Zodiac boat cruises past big white iceberg towards colorful Arctic town sitting under toothy, rocky mountain in Greenland.
Small Nat Geo ship sits offshore from where man in khaki expedition clothes stands atop beige rocks by green tundra in Greenland.
Mother polar bear & 2 cubs walk over snow-covered ice, past holes into the blue sea, seen on a High Arctic Archipelago cruise.
Zodiac dinghy with High Arctic Archipelago cruise guests is viewed through a tunnel in a massive blue iceberg in Greenland.
Red-headed girl in blue sweater pets brown Icelandic Horse in green field on the Gateway to The Northwest Passage cruise.
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Polar Regions Arctic Cruise

High Arctic Archipelago: Canada & Greenland

Explore above 80° north on a soul-stirring journey. Set off on a grand polar adventure that traces the spectacular icy shores of Western Greenland and Arctic Canada. Sail into dramatic fjords, narrow straits and breathtaking bays, and call in on remote villages where Inuit communities have lived off the land for hundreds of years. Heading ever northward, follow leads through the ice to search for the King of the Arctic, the polar bear, along with other iconic wildlife from whales to walrus. Finally, in the farthest reaches of the region, discover the untamed beauty of the storied Northwest Passage and experience the intoxicating thrill of true exploration.

There are numerous high points along this northernmost Baffin Bay itinerary. Travel well above 80º north and learn dramatic stories of the explorers and adventurers who sought this magnificent, icy frontier. Glide between soaring icebergs at the mouth of Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore Ellesmere Island with binoculars at the ready to spot polar bears, walruses, ringed seals, belugas, bowhead whales and the elusive narwhal. Visit the “Jewel of the North,” Pond Inlet, a small Inuit community known for its friendly community and world-renowned soapstone carvings. And marvel at the unique volcanic black-sand beaches, hot springs and waterfalls of Disko Island, a Greenlandic island often compared to Iceland.

Passage is aboard the 138-guest National Geographic Endurance, which offers active exploration via hiking, walking, kayaking and Zodiac riding amidst stunning scenery. Options abound to make each expedition as active as you choose, and each day join a different naturalist for more viewpoints. Explore under the sure guidance of expedition leaders, an assistant expedition leader, veteran naturalists, a National Geographic photographer, a Global Perspectives guest speaker, an undersea specialist, a wellness specialist and a video chronicler. Their collective knowledge and passion ensures an extraordinary experience, plus top shots with the help of the onboard Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor.

Read on for details about this cruise, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s cruises to Greenland, small ship cruises in Northern Europe, Iceland cruises, Arctic cruises and Arctic trips.



Itinerary

2025 High Arctic Archipelago: Canada & Greenland Itinerary

In 2025, this 24-day itinerary operates round-trip from Reykjavik, Iceland, with charter flights to embark and disembark in Nuuk, Greenland.

Route map of High Arctic Archipelago: Greenland & Canada cruise, cruising Baffin Bay round-trip from Nuuk, Greenland with bookend charter flights to start & end in Reykjavik, Iceland.
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Day 1
Arrive Reykjavik, Iceland & Overnight

Arrive in Reykjavík. Enjoy a morning excursion in the Reykjavík region as your first introduction to the land of Fire and Ice. After lunch, check into your centrally located hotel in Reykjavík and enjoy exploring the quaint capital city streets at your leisure.

Accommodations

Hotel TBA

Meals

lunch, dinner

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Day 2
Fly to Nuuk, Greenland & Embark

Fly from Reykjavík by chartered aircraft to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital thriving capital city. Settle into your cabin and enjoy a scenic sailing out of the Nuuk fjord and into the open water of the Davis Strait, as the ship navigates north along the coastline.

Accommodations

National Geographic Endurance

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 3
Greenland's West Coast & Sisimiut

Upon arrival to Sisimiut, a former whaling port, enjoy your choice of guided walks through the sights and sounds of the village, including Dog Town or Sallinnguit, a small island with centuries of history from Inuit culture through colonization and current day industry. In your free time, enjoy a local food tasting, visit the open-air museum, or explore the local artisan workshops.

Accommodations

National Geographic Endurance

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 4
Disko Bay

Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, and be welcomed by floating icebergs calved off the world’s most active glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. On Disko Island, the second largest in Baffin Bay, enjoy a day of expedition activities as conditions permit, including backcountry hiking, photo walks and naturalist led botany walks. This evening, sail away from the Greenlandic Coast and venture to the west and the Canadian Arctic.

