Mind, Body, Heart, and Soul: Adventure Travel as Lifelong Learning

Learn about macroplastics in Arctic ecosystems and how they’re affecting the health of seabird populations. Hear compelling stories about witchcraft, the supernatural, and folk beliefs in Scottish culture. Find out how Antarctica’s marine life is changing as a result of our climate crisis. Listen to poignant, personal histories of the effects of Inuit community relocations in Nunatsiavut.

You’ll be fascinated by the compelling presentations offered by our world-class expedition team, composed of researchers, authors, historians, scientists, and artists with celebrated professional careers. The presentation schedule is carefully curated to give you the best well-rounded knowledge of the places you’re travelling to.

Try your hand at beading, sewing, or carving under the exceptional guidance of a skilled Inuit artist. Attend a mixology lesson with a Taste of Place ambassador and sample Newfoundland seaweed gin or crisp east coast apple cider. Practice using binoculars, scopes, GPS systems, and other field tools. Learn a few handy phrases of Icelandic to take with you on your next shore excursion.

Get personalized advice about capturing the best photos from one of our expert photographers—you can even borrow professional-calibre cameras and lenses through our Nikon camera trial program! Our hands-on workshops will help put your learning into practice and send you home with new skills to show off to your friends and family.

Get out on deck to admire the scenery, search for bird species to add to your life list, and bask in awe of great wildlife sightings. Listen to engaging interpretation about the sights you’re seeing alongside our expert naturalists, geologists, ornithologists, marine biologists, and cultural educators.

You may even want to get involved with the research projects undertaken through our Scientist in Residence and Young Explorers programs. Whenever you get out on deck, I recommend you dress in layers and perhaps bring a warm mug of something delicious outside with you, because it’ll be hard to tear yourself away.

Attend a special welcoming ceremony on our Arctic expeditions. A tunngasugitsi is an invitation by Inuit expedition team members for you to feel grounded and accepted into the homelands of Inuit Nunangat. Watch the lighting of a qulliq, a traditional seal oil lamp. Listen to the sharing of knowledge, values, experiences, and lessons to prepare you for your travels.

I’m sure you’ll feel, as I do, immensely grateful for this spirit of welcoming. Inuit from Canada and Greenland make up at least a third of our expedition team on Arctic expeditions and they are experts in their respective fields—archaeology, conservation biology, filmmaking, cultural teaching, and more. Enjoy this ceremonial welcome that is sure to set the tone for your whole voyage.

If you’re anything like me, you might start feeling a little weary after a few good bouts of hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac cruising. With so many busy, active days on our expeditions, it’s essential to take some time for your physical rejuvenation. Stretch your muscles out on a yoga mat. Soak in the hot tub or steam in the sauna. Enjoy a treatment in the spa—my personal favourite!

Nourish yourself with a wide selection of healthful foods, and maybe an extra serving of dessert while you’re at it. Don’t forget to drink lots of water and wash your hands often. By taking good care of your body, you’ll be able to get the most out of your expedition experience and absorb as much new learning as possible.

Mealtimes are the perfect opportunity to break bread and talk travel with your new friends, and our friendly, approachable expedition team members eat with you in the dining room for every meal. It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know your fascinating fellow travellers, recount the adventures of the day, and look forward to tomorrow.

You can also enjoy our award-winning Taste of Place menu on select itineraries. This locavore culinary program introduces you to the scrumptious flavours of the region you’re travelling in. During the day, you’ll have the chance to meet the fishers, harvesters, and brewers who supply the Ocean Endeavour’s kitchen. Then enjoy a specially prepared evening meal—fresh handline-caught cod, bakeapple tarts, or a cocktail anyone?

Be part of the unique mix of entertainment and camaraderie on board. From film screenings to evening concerts and dances to costume parties, you’ll love all the fun as much as you’ll love learning and exploring. Belly laughs, giggle fits, full hearts, and wide smiles are all to be expected on an expedition.

Special events like the captain’s welcome go hand-in-hand with laidback barbeques, ice cream socials, and polar plunges. Early on in your expedition, you’ll be introduced to our League of Adventurers program and the community of like-minded people you’re travelling with during a fun icebreaker game.

Become familiar with a new world of organizations doing amazing work in the realms of environmental conservation, youth engagement, cultural revitalization, historic preservation, and food security. Some of my favourite events on board are our fundraising auctions! Learn more about these worthy causes, meet the people who will benefit, bid on enticing prizes, and have a great time while you’re making a difference.

Know that, just by travelling with Adventure Canada, you’re doing good for the places you travel to. The discovery fee included in the price of your trip goes to help support our partners and your expedition provides meaningful training and employment opportunities to local people from the region you travel to. Regenerative travel is a guiding ideology throughout Adventure Canada’s entire program.

If there’s one on-board experience I simply can’t recommend enough, it’s taking the time to engage in quiet reflection. Enjoy a quiet cup of tea or coffee while you watch the waves, keep a travel journal of your experience, or just go through your photos at the end of every day—but be sure to take some time to soak the whole experience in.

I really can’t say enough just how much this type of travel has the potential to change you. (Personally, my first expedition set me on a new career path and upended my life for the better—but that’s another story we’ll have to share on board sometime.) Finding moments of stillness and gratitude will make your time on board all the richer. I can’t wait to see you there!