Traversing the Northwest Passage

After breakfast at the hotel, board your charter flight to Nuuk, Greenland, where your vessel awaits. After boarding, there is time to settle into your cabin before important safety briefings. This evening, meet your expedition team and crew at the captain’s welcome drinks.

Greenland’s second largest town, Sisimiut, is located approximately 33.5 miles north of the Arctic Circle, meaning that during summer, you can experience the midnight sun here. The town is famous for the old blue church with the gate made of whale bone. In the cozy museum next door to the church, you will find an excellent reconstruction of an Inuit turf house as well as exhibits of local history and early life in Greenland.

Sisimiut offers hiking trails with various degrees of difficulty. The easier trails take you through the town itself, its outskirts and into the mountains, where you will find spectacular vantage points.

Approximately 4,500 years ago, the Saqqaq culture arrived from Canada and settled in the area. They lived here for approximately 2,000 years, after which they mysteriously disappeared from the area. The Dorset culture arrived around 500 CE and stayed until the 1200s until they were replaced by the Thule culture, and today, the majority of the population of Sisimiut are descendants of the Thule culture.

In the afternoon, arrive in Ilulissat. Known as the birthplace of icebergs, this region produces some of the most dazzling icebergs found anywhere in the Arctic. Hike past the husky sledge dogs to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Icefjord and stand in awe at its immensity. Sermeq Kujalleq, also known as Jakobshavn Glacier, is the most productive glacier—not only in Greenland but the entire Northern Hemisphere. It produces 20 million tons of ice each day, all floating into the Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay.

Explore the northern stretches of West Greenland, home to traditional settlements and enormous icebergs that Greenland is famous for. Possibilities include Zodiac cruises, hikes and a visit to one of the small communities that are dotted along the coast. Kayakers can enjoy paddling among the icebergs and keeping watch for whales that frequent the area.

The ship’s team of experts entertain with informative talks about wildlife, geology and epic tales of early explorers such as Franklin and Amundsen.

After clearance into Canada, hope to visit Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), a captivating Inuit community nestled on the northern tip of Baffin Island. Surrounded by towering ice-capped mountains, vast glaciers and pristine fjords, this remote outpost offers an unparalleled wilderness experience. As you step ashore, you’ll be greeted by the warm hospitality of the local Inuit, whose deep connection to the land is evident in their culture and lifestyle. Immerse yourself in their traditions through engaging cultural encounters and gain insights into their unique perspective on life in the Arctic.

At a latitude almost 75° degrees north, you are now truly in the High Arctic. Here, nutrient-rich waters support an abundance of wildlife, giving the area the moniker “wildlife super highway” of the Arctic. Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island on Earth and features stunning geology, with flat-topped mountains and glacial valleys giving Devon Island its unique character. Hope to visit Dundas Harbor to enjoy walks on undulating tundra, and perhaps some birdwatching. Other possible places you might visit include Croker Bay and Maxwell Bay. A dilapidated Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost and remnants of a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post can be found here. In the bay, walruses are often present.

Plan to land at Beechey Island, at the western end of Devon Island. Named after Frederick William Beechey, the island is one of Canada’s most important arctic sites and is a designated Canadian National Historic Site. During the Franklin expedition of 1845–46, Franklin attempted to sail through the Northwest Passage with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, with perilous results–three of his men are buried here. Roald Amundsen landed at Beechey Island in 1903, during the first successful voyage by ship to fully transit the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

In true expeditionary style, the itinerary for the following days is heavily dependent on unpredictable sea ice. The following places are on the tentative agenda:

Prince Leopold Island 

On the southern side of Lancaster Sound from Beechey Island lie the towering bird cliffs of Prince Leopold Island, a historic site where in 1848, English explorer James Clark Ross overwintered during the search for the missing Franklin expedition. Prince Leopold Island is the most important bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic, with approximately 500,000 birds nesting here in summer. Ringed seals are often spotted on the sea ice around the island and polar bear often lurk nearby. The shallow gravel beds attract beluga whales, who come to molt in this part of the Arctic each summer.

Port Leopold

Port Leopold, a barren, windswept bay on the northeastern corner of Somerset Island (Inuktitut Kuuganajuk), is steeped in history. Here, the crews of HMS Enterprise and Investigator were forced to endure a harsh winter while searching for the lost Franklin expedition. Their presence is indelibly marked on a rock engraved with “1849” and the ships’ initials. The desolate landscape is punctuated by a lone Hudson Bay Company hut, a failed trading post from the 1920s. Hikers will have the opportunity to explore the coastline, discovering the historic Hudson Bay Company house and intriguing Inuit archaeological sites. Be amazed by the otherworldly formations shaped by the region’s freezing and thawing cycles, which our expedition team will detail during recap. Nearby, a cairn marks the spot where Ross’s rescue expedition left vital supplies.