Accommodations

National Geographic Endurance

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Days 5 - 11
Shores of the Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage begins in the Davis Strait between Greenland and Canada. Your exploration takes you along the beautiful bays and inlets of Baffin Island’s Lancaster Sound, a favorite Inuit hunting and fishing location for hundreds of years. Carved by Ice Age glaciers, Lancaster Sound is also the eastern gateway to the Arctic Archipelago, where European explorers like William Baffin first ventured in the 17th century to search for the Northwest Passage. Continue your exploration of the Canadian High Arctic with a visit to the small Inuit community of Pond Inlet, Nunavut, an area that has been inhabited by Inuit for over 1000 years.

As you continue your exploration into Lancaster Sound, days are spent searching for ringed seals, arctic foxes, walruses and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales. Visit Devon Island and take a walk with the ship’s archaeologist to learn about the Thule people—ancestors of the modern Inuit—that once inhabited this region.

Accommodations

National Geographic Endurance

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Days 12 - 16
Exploring The Queen Elizabeth Islands, Canada

Explore the ice-laden channels and glacier-carved islands that stretch for hundreds of miles—a stunning display of raw geology. Take your cues from nature in the High Arctic Archipelago: following wildlife, stopping for hikes on the tundra, dropping anchor in a beautiful fjord or an iceberg-strewn bay to explore and kayak beneath massive ice sculptures and soaring cliffs.

Sail among the northernmost cluster of islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, learning about the Inuit peoples who have hunted and fished here for thousands of years as well as the famous explorers who have sailed these waters such as Sir John Ross. You will be constantly on the lookout for animals that call this region home, such as ringed seals, arctic foxes, musk oxen, walruses, polar bears, and beluga and bowhead whales.

Accommodations

National Geographic Endurance

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Days 17 - 21
Exploring Ellesmere Island & Northern Greenland

Heading ever northward, the ship makes her way up the beautiful and remote east coast of Ellesmere Island. Cruise along scenic Smith Bay (a.k.a. Skog Inlet, named for Leif Skog, Lindblad’s own renowned ice captain and world explorer) bordered by a steep wall of mountains, with a glacial ice tongue which pours down the mountains on either side. Be up on the bridge to search for a patch of “polar bear ice,” the mixture of first-year and multi-year sea ice that is the preferred habitat of the ice bears. Your binoculars seek out any small ivory-colored dot on an otherwise white ice surface. With luck, these small dots will be local polar bears exploring the ice and making their way across the landscape of the Arctic Archipelago.

After exploring to the edge of the ice, turn your attention eastward to the largest island in the world: Greenland. The shores of northern Greenland continue to challenge explorers and locals alike to carve out their daily lives among some of the most beautiful and harsh conditions. You will kayak in sheltered coves, embark on hikes (when the coast is clear of polar bears), and visit local communities that continue the traditional hunting practices.

Accommodations

National Geographic Endurance

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 22
Ilulissat, Greenland

Sail back into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, or Disko Bay, and enjoy an extraordinary cruise aboard local boats among towering icebergs of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ilulissat Icefjord. Visit the town of Ilulissat and hike into the Sermermiut Valley, once an Inuit settlement and now the home to a peaceful boardwalk overlooking the Icefjord. This evening, while you sail away south along the coast, spend time on the bridge with your naturalists and bridge team, keeping watch for whales and glimpses of the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

Accommodations

National Geographic Endurance

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Days 23 - 24
Disembark Nuuk, Greenland, Fly to Reykjavik, Iceland, Overnight & Depart

Sail back into Nuuk and disembark the ship. Take an evening charter flight to Reykjavík and transfer to the group hotel close to the airport. On the final morning, transfer to the airport for flights home.

Accommodations

Hotel TBA (day 23); n/a (day 24)

Meals

breakfast, lunch and dinner (day 23); breakfast and lunch (day 24)

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Expedition parka to keep; two hotel nights in Reykjavik; accommodations; meals as indicated; beer, wine & full bar; excursions; services of expedition leader, naturalist staff and expert guides; use of kayaks; entrance fees; all port charges and service taxes; basic WiFi (enhanced and premium packages available for purchase). Gratuities for all departures of National Geographic Explorer, Orion, Endurance, Resolution, Sea Cloud, Jahan and Lord of the Glens.

