Arctic From 17 days From $17,039 USD

Northwest Passage The Legendary Arctic Sea Route

Starting from

Reykjavík, Iceland

Ships

Ocean Explorer
Ultramarine

Departures

3 Departures between August 2026 to September 2027

Expedition Overview

Winding your way through the icy channels of the legendary Northwest Passage is history brought to life during this expedition in the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland. On this compelling 17-day journey, passengers retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition, which left the shores of England in 1845 in search of the last unexplored section of the Northwest Passage—only to become permanently icebound. Its discovery more than a century and a half later by Norwegian Roald Amundsen was a much-celebrated moment in polar history.

Explore colorful Inuit villages, and shop for traditional Inuit handicrafts. Hike the endless Arctic backdrop and marvel at the vast, colorful tundra. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive and majestic creatures that make their home in this wilderness, such as whales, walrus, muskoxen and polar bears. Come aboard for this immersive journey along the legendary Arctic sea route, and return home with memories permanently etched in your heart.

Highlights

Experience highlights of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic

Explore colorful Greenlandic villages and shop for traditional Inuit handicrafts

View iconic Arctic wildlife, such as whales, walrus and muskoxen

Hike the colorful tundra

Cruise in a Zodiac to get up close to glaciers, fjords, icebergs and more

Find Your Ideal Itinerary

17 Days

From Reykjavík, Iceland, on Ocean Explorer

Duration: 17 days
Departing from: Reykjavík, Iceland
Ship: Ocean Explorer
Learn more about the ship; Sold Out

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Your Arctic expedition begins in Reykjavik. Explore this vibrant city on your own before spending the night enjoying the comfort and amenities of your designated hotel, hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

In the morning after breakfast, guests and their luggage will be transferred to the airport for their charter flight to the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk. This picturesque city of 17,000 is situated on a fjord with the Sermitsiaq mountain in the background. Upon arrival, guests will be transferred to their ship.

Cruising around the remote regions of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic aboard Ocean Explorer, you’ll navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that fascinated legendary explorers of long ago. Designed to give polar adventurers unprecedented access to the hardest-toreach places on the planet—this oneof-a-kind ship will take you beyond the familiar in polar exploration. Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team will keep an eye toward immersing you in the best the Arctic has to offer at the top of the world. Locals call Maniitsoq the Venice of Greenland, as it’s situated in an archipelago intersected by natural canals. Soaring, snow-capped mountains surround the small, rocky town, whose name means “the uneven place.” Playful humpback whales spend summer in the waters around here.

Say goodbye to Greenland’s shores as you traverse the Davis Strait in pursuit of the Canadian Arctic. Presentations by on-board experts will prepare you for the adventures that lie ahead.

Visit towering fjords, historical sites and Inuit communities as you follow in the footsteps of famous explorers from long ago in the Canadian High Arctic. At the southern tip of the Cumberland Sound, you’ll visit Cape Mercy, which was named by British explorer John Davis (yes, he of the Davis Strait), who sailed through it in 1585. This is the site of an old Distant Early Warning Line installation, dating back to the Cold War. These and many other stations were set up to detect Soviet bombers. It’s an ideal spot to go ashore for a hike. As icebergs travel down the Davis Strait, they’re naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuaq (formerly known as Broughton Island). The icy waters here are also home to ring and harp seals. A hike up to the hilltop inuksuk rewards with spectacular views of the community. Inuksuks are stone figures or cairns that traditionally call attention to the location for navigation, abundant harvesting or spiritual significance. Cruising further north along the mountainous east shore of Baffin Island, we’ll approach Isabella Bay, an important summer and fall feeding area for the largest concentration of bowhead whales in Canada. Bowheads are a truly a remarkable arctic leviathan that research has revealed may live more than 200 years of age – the oldest mammal. At the northern tip of Baffin Island, near the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage, is the Inuit hamlet of Pond Inlet, surrounded by scenic mountains, fjords, glaciers and icebergs. Many in the community still follow a nomadic lifestyle and hunt for their food. At the top of Baffin Island sits Lancaster Sound, a true arctic oasis. Known by the Inuit and their predecessors for thousands of years, this channel and the surrounding lands are extremely rich in wildlife and history, both indigenous and European. The area around Lancaster Sound affords several hiking opportunities. At Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island, you’ll visit an abandoned beachside outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At nearby Croker Bay, cruise in a Zodiac (at a safe distance) along the face of an actively calving glacier. Your Expedition Team will also keep its eyes peeled for walrus that are known to visit the bay. Farther west, some of the best ancient Thule remains in the Arctic are at Radstock Bay, beside the soaring Caswell Towers. At the western end of Devon Island, the windswept Beechey Island is steeped in history. Named after famed British explorer Frederick William Beechey, it’s a Canadian National Historic Site. You’ll visit the small marked graves of three crew members who died during Sir John Franklin’s tragic 1845–46 expedition. Over 150 years later, Roald Amundsen landed here in 1903, during the first successful voyage by ship through the Northwest Passage. Sailing down the east coast of Somerset Island, you may be fortunate to spot beluga whales and if you’re very fortunate, narwhals, as they feed at Creswell Bay. An Important Bird Area, the bay also attracts such species as black-bellied plovers, king eiders and white-rumped sandpipers. You’ll also have time to explore Fort Ross, where the Hudson’s Bay Company established a now abandoned trading post in 1937. At the midpoint of the Bellot Strait, the narrow channel that separates Somerset Island from mainland North America, you’ll reach the northernmost area of the continental landmass, Zenith Point.