Hazard Inlet (Qariaraajuk)

Hope to visit an Inuit site inhabited by bowhead whale hunters during the 15th and 16th centuries. The remains of over 100 bowheads are scattered across the village and beach, a testament to the community’s reliance on this marine giant. Excavations have uncovered around 20 sod houses, though evidence suggests there may have been as many as 40. The cliff face behind the site holds community burial grounds, while caches, kayak and umiak stands line the shore. This remarkable site offers a poignant glimpse into the lives of these Inuit families, who worked cooperatively to hunt bowhead whales for sustenance and building materials. It’s an extraordinary privilege to experience this piece of history firsthand.

Point Zenith

Point Zenith, a rocky promontory jutting into the ocean, offers breathtaking panoramic views. As you step ashore, you’ll feel a profound sense of isolation and wonder. This is a place where time seems to stand still, and the only sounds are the wind and the crunch beneath your boots.

King William Island 

In 1859, a Franklin expedition tent camp was discovered at Cape Felix. Remains attributed to the Franklin expedition have been found at 35 locations on King William Island and on nearby Adelaide Peninsula. South of Cape Felix, in Victoria Strait, hope to visit Victory Point and get close to where the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were abandoned in 1848.

Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq)

The administrative and transportation hub of the region, Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq) is the largest stop for passenger and research vessels traversing the Northwest Passage and unofficially marks the midpoint for voyages of the Northwest Passage. Zodiac ashore for an exploration of this Inuit settlement located in the high Arctic. Enjoy a walk through the village, where you can visit the local church, visitor center and support the local community by purchasing some locally made handicrafts.

Your experienced expedition team will create your day-by-day itineraries based on sea ice and weather conditions. Apart from Franklin, other heroic explorers including Amundsen explored this territory, and you may visit the same places as early explorers. Hope to meet the resilient locals who make the extreme far north their home.

Below are some of the places in the area that you may visit:

Johansen Bay, Edinburgh Island
Hope to enjoy a Zodiac excursion within an estuary of at the northeast end of Johansen Bay and up the river towards the lake. Wildlife including caribous, reindeer, arctic foxes, hares and peregrine falcons frequent the area.

Nearby, Edinburgh Island (Egloovikan) is a small and uninhabited island in Canada’s Nunavut region. The scenery consists of colorful flowering shrubs and beaches tinged in stunning ochres, while the surrounding cliffs are shaded in rich, deep tones. A possible walk to a lookout overlooking the lake offers spectacular views over lakes, sea and mountains.

Port Epworth (Kugluktoalok)

The Tree River area on the mainland—also known as Port Epworth—provides a spectacular backdrop for possible exploration, with its river and shallow lakes, striking sedimentary rock outcrops, and bright autumnal colors of tundra. This area is also known for its stromatolites–the petrified remains of ancient mounds of algae, formed some two billion years ago by the same microorganisms responsible for producing the oxygen we breathe today.

Smoking Hills, Franklin Bay
The smoking Hills in Canada’s Northwest Territories have been smouldering, sending plumes of gas across the landscape, for centuries. Technically sea cliffs, you would be forgiven for thinking that the multicoloured fiery natural phenomenon is the set to an apocalyptic movie depicting the end of the world. The smoke is caused by layers of combustible, sulphur-rich lignite (brown coal) that ignites and emits sulfurous gas into the air, when exposed to erosion and landslides, which also creates a dazzling coloration of the rocks.

Excitement builds as you sail the Beaufort Sea. Whether you are out on deck or in the comfort of one of the observation lounges, watch as the captain navigates your state-of-the-art vessel through these waterways, which are frozen for most of the year. Keep a close watch for wildlife including beluga whales and polar bears that are often seen here.

Cruising further west, hope to Zodiac cruise (subject to permitting) to Herschel Island. This historic island, inhabited by the Thule people for over a millennium, was first charted by Sir John Franklin in 1825. It later transformed into a bustling whaling station during the late 19th century, supporting a winter community of hundreds and a fleet of ships. However, the industry’s decline in the early 20th century led to the island’s gradual abandonment. Today, protected as a territorial park, Herschel Island offers a unique glimpse into the region’s rich history and stunning Arctic wilderness.

At Prudhoe Bay, say farewell to Canada and enter the United States.

As you sail westwards to Nome, along the northern coast of Alaska to where the U.S and Russia are only 60 miles (100 km) apart, separated by the Bering Sea, there is ample time to reflect on your adventures while scanning the water for marine life. Share, edit and submit pictures in the photo competition and attend final lectures from your team of onboard experts. Hope to get permission to ship cruise close by Point Hope, Little Diomede and King islands in Alaska.

In Nome, say farewell to the crew and expedition team after sharing a once-in-a-lifetime voyage together. Disembark and transfer to the airport for a charter flight to Anchorage, where you will stay overnight. A box lunch is provided upon disembarkation, and dinner is on the charter flight.

Check out of your room and continue your journey in Anchorage or transfer to the airport to head home.