalists. The activities undertaken during these visits may include walking/hiking, photography, kayaking, Zodiac cruising, scuba diving and operating a remote operated vehicle. Lindblad shore staff will provide interpretation of the sites and ensure that all passengers adhere to a strict look but do not touch and leave no trace policies. Their staff have years of experience traveling in protected areas around the world and will abide by all guidelines any governing agencies have for visits to these sites. Site visits are planned to be between a half day and a full day in length, will take place between July 18 and Aug 29, 2022, and may be shortened or cancelled due to bad weather or environmental conditions. The cruise ship carries on board with it 14 Zodiac Mark V boats, which it uses for transporting passengers to and from shore, and 24 two-person kayaks used for touring, photography, and observation from the water. Maximum capacity for the National Geographic Endurance is 260 persons. All staff are trained and there are certified firearms specialists.
During this itinerary the communities of Pond Inlet, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay and Uluhaktok are visited in Canada. All Covid 19 protocol will be followed by the territory, public health and Transport Canada. Protected areas for archaeology purposes are visited and Class 1 permits have been applied for through the Department of Culture Heritage. No artifacts will be collected and no scientific research carried out. NO CWS sites are visited and No Inuit owned lands are visited. Please see attached sailplan for full itinerary details.