After disembarking in Resolute, you’ll be transferred to your charter flight to Calgary, where you’ll spend the night at your hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights, or spend the day exploring this unique Western Canadian city.

Duration: 17 days
Departing from: Reykjavík, Iceland
Ship: Ocean Explorer
Learn more about the ship; Sold Out

View Brochure

Your Arctic expedition begins in Reykjavik. Explore this vibrant city on your own before spending the night enjoying the comfort and amenities of your designated hotel, hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

In the morning after breakfast, guests and their luggage will be transferred to the airport for their charter flight to the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk. This picturesque city of 17,000 is situated on a fjord with the Sermitsiaq mountain in the background. Upon arrival, guests will be transferred to their ship.

Cruising around the remote regions of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic aboard Ocean Explorer, you’ll navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that fascinated legendary explorers of long ago. Designed to give polar adventurers unprecedented access to the hardest-toreach places on the planet—this oneof-a-kind ship will take you beyond the familiar in polar exploration. Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team will keep an eye toward immersing you in the best the Arctic has to offer at the top of the world. Locals call Maniitsoq the Venice of Greenland, as it’s situated in an archipelago intersected by natural canals. Soaring, snow-capped mountains surround the small, rocky town, whose name means “the uneven place.” Playful humpback whales spend summer in the waters around here.

Say goodbye to Greenland’s shores as you traverse the Davis Strait in pursuit of the Canadian Arctic. Presentations by on-board experts will prepare you for the adventures that lie ahead.

Visit towering fjords, historical sites and Inuit communities as you follow in the footsteps of famous explorers from long ago in the Canadian High Arctic. At the southern tip of the Cumberland Sound, you’ll visit Cape Mercy, which was named by British explorer John Davis (yes, he of the Davis Strait), who sailed through it in 1585. This is the site of an old Distant Early Warning Line installation, dating back to the Cold War. These and many other stations were set up to detect Soviet bombers. It’s an ideal spot to go ashore for a hike. As icebergs travel down the Davis Strait, they’re naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuaq (formerly known as Broughton Island). The icy waters here are also home to ring and harp seals. A hike up to the hilltop inuksuk rewards with spectacular views of the community. Inuksuks are stone figures or cairns that traditionally call attention to the location for navigation, abundant harvesting or spiritual significance. Cruising further north along the mountainous east shore of Baffin Island, we’ll approach Isabella Bay, an important summer and fall feeding area for the largest concentration of bowhead whales in Canada. Bowheads are a truly a remarkable arctic leviathan that research has revealed may live more than 200 years of age – the oldest mammal. At the northern tip of Baffin Island, near the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage, is the Inuit hamlet of Pond Inlet, surrounded by scenic mountains, fjords, glaciers and icebergs. Many in the community still follow a nomadic lifestyle and hunt for their food. At the top of Baffin Island sits Lancaster Sound, a true arctic oasis. Known by the Inuit and their predecessors for thousands of years, this channel and the surrounding lands are extremely rich in wildlife and history, both indigenous and European. The area around Lancaster Sound affords several hiking opportunities. At Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island, you’ll visit an abandoned beachside outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At nearby Croker Bay, cruise in a Zodiac (at a safe distance) along the face of an actively calving glacier. Your Expedition Team will also keep its eyes peeled for walrus that are known to visit the bay. Farther west, some of the best ancient Thule remains in the Arctic are at Radstock Bay, beside the soaring Caswell Towers. At the western end of Devon Island, the windswept Beechey Island is steeped in history. Named after famed British explorer Frederick William Beechey, it’s a Canadian National Historic Site. You’ll visit the small marked graves of three crew members who died during Sir John Franklin’s tragic 1845–46 expedition. Over 150 years later, Roald Amundsen landed here in 1903, during the first successful voyage by ship through the Northwest Passage. Sailing down the east coast of Somerset Island, you may be fortunate to spot beluga whales and if you’re very fortunate, narwhals, as they feed at Creswell Bay. An Important Bird Area, the bay also attracts such species as black-bellied plovers, king eiders and white-rumped sandpipers. You’ll also have time to explore Fort Ross, where the Hudson’s Bay Company established a now abandoned trading post in 1937. At the midpoint of the Bellot Strait, the narrow channel that separates Somerset Island from mainland North America, you’ll reach the northernmost area of the continental landmass, Zenith Point.

