Canada's Polar Bears: Canadian Arctic to Montreal

Your journey begins in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto, where a luxurious pre-night stay allows you to unwind before your Arctic Expedition Voyage. Explore the vibrant streets, dine in world-class restaurants, or simply relax in the comfort of your elegant hotel before tomorrow’s private charter flight to Churchill, Manitoba.

Board your included charter flight to Churchill, where Scenic Eclipse your ultra-luxury Scenic Discovery Yacht awaits.

Be welcomed on board with a glass of Champagne as you explore your spacious suite. Meet your fellow guests for a drink in the Scenic Lounge Bar as you toast the start of an unforgettable journey.

Attend the introductory presentation on your polar expedition with the Discovery Team, as they outline how Zodiac outings and other Discovery Excursions will unfold in the coming days.

Located on the shores of Hudson Bay, Churchill is famously known as the "polar bear capital of the world”. With its rugged streets and vast, sweeping landscapes, it offers a sense of being at the edge of the world. Surrounded by the untamed beauty of the northern wilderness, it’s the stark solitude and endless expanses that make this remarkable destination truly captivating.

In the evening, share your travel notes with your new friends over dinner in one of up to 10 all-inclusive culinary experiences on board your Scenic Discovery Yacht.

Where Hudson Strait meets the northeastern Hudson Bay, the remote Digges Islands rise with dramatic rocky cliffs, creating the perfect sanctuary for seabirds. This untamed wilderness is also home to thriving walrus colonies and the majestic polar bear. As we navigate the waters by Zodiac, we’ll keep watch for these incredible Arctic icons, always from a safe and respectful distance, but close enough for an unforgettable encounter

Scenic Discovery:
Weather permitting, embark on thrilling Zodiac excursions with the expert Discovery Team.

Cap Wolstenholme, a striking stretch of cliffs along Nunavik’s Hudson Strait, features a sheer, towering rampart on its western side. In summer, this dramatic headland transforms into a bustling nesting ground for swarms of thick-billed murres.

Sail on to Erik Cove, surrounded by towering cliffs and floating icebergs, presenting a strikingly pristine landscape. Watch for seals, whales and a wide variety of seabirds in this wildlife haven. There’s also the possibility of spotting polar bears in the distance.

Scenic Discovery:
Both destinations are perfect for exploring by Zodiac, offering access to unique ecosystems and opportunities to observe Arctic wildlife in their natural habitats. Subject to weather and local authorities’ approvals, you may have the opportunity to set out with the Discovery Team.

Located in northern Labrador, Saglek Fjord is the gateway to the breathtaking Torngat Mountains National Park, an untouched wilderness rich in Inuit history. Weather permitting, the Captain and Discovery Leader will navigate you through this remote landscape, offering unique opportunities to explore towering fjords, jagged peaks, and vast tundra, some of Canada’s most awe-inspiring and remote wilderness.

Experience the charm of Rigolet, a picturesque town with a deep Inuit heritage on Labrador’s North coast. Engage with local artisans, learn about traditional craftsmanship. For wildlife lovers, this is a dream destination. Keep watch for wildlife, including whales and Arctic foxes, as you explore this fascinating region.

St. Anthony is a town on the northern reaches of the Great Northern Peninsula of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. St. Anthony serves as a main service centre for northern Newfoundland and southern Labrador.

Nestled on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula, St. Anthony is a charming town with a rich maritime heritage. It served as the base for the Grenfell Mission, established in the early 20th century to provide medical services to remote communities. The town's coastal waters are renowned for whale watching opportunities, offering sightings of majestic marine mammals during their migratory seasons. Additionally, the nearby L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, a World Heritage-listed site, marks the only known Norse village in North America, dating back to around 1000 AD.

Old meets new in the province's capital (metro-area population a little more than 200,000), with modern office buildings surrounded by heritage shops and colorful row houses. St. John's mixes English and Irish influences, Victorian architecture and modern convenience, and traditional music and rock and roll into a heady brew. The arts scene is lively, but overall the city moves at a relaxed pace.For centuries, Newfoundland was the largest supplier of salt cod in the world, and St. John's Harbour was the center of the trade. As early as 1627, the merchants of Water Street—then known as the Lower Path—were doing a thriving business buying fish, selling goods, and supplying alcohol to soldiers and sailors.

Welcome to St. John's, the vibrant capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, celebrated as North America's oldest city. Its downtown area is characterised by brightly coloured heritage buildings lining Water and Duckworth Streets, housing an array of boutiques, restaurants, and galleries. A visit to Signal Hill National Historic Site offers panoramic views of the city and harbour. This historic landmark is where Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901.

Once back on board, pause for a barista-made coffee or a cocktail at one of the nine bars and lounges, or curl up with a book in the Observation Lounge library as the views unfold outside. Later tonight, settle into the spacious Scenic Lounge Bar to savour your preferred nightcap, from one of over 130 aged whiskeys to a carefully selected glass of wine.

By heading almost due east from Cap-aux-Meules in Canada, it is possible to reach France in about one day’s worth of steaming! With barely 6,000 inhabitants living on tiny St. Pierre, it is the smallest French Overseas Collective. The residents of St. Pierre are predominantly descendants of Normans, Basque and Bretons and the French spoken is closer to Metropolitan French than to Canadian French. Although Basque is not spoken any longer, the influence is still felt through sport and a Basque Festival. Interestingly, this small island has two museums in part dedicated to the Prohibition. The Musée Heritage is St. Pierre’s newest museum with a focus on medical artefacts from the 19th and 20th century. Another claim to fame is a guillotine, the only one ever used in North America. In this quirky village it is easy to find the Post Office; just look for the clock tower shaped like a praying monk.

