Northwest Passage - Through The Arctic Labyrinth (Greenland To Alaska)

Discover Iceland's modern capital  

Your adventure begins with an overnight stay in Reykjavík.

A laid-back city of art, culture and history, delightful Reykjavík is well worth spending some time getting to know.

Take a stroll along Laugavegur with its boutiques and outdoor shops, gaze in awe at the striking Hallgrímskirkja Church, and drop in on the fascinating Reykjavík Art Museum.

If you have the time, we recommend booking a Pre-Programme with us and discovering some of Iceland's natural highlights.  

Welcome to the capital of Greenland

Today begins with a flight from Reykjavík to Nuuk, Greenland's colourful capital. It has a population of 18,000, and features a striking mix of old and new buildings.

If time allows, we'll explore this fascinating city, comparing the old buildings – such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral – with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parliament of Greenland building.

Your ship awaits you in Nuuk harbour. After collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore the ship as we set sail on this epic voyage through the Northwest Passage.

Discover the magical beauty of West Greenland

The first chapter of our journey encompasses the majestic coast of West Greenland.

Over the next three days you'll experience some of the most iconic sites in all of Greenland. Our objectives include:

Evighedsfjord

As we head north, we plan to offer an exploration day in the magical and pristine Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq. We'll determine on the day what adventures we can take part in.

The 'Fjord of Eternity' is fed by an ice cap that calves huge icebergs into its 2,300 ft deep waters. It's surrounded by mist-cloaked mountains with beautiful white ridges, punctuated by crystal blue ice caves.

Sisimiut

Sisimiut is Greenland's second city, situated in a spectacular location just above the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years, and old traditions are alive and well.

Learn more about ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum or stretch your legs on a hike. If you're looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of the musk ox that's said to be 10 times warmer than sheep's wool.

Ilulissat

Nestled at the edge of the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Here you'll find an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs set against a backdrop of colourful houses. In town you can visit a multitude of shops selling local crafts, and on the outskirts walking trails take you along the epic icefjord.

Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science

Leaving Greenland behind, our journey continues to Nunavut across Baffin Bay. The Expedition Team will continue their onboard lectures on topics such as the wildlife of the Arctic, Inuit culture and the history of exploration in this region.

Why not take part in one of our Citizen Science projects, helping photograph and track whales, or observing the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program.

Entering into the Northwest Passage

Following our crossing of Baffin Bay, we find ourselves in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. The main waterway of this area is Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the eastern gates to the Northwest Passage.

This chapter of our exploration is likely to be action-packed, with excursions planned on each of the four days we hope to spend in and around this area. Remember, all our excursion plans are weather and ice dependent but, conditions permitting, our days will be filled with excitement and discovery.

Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to share with you include:

• Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik)

• Dundas Harbour

• Croker Bay

• Beechey Island (Iluvilik)

• Prince Leopold Island (Appait)

• Fort Ross

For more detailed information about each of these places, along with our explorer's guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Travel Guide.

Navigate the dividing line between East and West

The ‘Rubicon' of the Canadian Arctic, dividing East from West, is the infamous Bellot Strait. This narrow body of water separates the northernmost part of mainland North America from Somerset Island, one of the largest islands in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.

Bellot Strait is approximately 15 nautical miles long and just over half a mile wide at its narrowest point. Our ability to navigate this passage will be determined by ice and weather conditions.

Spendeight days exploring the Western section of the fabled Northewest Passage

Over the next eight days in this section of our voyage we'll transit through three distinct regions - Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon – and two traditional Inuit Territories – Inuvialuit and Nunavut.

During our time here, we anticipate up to five days of shore excursions and four transit days. Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to be able to visit include:

• Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuk)

• Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq)

• Coronation Gulf

• Ulukhaktok

• Smoking Hills

• Herschel Island

For more detailed information about each of these places, along with our explorer's guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Travel Guide.

Science and wildlife watching at sea

Join your Expedition Team for insightful lectures as we journey through the Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait. As we head into the Beaufort Sea, we must be aware that seasonal sea ice fluctuations can vary. If the sea ice levels are greater than the seasonal average this is likely to affect the speed we are able to sail through. This is the nature of expedition cruises, expect the unexpected!

The highlights of this transit include:

• The Beaufort Sea

• The Bering Strait

• The International Date Line

• Wildlife watching

For more detailed information about each of these, along with our explorer's guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Travel Guide here.

Learn about Alaska's ‘golden' past

Prospectors first came to Nome in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. You'll see evidence of the Gold Rush era all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique and intriguing atmosphere.

You'll be in good company as you explore the town. Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions.

From here you'll take a flight to Seattle for an overnight stay.

End your adventure in the Emerald City

Waking up in your hotel in Seattle marks the end of your adventure through the Arctic labyrinth. After breakfast, and if you have time before your onward journey, why not explore the Emerald City and see what it has to offer.

Head to the Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus. Or for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go. And for a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer's market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers!