Northwest Passage Adventure

Arrive in Reykjavik at your own convenience. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your designated hotel, where you will have time to settle in and prepare for the expedition ahead.

On day 2, your group will transfer to the airport and board the charter flight to Kangerlussuaq. Upon arrival, you will continue to the pier and embark your expedition vessel. Settle into your cabin and begin your Arctic journey as the ship departs later in the day.

The second largest town in Greenland, just above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains remarkably ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub all year round. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Dorset, Thule and eventually the Inuit people, dog sledding remains a vital form of transportation. The area is home to humpback whales and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.

Known for its Inuit culture, whales, and icebergs, Disko Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Western Greenland. The bay is also home to the Ilulissat Icefjord, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. First visited by Europeans in 1596 in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia, the region has been inhabited by Inuit communities for centuries. The village of Qeqertarsuaq embodies thriving Inuit traditions, preserving a rich and evolving cultural legacy.

Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the hot tub while taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable experts.

The views of snow-capped mountains have given Pond Inlet in northern Baffin Island the name of Canada’s ‘jewel of the north’ and the area is a prime breeding ground for narwhals – toothed whales with a distinct large tusk. The traditional Inuit community living in the hamlet of Mittimatalik are renowned for their craft skills from printmaking and stone carving.

Gracing the eastern high Arctic, Croker Bay, a mesmerising Arctic waterway, carves its way into Devon Island within the vibrant Qikiqtaaluk Region. This deep inlet, an extension of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, unveils a landscape of captivating beauty. The Devon ice cap feeds the huge South Croker Bay Glacier that calves into the bay.

This area is closely associated with the exploration of Canada’s High Arctic and the Northwest Passage. Much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was mapped while searching for the missing crew of British explorer Sir John Franklin’s fateful 1845-46 Northwest Passage Expedition. Radstock Bay sits below the mighty Caswall Tower mountain and hides many secrets, with evidence of sledge tracks, camps and food tins that may help reveal what happened.

Beechey Island Sites, five historical locations in Canada’s High Arctic, mark where Sir John Franklin wintered in 1845–46 during his ill-fated Northwest Passage expedition. The search for his crew led to much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago being mapped. Nearly six decades later, in 1903, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage.

Port Leopold is a place of raw, rugged natural beauty and landscapes that evoke a sense of awe and wonder. The pristine wilderness and untouched terrain create a feeling of remoteness and isolation, while the Arctic wildlife that calls this place home adds a touch of wildness and unpredictability. The area’s history as a former Hudson’s Bay Company trading post also lends a sense of nostalgia and intrigue.

Uninhabited Batty Bay, Nunavut, part of Prince Regent Inlet on Somerset Island, features dramatic cliffs and hills and is a historic Arctic site. It saw early explorers like Sir John Franklin and Captain John Ross, who left boats there in 1832. Batty Bay’s history and pristine Arctic setting continues to attract explorers and researchers. While not a beluga hotspot, the wider region sees significant beluga migrations.

The Bellot Strait, named in honour of the French explorer Joseph-René Bellot, is a narrow, 2.3-km-wide, and 25-km-long waterway. It separates Somerset Island to the north from the Boothia Peninsula to the south. This strait played a historical role during an expedition to locate Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition, tragically marked by Bellot’s death in the area in 1853.

Strzelecki Harbour, on the east coast of uninhabited Prince of Wales Island, lies within Peel Sound opposite Bellot Strait. Its nutrient-rich waters attract arctic marine mammals like beluga whales and narwhal, while the surrounding low tundra offers occasional sightings of polar bears and muskoxen. This remote island was first encountered by Europeans in 1851 during Sir Francis McClintock’s search for the lost Franklin Expedition.

Cunningham Inlet, on the eastern side of Nunavut’s Somerset Island, draws crowds of beluga whales each summer. Up to 2,000 whales gather around the Cunningham River estuary. The whales come to the inlet to mate, raise their young, socialise and shed their old, yellowed skin in the warm, shallow waters, revealing their snow-white epidermis beneath. Observers can witness these activities firsthand, often enjoying close-up views from the shore.

Buchan Gulf, a remote Arctic fjord on Baffin Island’s northeastern coast, is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for northern fulmars, who roost on the towering cliffs and rocks. Polar bears roam the shores of Icy Arm, a narrow fjord with the relics of an ancient Thule semi-subterranean home sitting on the edge of the boggy tundra. Pods of narwhals are at home in the deep waters of this glacial fjord system on eastern Baffin Island.

Qikiqtarjuaq is a remote, beautiful Baffin Island community surrounded by towering mountains and glaciers. The rugged landscape and pristine wilderness offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, from kayaking to wildlife watching. The town’s Inuit culture and traditions are still alive. But what sets Qikiqtarjuaq apart is the warmth and hospitality of its people, who welcome visitors and share their rich history and traditions with pride.

Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the hot tub while taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable experts.

You will disembark in Kangerlussuaq and transfer to the airport for your return charter flight to Reykjavik, marking the end of your arctic expedition.