Just 25 kilometres off the coast of Canada, the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago offers a unique slice of France in North America. The colourful houses evoke a Scandinavian charm, while the islands rich culture is waiting to be discovered through its quirky museums. This destination is a true haven for nature lovers, where you can endlessly explore the stunning landscapes that lie between land and sea, all whilst keeping an eye out for seals, humpback whales, and migratory birds.

Baie-Comeau sits on the St. Lawrence River, where the water meets forested shoreline and open sky. The town offers broad river views and a calm, small-town atmosphere.

Surrounded by woods and rugged scenery, Baie-Comeau serves as a stepping stone into Québec’s Côte-Nord region. Strolling the waterfront or nearby trails, you can appreciate the quiet and the unspoiled character of this stretch of Canadian coast.

Check the Daily Wonder to join another engaging lecture with the Discovery Team in the state-of-the-art theatre, where experts bring the region’s wildlife, landscapes and history vividly to life.

Québec City's alluring setting atop Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant) evokes a past of high adventure, military history, and exploration. This French-speaking capital city is the only walled city north of Mexico. Visitors come for the delicious and inventive cuisine, the remarkable historical continuity, and to share in the seasonal exuberance of the largest Francophone population outside France.The historic heart of this community is the Old City (Vieux-Québec), comprising the part of Upper Town (Haute-Ville) surrounded by walls and Lower Town (Basse-Ville), which spreads out at the base of the hill from Place Royale. Many sets of staircases and the popular funicular link the top of the hill with the bottom. Cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and elaborate cathedrals here are charming in all seasons. The Old City earned recognition as an official UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, thanks largely to city planners who managed to update and preserve the 400-year-old buildings and attractions without destroying what made them worth preserving. The most familiar icon of the city, Fairmont Château Frontenac, is set on the highest point in Upper Town, where it holds court over the entire city.Sitting proudly above the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers, the city's famous military fortification, La Citadelle, built in the early 19th century, remains the largest of its kind in North America. In summer, visitors should try to catch the Changing of the Guard, held every morning at 10 am; you can get much closer to the guards here than at Buckingham Palace in London.Enchanting as it is, the Old City is just a small part of the true Québec City experience. Think outside the walls and explore St-Roch, a downtown hot spot, which has artsy galleries, foodie haunts, and a bustling square. Cruise the Grande-Allée and avenue Cartier to find a livelier part of town dotted with nightclubs and fun eateries. Or while away the hours in St-Jean-Baptiste, a neighborhood with trendy shops and hipster hangouts.

Considered the cradle of French America, Québec City is a World Heritage-listed fortified city founded in 1608. Step through more than 400 years of history in its charming cobblestone Old Town set within gates, towers and ramparts complete with cannons.

Perched atop the headland inside is the century-old Chateau Frontenac, which now houses the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Frontenac hotel and Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral. The 425-metre wooden boardwalk Dufferin Terrace, which is frequented by street entertainers, has views over St Lawrence River and the Lower Town.

Canada's most diverse metropolis, Montréal, is an island city that favors style and elegance over order or even prosperity, a city where past and present intrude on each other daily. In some ways it resembles Vienna—well past its peak of power and glory, perhaps, yet still vibrant and grand.But don't get the wrong idea. Montréal has always had a bit of an edge. During Prohibition, thirsty Americans headed north to the city on the St. Lawrence for booze, music, and a good time, and people still come for the same things. Summer festivals celebrate everything from comedy and French music and culture to beer and fireworks, and, of course, jazz. And on those rare weeks when there isn't a planned event, the party continues. Clubs and sidewalk cafés are abuzz from late afternoon to the early hours of the morning. And Montréal is a city that knows how to mix it up even when it's 20 below zero. Rue St-Denis is almost as lively on a Saturday night in January as it is in July, and the festival Montréal en Lumière, or Montréal Highlights, enlivens the dreary days of February with concerts, balls, and fine food.Montréal takes its name from Parc du Mont-Royal, a stubby plug of tree-covered igneous rock that rises 764 feet above the surrounding cityscape. Although its height is unimpressive, "the Mountain" forms one of Canada's finest urban parks, and views from the Chalet du Mont-Royal atop the hill provide an excellent orientation to the city's layout and major landmarks.Old Montréal is home to museums, the municipal government, and the magnificent Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal within its network of narrow, cobblestone streets. Although Montréal's centre-ville, or Downtown, bustles like many other major cities on the surface, it's active below street level as well, in the so-called Underground City–-the underground levels of shopping malls and food courts connected by pedestrian tunnels and the city's subway system, or métro. Residential Plateau Mont-Royal and trendy neighborhoods are abuzz with restaurants, nightclubs, art galleries, and cafés. The greener areas of town are composed of the Parc du Mont-Royal and the Jardin Botanique.

Your Expediton Voyage ends today in Montréal. Savour one last sumptuous breakfast on board your ultra-luxury 6-star Scenic Discovery Yacht before saying farewell to the crew and new friends who have shared this remarkable journey with you. As you disembark, know you have created unforgettable memories.

Please book your flight to depart out of Montreal after 12:00 PM.

#Spa treatments and services at additional cost. Daily activities may be subject to change; please consult your Daily Wonder for updates.
+All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. Specialty restaurants require a reservation, enquire on board.
^Experiences on board our two helicopters and submersible are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather and ice conditions.
~Kayak and stand-up paddleboard not available in all locations.

Helicopter not in operation in Canada.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such, Scenic cannot guarantee the voyage will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information. Hotels are indicative and subject to change.