Set sail for breathtaking adventure in the Arctic expanses on board the HANSEATIC nature. Starting in Greenland, Uummannaq will greet you with colourful houses and the striking backdrop of a heart-shaped mountain shimmering in red. Venture onwards in the wake of former pioneers and visit places where polar researchers made history. You can continue the story of discovery in the far north, thanks to the highest ice class for passenger ships and the experience of the captain and crew.

Cruising through Baffin Bay will evoke the memory of its namesake William Baffin, who searched in vain for the legendary Northwest Passage.

The explorer’s name is also immortalised by Baffin Island, where typical regional dances provide insights into Inuit traditions. Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on earth, invites you to embark on numerous Zodiac explorations. In Dundas Harbor (Nunavut), for example, the remains of a Thule settlement and an abandoned station of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police bear silent witness to the past. Against a backdrop of spectacular glaciers and striking rocks, polar bears, musk oxen and Arctic hares will hopefully play a part in your experiences. On Beechey Island, your experts will tell fascinating tales of the fate of the Franklin expedition. Over 150 years ago, three members were laid to rest here. In keeping with the pioneering spirit that lives on in the HANSEATIC nature, the ship will press on into the mystical worlds of seldom-visited waters. On glaciated Ellesmere Island, rock formations tell of an ancient sea that existed 400 million years ago, which was displaced by the land masses over time.

Ice permitting, you will set sail for Smith Sound between Greenland and Canada.

In 1909, American polar researcher Robert Edwin Peary travelled through here and the more northerly Nares Strait to become the first person to reach the North Pole. A similar pioneering spirit now drives the HANSEATIC nature to venture into extremes: how far into the territory of the icebreakers can the ship go? If you succeed in landing on Pim Island, you will feel the drama of the Greely expedition, which fell victim to the icy winter of 1884 on the small, rocky island. With a little luck, you might see some polar bears from the deck. What this region means today will become clear as you reach Hans Island: Canada and Denmark have been laying claim to the island for years. However, the border dispute could be settled in 2022.

When the HANSEATIC nature reaches the north-west coast of Greenland, you’ll encounter places that few people before you have reached, where you can explore on foot together with our experts. Take for instance Etah, which in the mid 20th century was still the location of the geomagnetic North Pole. Today, the pole is further west. On your way to Siorapaluk, Greenland’s northernmost settlement, you might spot more seals and whales. The barking of the huskies provides the soundtrack to your experiences in the village right on the fjord, surrounded by mighty sandstone mountains in shades of red and purple. Further south, you’ll find the colourful houses that form the settlement of Qaanaaq. The polar explorer Knud Rasmussen began many of his expeditions in this region in the early 20th century. Zodiac rides off Cape York bring stirring views of bizarre ice formations.

The memorial to Robert E. Peary enthroned on a rocky crest highlights the spirit of expedition that will accompany you as you explore the natural spectacles of Ilulissat. Join the experts on a hike to the majestic ice sculptures that gather in the fjord. This will put you in the mood for an even greater experience: Disko Bay. When cruising and riding in the Zodiacs, watch the breathtaking sight of the ice formations slowly drifting through the bay. The old town of Sisimiut, which was founded at the end of the 18th century as a missionary and trading post, provides a contrast to the blue of the ice. On a hike to Tele Island, you will enter the historic territory of an Inuit culture that is over 4,000 years old. You’ll return home fulfilled, knowing that you have written your very own story of discovery.