The Northwest Passage - In The Wake Of Great Explorers

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city. Norwegian settlers named the place Reykjavik (meaning 'Smoky Bay') after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made a profound impression.

The surroundings offer fantastic natural beauty with geysers, mountains, glaciers and geothermal baths that are well worth exploring before embarking on MS Fram.

We sail across the Denmark Strait, a crossing used by Vikings to migrate from Iceland to South Greenland some 1,000 years ago. We will spend the days on the crossing preparing you for the upcoming adventure.  Enjoy lectures by the Expedition Team and visit our Science Center or just relax with a book, visit the sauna and hot tub or get to know your fellow explorers.

Prince Christian Sound separates Greenland from Sammisoq and the Cape Farewell Archipelago. If the conditions allow, we will sail through this narrow channel and enjoy the spectacular scenery. The sound itself is around 100 km long and very narrow, sometimes only 500 metres wide. If the channel is blocked with ice, we will sail around Nunap Isua (Cape Farewell).

Kvanefjord is a 48 km long fjord on the west coast of Greenland. We will spend the day exploring this amazing fjord.

Nuuk is the oldest town in the nation, founded in 1728. The name Nuuk means peninsula, as it is located at the mouth of one of the most spectacular fjord systems in the world. Today Nuuk is a place where old and new traditions meet, from picturesque old buildings in ”Kolonihaven” to the modern structure of the Greenland Home Rule building.

Sisimiut is situated 40 km north of the Arctic Circle and is a modern settlement that maintains ancient traditions. Come ashore to explore the colourful town; visit the small museum, hike in the hills and shop for local handicrafts.

Ilulissat is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just outside the town you can often see enormous icebergs that originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere. The icebergs make their way down the 20 km fjord before entering Disko Bay.

Named for English explorer John Davis, who led expeditions here searching for a route through the Northwest Passage between 1585 and 1587. Davis was the first to draw attention to seal hunting and whaling possibilities in the area, and to show that the Newfoundland cod fisheries extended this far north.

Next, we aim to head into the heart of the historic Northwest Passage. The first recorded voyage here was led by John Cabot in 1497. The most famous journey was James Cook’s failed attempt to sail the Passage in 1776, and of course the ill-fated Franklin expedition of 1845. The first to conquer the Passage by ship was Norwegian Roald Amundsen on an expedition that lasted from 1903 to 1906.

The ice varies from year to year, so we hope to be able to show you some of the following places:

Pond Inlet, called 'Mittimatalik' in Inuktitut, is a traditional Inuit community surrounded by mountains, glaciers, fjords, ice caves, geological hoodoos and drifting icebergs.

Dundas Harbour is an abandoned settlement with an old Royal Canadian Mounted Police camp and several archaeological sites. Come shore to see the ruins of some of these buildings, along with an impressive Thule site.

Radstock Bay is dominated by the striking outcropping of Caswell Tower. The shoreline here is ideal for walks to a pre-historic Inuit dwelling site. Caswell Tower itself features a challenging hike to the summit for great views.

Beechey Island is known for the ill-fated Franklin expedition. Two ships sailed into the passage in 1845, but neither were ever seen again. It is known that the Franklin Expedition over-wintered on Beechey Island in 1845-1846.

Fort Ross is a trading post established in 1937. There are two small huts ashore that are maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard.

Gjøa Haven honours the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who wintered here from 1903. He was in contact with the local Netsilik Inuit people, and learned a lot from them about survival and travel in polar regions.

Throughout the journey, we will be sailing in amazing straits with unique nature and hopefully enough ice to be on the constant look out for wildlife.

In Inuinnaqtun, Cambridge Bay is called 'Iqaluktuuttiaq', meaning a 'good fishing place' for the giant char that is caught nearby. Local wildlife is abundant: seals, geese, muskoxen and caribou. This is where our expedition ends, and you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Edmonton.

Something is happening in Edmonton, the final destination of your expedition. Alberta’s capital has always been a steady business and government centre, but recently Forbes magazine called it ‘one of Canada’s hottest destinations’. If you’re not rushing for your flight home, you might have time to find out why.

The city is lively and colourful, with all the trimmings of a modern metropolis: a thriving food scene, craft breweries and distilleries, independent shopping boutiques and a cutting-edge arts scene. It is also home to the fifth largest shopping centre in the world – the West Edmonton Mall.

Extending your stay, however, will allow you to sample the vast wilderness at Edmonton’s doorstep. Just 35 minutes away, it’s possible to see free-roaming bison grazing in a meadow in the national park or standing in the middle of the road. A visit to the Elk Island National Park is an optional Post-Programme you can participate in before you fly home.