"Cheapest" way to Baffin Island
Replies: 14 - Last Post: Jan 29, 2013 7:23 PM Last Post By: max_mexico
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"Cheapest" way to Baffin Island
This is a bit of a long shot, but does anyone have any advice for getting up to Baffin Island from Ontario (I live near Toronto) cheaply? There are a couple northern airlines (Canadian North) that fly to Baffin Island, but flights are around $3,000. I understand it is going to be expensive getting up there no matter how I travel, but does anyone know any good flight deals or tips for getting there cheaper than 3 grand? I would be looking to fly during summer.Thanks,
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There is no such thing as cheap travel anywhere in Canada, to the north it's akin to highway robbery!2
None that I know of. What are you planning to do in Baffin Island, out of curiosity? Greenland is cheaper! :)4
I took the price to go to Baffin Island, then I took the price to go to Greenland, then I subtracted the latter from the former and it came out a positive number.5
I tried random dates on First Air and got a round trip price of $2300. Not bad.Max is uncharacteristically correct: far cheaper to go to Greenland, usually via Copenhagen.
Mark
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Your unprovoked provocation goes ignored, and will result in a warning and a correction:The cheapest way to fly to Greenland that I know of is actually via Reykjavik with Air Iceland.
And OP, I have found a way for you to fly to Baffin Island for $833. Take a look at Air Greenland. You would need to go to Greenland first though, but as discussed above, that is cheap, and you will get to see Iceland and Greenland "for free".
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Max is even more correct than he was previously, and not easily provoked (on this occasion).Notwithstanding the above, routes, costs and airlines serving Greenland have a way of changing a lot. The OP might not want to get too wound up over the specifics just yet.
Mark
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Hi Darren - if you're still wondering, First Air and Canadian North both operate from Ottawa to Iqaluit. My suggestion is to sign up for their email notifications for seat sales, often you can get a ticket for $1500 return. Toronto-Ottawa usually costs about $300 return but you could always drive/bus it/take the train. Once in Iqaluit, onward travel to other communities will cost you more again, depending on how far the community is from Iqaluit. Greenland in summer is beautiful too, and has good tourist infrastructure. Hope this helps.12
Thanks for the advice everyone. I had never considered Greenland since I assumed travelling within Canad would be cheaper. I wanted to get to Baffin Island to do some camping/hiking in Auyuittuq National Park.It sounds like people seem to prefer Greenland. Would you recommend Greenland over Baffin Island for camping. I would base my decision on cost, ease of access (during summer), camping and hiking experience (topography, weather), border crossing issues, and wildlife (excuse my ignorance, but I do not know if the fauna and flora of Greenland differs significantly from Baffin).
I originally started planning this trip because I have always loved the arctic and wanted to see a part of my country that very few of my countrymen/women actually get to see.
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Check out this site, I used them for a couple tours + for a home-stay http://www.ilulissattn.com14
I have not been to either yet, but am hoping to go soon and I looked into all of this 18 months ago. I think you will find Greenland considerably cheaper and easier to get around, and much easier to do independently if that's what you want. Flights are fairly cheap, at least from Europe (and if you fly from Canada, consider combining it with a visit to Iceland and/or Scandinavia/UK since you'll get that part pretty much for free), and once there one fairly economical way to get around is the Arctic Umiaq ferry (google it). If you fly with Air Greenland you can likely also get a free layover in Kangerlussuaq (look into it). There is very good hiking in Greenland, I understand. Take a look at the Arctic Circle Trail for example.
