Torngat Mountains and the Spirit of the North: A Small-Ship Journey through Greenland and Wild Labrador
- Adventure Coordinators
- May 20
- 5 min read
There’s something about the name Torngat Mountains—derived from the Inuttut word tongait, meaning “place of spirits”—that hints at what lies ahead. This isn’t your average coastal cruise. It’s an expedition into ancient landscapes, Inuit homelands, and storied northern waters. Travelling with Adventure Canada on their Small-Ship Journey through Greenland and Wild Labrador feels less like a trip and more like a passage — into geology, history, and culture that have shaped the North for millennia.
Fjord of Eternity
The journey begins in Greenland, where the Arctic Circle slices through the dramatic 190-kilometre-long Kangerlussuaq Fjord. As your small ship sails westward, you’re flanked by snow-streaked ridges and glaciers that seem close enough to touch. It's a stirring introduction to the North — raw, remote, and utterly real. Not far along, you'll find yourself in Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord, known evocatively in Danish as Evighedsfjorden — “the fjord of eternity.” That name fits. The landscape here is beyond scale: glacial tongues calve into icy bays, waterfalls spill from the heights, and bird cliffs echo with life. On a Zodiac ride, drifting in silence among floating bergs, you'll be struck by just how alive this seemingly desolate place can feel.
Nuuk, Greenland's capital
Then comes Nuuk, Greenland’s quietly cosmopolitan capital, where past and present meet in the most unexpected ways. Wander from the sleek national museum — home to the Qilakitsoq mummies — to cafés that wouldn’t feel out of place in Reykjavík. It’s easy to forget you’re still in the Arctic until a quick glance at the fjord or a conversation with a local artist brings you right back to the heart of this Inuit land.
Crossing to Canada
As you cross Davis Strait, the ship becomes its own sort of floating classroom. Workshops, talks, and conversations with Inuit guides and knowledge-holders fill the time — not to mention the ever-present possibility of whales or seabirds appearing off the bow. A highlight for many will be participating in traditional Inuit games — moments of laughter and shared effort that somehow make the vastness of the sea feel just a little more intimate.
Exploring the Torngats
But it’s when you reach the Torngats that everything shifts. For four full days, you'll immerse yourself in this otherworldly national park — 9,600 square kilometres of rugged mountains, high tundra, and windswept fjords. The land here feels old in a way that few places do. Maybe it’s the Precambrian rock, billions of years in the making, or the glaciers clinging to shadowed slopes. Maybe it’s the knowledge that Inuit and their ancestors have lived and hunted here for thousands of years, leaving behind tent rings, food caches, and spirit markers.
With no roads, no trails, and no permanent settlements, this is wilderness in the truest sense. You'll hike with local Inuit guides who will bring the land to life through stories, pointing out berry patches, fox dens, and ancient sites tucked away in the tundra. In places like Nachvak Fjord and Eclipse Channel, you'll find yourself stopping often — not because the hiking is difficult, but because you'll just want to take it all in. The sheer walls of the fjords, the sudden splash of a seal, the autumnal palette sweeping across the hills — it is all too beautiful to rush through.
And then there’s the wildlife. You may see polar bears (from a safe distance!), spot black bears ambling along the shoreline, and marvel at caribou silhouetted against distant ridges. There are Arctic char in crystal-clear streams, peregrine falcons overhead, and even the Northern Lights may perform one evening — dancing green ribbons across an already unforgettable sky.
Hebron's History
Leaving the park, you'll make your way to Hebron, a place that stands as a quiet witness to a painful past. Once a thriving Moravian mission, Hebron was abruptly shut down in 1959, and its Inuit residents were forced to relocate. Today, descendants return to visit and keep the memory of this community alive. Standing in the old church, reading the plaque of apology from the provincial government, and listening to your guides speak with grace and resolve, it will be impossible not to feel moved.
Leaving the tundra
From there you'll journey to Nain, the northernmost permanent settlement in Labrador and the administrative heart of Nunatsiavut. After days of tundra and mountains, arriving in a treed community will feel almost surreal. The welcome, though, will be as real as it gets. Visit the Illusuak Cultural Centre, enjoy the brassy cheer of the local band, and browse beautiful Inuit art and crafts. Conversations over bannock and coffee will remind you that travel is as much about people as it is about place.
Continuing south along the Labrador coast, the landscape softens. Rugged peaks give way to forested headlands and calm inlets, dotted with islands and small communities. Landings here are shaped by the tides and the weather — but also by the curiosity and kindness of your hosts. Hiking through boreal woods, cruising among islands, and sharing stories with locals brings the region’s deep sense of place into focus.
Discovering a Norse legacy
At L’Anse aux Meadows, you'll encounter a different kind of history. This windswept site at Newfoundland’s tip is the only authenticated Norse settlement in North America. Thanks to saga clues and a lucky find in the 1960s, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Viking outpost dating back to around 1000 CE. Touring the reconstructed sod buildings, chatting with costumed interpreters, and seeing artefacts from those earliest European arrivals, you can't help but think about the threads of connection that run through this land — from Indigenous hunters to Norse explorers to modern travellers like us.
Your final full day will take you into one of Newfoundland’s classic photogenic fishing villages before making your way into the colourful harbour of St. John’s. Sailing through the Narrows and past the storied Battery neighbourhood, it will feel fitting to end where land and sea, history and present, all converge.
Why Adventure Canada?
What sets this journey apart, though, is more than just the itinerary. Adventure Canada is known for its heart-led approach to travel. This isn’t just a cruise — it’s a conversation. Onboard, you will travel with Inuit elders, scientists, artists, and historians who share their perspectives generously. You'll laugh, learn, and linger over meals together. There'll be music, spontaneous storytelling, and even a bit of dancing. Every day will bring new insights and a deeper connection to the places you visit.
If you're drawn to the spirit of exploration — the kind that respects the land and listens deeply to its people—then In the wake of the Vikings - Expedition to Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland may be exactly what you're looking for. You will leave the North with a head full of knowledge, a heart full of gratitude, and a renewed respect for the richness of Canada’s eastern Arctic.
Trip dates & rates
Regular rates are as follows, but please do ask for our specials: our early booking bonus, free single cabins, repeat traveller discount and multi-voyage promotion.
September 17 to October 1, 2025
From $9,495 to $19,095 USD aboard 198 passenger Ocean Endeavour
August 28 to September 11, 2026
From $11,995 to $22,795 USD aboard 79 passenger Ocean Nova
September 27 to October 11, 2026
From $15,995 to $24,195 USD aboard 144 passenger Exploris One
Comments