Save 15% on the Northwest Passage Expeditions with Adventure Canada
Price: From $13,995USD Per Person
(Price per person, based on double occupancy.)
Departure Date: August 27, 2023
Return Date: September 12, 2023
Photo: Admire Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Greenland. Photo by Dennis Minty.
Join us on an epic adventure from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Kugluktuk, Nunavut. Our fleet of Zodiacs will take you on a journey into the heart of history, where the action is!
Begin your journey in Greenland, where mighty icebergs, fjords, and calving glaciers await. Immerse yourself in the colorful villages and rich culture of this incredible land. As we cross the Davis Strait, get ready to witness the stunning Baffin Island coast and spot whales, birds, and bears.
Visit the historic Franklin expedition graves at Beechey Island and follow in the footsteps of polar explorers like Franklin, Rae, and Amundsen. Meet the Inuit people who call the Arctic home and travel with scientists, artists, musicians, local culturalists, and historians who are all drawn magnetically to the north.
Sail the great sea-route at the top of the world and answer the call of the Northwest Passage! This adventure promises to be an unforgettable experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. So what are you waiting for? Join us on this epic journey today!
Highlights:
- Cross the Arctic Circle as you sail the length of Kangerlussuaq Fjord (Søndre Strømfjord)—190 kilometres!
- Cruise among icebergs at Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Spend three days in one of Canada’s largest National Marine Conservation Areas, Tallurutiup Imanga, searching for marine life
- Seek polar bears, seabirds, and other Arctic wildlife in pristine natural environments
- Retrace the historic route of European explorers, who for centuries picked their way through ice in hopes of finding a sailing route through the passage
- Transit Ikirasak (Bellot Strait), the narrow and dramatic waterway at the very northern tip of continental North America
Included:
- Passage aboard the Ocean Endeavour
- Applicable taxes and credit card fees
- Complimentary expedition jacket
- Contribution to Adventure Canada’s Discovery Fund
- Special access permits, entry, and park fees
- Expert expedition team
- Guided activities
- Sightseeing and community visits
- All Zodiac excursions
- Port fees
- Pre-departure materials
- Educational program
- Photo Equipment Trial Program
- Interactive workshops
- Evening entertainment
- All shipboard meals
Not Included:
- Commercial and charter flights
- Program enhancements/optional excursions
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
- Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
- Possible fuel surcharges and administrative fees
- Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation
Photo: Map of Northwest Passage itinerary
Day 1: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Cross the Arctic Circle. Kangerlussuaq is a former U.S. Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub. After our charter flight from Toronto, we will transfer to the Ocean Endeavour by Zodiac. With 190 kilometres of superb scenery, Kangerlussuaq Fjord (Søndre Strømfjord) is one of the longest fjords in the world. We begin our adventure by sailing down this dramatic fjord, crossing the Arctic Circle as we go.
Day 2: Sisimiut
Explore Vibrant Sisimiut. Colourful Sisimiut is Greenland’s second-largest city. Access the extensive museum through a towering whalebone archway and be sure to stop in at the artisan’s co-operative for the chance to purchase outstanding handicrafts. Traditional qajaq (kayaking) is in resurgence here, and there’s plenty of other fun outdoor activities for the adventurous to enjoy.
Photo: Sisimiut, Greenland. Photo by Dennis Minty
Day 3: Ilulissat
Take a Zodiac Cruise Around Towering Icebergs. Ilulissat means “iceberg”—an apt name for this site at the outlet of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the source of many of the icebergs in the North Atlantic. We will cruise in our fleet of Zodiacs to appreciate the icebergs, and visit the town of Ilulissat, with its museums, cafes, craft shops, and busy fishing harbour.
Day 4–5: Western Greenland
Hike the Tundra. Exploring by ship and Zodiac along the west coast of Greenland, we have numerous options for expedition stops, to make the most of weather and wildlife conditions. Departing Greenland, we cross Baffin Bay toward Nunavut.
Day 6: At Sea — Davis Strait
Learn On Board. As we steam toward Nunavut, our expedition team will deepen your understanding of the Arctic. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops, watch a documentary, or get out on deck. Keep your binoculars ready for minke and humpback whales, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage.
Day 7: Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), NU, Canada
Experience Inuit Culture. Attend a cultural performance put on by the talented Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group, featuring drum dancing, throat singing, and storytelling. Mittimatalik is a busy Arctic community in a beautiful setting—the views of nearby Bylot Island are stunning! Enjoy exploring the town and take the opportunity to purchase unique handcrafted mementos when available, too.
Photo: Learn about Inuit tradition and culture. Traditional Inuit performance in Mittimatalik, Nunavut, Canada. Photo by Jen Derbach.
Day 8–10: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) & Devon Island
Seek Whales, Seabirds, and Polar Bears. We will spend three days exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of the newest National Marine Conservation Areas in Nunavut. Narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales transit and feed in this area. We’ll cruise by ship and Zodiac in search of wildlife. On the northern border of Tallurutiup. Imanga lies Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth at over 50,000 square kilometres. Flat-topped mountains, glacial valleys, and a substantial ice cap give Devon Island its unique character. We will hike the tundra, cruise a glacier face, and seek wildlife from ship and on shore. Archaeological sites with expert interpretation allow us to learn about the Inuit history of this now-abandoned island. We’ll visit the remains of an RCMP and Hudson's Bay Company site at Dundas Harbour.
Day 11: Beechey Island
Visit a Franklin Expedition Historical Site. In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, attempting to sail through the Northwest Passage. His crew overwintered at Beechey Island, where three of his men died.
Numerous search parties later used Beechey as a depot and rendezvous. Amundsen, Bernier, and Larsen visited Beechey. Thomas Morgan of the HMS Investigator was buried here in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men. The graves and ruins of Northumberland House are a haunting memorial.
Photo: Beechey Island National Historic Site, Nunavut, Canada. Photo by Dennis Minty.
Day 12–13: Prince Regent Inlet
Enjoy Birdwatching & Zodiac Cruising. This passage marks an area rich in marine and avian life. Thick-billed murres, ivory gulls, beluga, narwhal, and bowhead whales reside in the ice-strewn waters. In addition to abundant wildlife, we’ll delve deeper into the exploration of the Northwest Passage and mercantile efforts of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Day 14–16: Kitikmeot Region
Sail the Northwest Passage. Navigate the ice-strewn waters of this infamous waterway in search of wildlife. Although this is Nunavut’s least-populated region, wildlife abounds here both in the sea and on land. Listen to the stories shared by locals of Roald Amundsen, who overwintered in the bay for two years while searching for the Northwest Passage. Amundsen became the first European to cross the Northwest Passage, thanks to the knowledge and largesse of Inuit.
Day 17: Kugluktuk, NU, Canada
Wave a Fond Farewell. Located at the mouth of the Coppermine River, Kugluktuk is the westernmost community in Nunavut. Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), NU, is an alternate disembarkation point, and may be used based on sea, ice, and weather conditions. Today we will disembark the Ocean Endeavour and make our way to the airport to meet our charter flights to Yellowknife, NT.