Exclusions

Air transportation, including round-trip charter flights between Reykjavik, Iceland and Nuuk, Greenland (your Adventure Specialist can confirm pricing); passport; visa; immigration fees; extensions; meals not indicated; reserve wines & premium spirits; gratuities for all departures of Delfin II, Endeavour II, Islander II, Venture, Quest, Sea Bird and Sea Lion; personal items such as emails, laundry, voyage DVD, etc.; and insurance of any kind.

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 120 days before the departure date. Special payment terms apply for groups of 8 or more; inquire for details. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
120 or more days – 100% of deposit**
119 to 90 days – 50% of total trip cost
89 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost
**Advance payments will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, valid for 12 months from the date of cancellation, and which may only be applied towards final payment on any future booking.

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The 2025 High Arctic Archipelago: Greenland & Canada cruise begins and ends in Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF), with round-trip charter flights to embark and disembark the ship in Nuuk, Greenland (GOH). Your Adventure Specialist can confirm flight arrival and departure guidance. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

The charter flights between Reykjavik and Nuuk are not included in the cruise price, but are arranged for you by AdventureSmith Explorations through your ship. Your Adventure Specialist will book these flights for you on the scheduled charter flights for your particular departure. Airfares vary by departure; your Adventure Specialist will detail these for you in their proposal and on your invoice. See Exclusions for sample airfare rates, subject to change. There is a strict luggage limit of two checked bags weighing up to 57 lbs (25 kg) combined, and one carry-on bag weighing up to 57 lbs (25 kg) combined, and one carry-on bag weighing up to 17 lbs (8 kg) plus a personal item that can be stowed under the seat.

Activities

Whether you are looking for light activity options or more challenging outdoor pursuits, the ship’s crew can tailor most excursions to suit your skill level. Adventure activities may include hiking, kayaking, Zodiac excursions, photography, morning yoga and stretching, glacier viewing and wildlife observation.

Room Configuration

In addition to listed Solo cabin rates, select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy with a single supplement fee. If you would like to share accommodations with another guest of the same gender, we will be happy to try to accommodate you in select cabin categories. This program allows you to pay the per person double-occupancy rate whether or not a roommate is found. Contact AdventureSmith for further details and availability.

Families & Children

Children under the age of 18 are eligible for $500 off the double occupancy rate. Skilled staff members trained with National Geographic Education organize activities that inspire curiosity in young people of all ages. Programming for kids may include activities like photo workshops, journaling, scavenger hunts, Zodiac-driving lessons, hands-on nature and science programming and kid-friendly menu options.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditions, wildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition.

Rates & Dates

Cruise Rates & Dates

Rates are variable per remaining availability and are subject to change.

Aug 26 - Sep 18, 2025
National Geographic Endurance • 24 days
From $47143USD
Per Person
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Accommodation

Learn About the Small Ship on Your Itinerary

Expedition Ship
National Geographic Endurance

The 138-guest National Geographic Endurance is the newest addition to the National Geographic fleet. This expedition ship is specifically designed for stability and sustainability as well as for in-depth education and an unmatched range of exploration in the polar regions.

Deals

Current Deals on This Trip

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Expert Review

Reviews From Our Experts So You Know What To Expect

Todd Smith • June 17th, 2022
Expert Aboard: National Geographic Resolution & Endurance Ship Review

AdventureSmith's founder writes this firsthand review of the National Geographic Resolution & Endurance. Learn what makes these the best-in-class, next-generation expedition ships, from X-Bow design to on-deck igloos.

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100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

Extend Your Trip

Additional Travel Options Before or After Your Cruise

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23 - 24 Day Cruise
Northwest Passage: Greenland to Alaska

Complete this epic 22-day voyage from Greenland, along Baffin Island and Canada's northern mainland coast, to Alaska. Board 138-guest National Geographic Resolution, to follow in the footsteps of intrepid Arctic explorers.

Special Offer
From $47813USD
Jul Aug
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8 - 8 Day Cruise
Icelandic Mosaic Cruise

Board a luxury French expedition ship to sail Iceland's western coast over 8 days on this romantic Iceland cruise operating round-trip from Reykjavik.

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High Arctic Archipelago: Canada & Greenland

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