After disembarking in Resolute, you’ll be transferred to your charter flight to Calgary, where you’ll spend the night at your hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights, or spend the day exploring this unique Western Canadian city.

17 Days

From Reykjavík, Iceland, on Ultramarine

Duration: 17 days
Departing from: Reykjavík, Iceland
Ship: Ultramarine
Learn more about the ship
Starting from: $17,552 USD per person

View Brochure

Arrive in the Icelandic capital and make your way to your designated hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. You will have the day to explore this fascinating city known for its stunning modern architecture, contemporary music and Viking history.

In the morning after breakfast, guests and their luggage will be transferred to the airport for their charter flight to the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk. This picturesque city of 17,000 is situated on a fjord with the Sermitsiaq mountain in the background. Depending on the final timing of our charter flights, we may have an opportunity to explore Nuuk upon arrival in Greenland, or may transfer directly to your ship.

Upon leaving Nuuk, we set sail across the Davis Strait to the east coast of Baffin Island. Join us on the outer deck as we cast off, keeping an eye out for seabirds and marine life gliding alongside the ship. Have your binoculars at hand to scan for seabirds, including great black-backed gulls and black guillemots. There are many ways to spend your time aboard Ultramarine. Visit Tundra Spa and other onboard amenities, or attend educational presentations led by our polar experts—glaciologists, historians and other specialists. You’ll learn about northern communities and ways of life in preparation for our first community visit. There will also be mandatory briefings with our expedition team on how we’ll safely explore this remote and compelling Arctic region. You will also have time to relax in the Observation Lounge while spotting drifting ice, seabirds and other wildlife. From the outer decks, take in the wideopen panoramas of western Greenland while we cross the Arctic Circle at 66°33′ North.

We’re excited to be heading to Qikiqtarjuaq, fondly called Qik, a small Inuit hamlet located north of the Arctic Circle on Broughton Island, off the east coast of Baffin Island. Known as the iceberg capital of Nunavut, Qikiqtarjuaq sits at the northern entrance to the mountainous Auyuittuq National Park, which is home to narwhals, bowhead and orca whales, polar bears, seals and migratory birds. Community visits, arranged in collaboration with our local partners, enable guests to learn about on-the-ground culture, and purchase art and traditional handicrafts, such as parkas, boots and local art when available. As icebergs travel down the Davis Strait, many are naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuaq. The surrounding waters are also home to ringed and harp seals, often surfacing between floes. A hike up to the hilltop offers sweeping views of the community and its coastal setting. You’ll also see inukshuks—carefully placed stone figures or cairns that have served as navigational guides and markers of important places, but also as expressions of spirit, memory, and connection to the land. Cruising further north along the mountainous east shore of Baffin Island, we’ll approach Isabella Bay, an important summer and fall feeding area for the largest concentration of bowhead whales in Canada. Bowheads are a truly remarkable Arctic leviathan, with research suggesting they can live more than 200 years—making them the longest-lived mammal on Earth. Isabella Bay is a marvel, its dramatic landscapes and wideopen horizons best experienced from the outer decks of Ultramarine. We’ll aim to launch the Zodiacs and explore the bay, binoculars at the ready. For our intrepid paddlers, our sea kayak and paddling programs may also be available here.

This is an especially exciting day, as you become one of the few travelers to explore the stunningly majestic Icy Arm Fjord, which cuts almost 80 kilometers (50 miles) deep into northern Baffin Island. Accessible only by water in summer months when the sea ice recedes, this rarely visited fjord is known for its unrivalled landscape of towering cliffs and stunning glaciers, and is valued as much for its sheer remoteness as it is for its pristine environment. Icy Arm Fjord is the epitome of unspoiled Arctic wilderness. We may observe polar bears, Arctic foxes, seals, walruses, and guillemots, kittiwakes and other Arcticdwelling birds. The fjord provides an excellent backdrop for Zodiac cruises and paddle activities, offering guests a sea-level intimacy with the surrounding lands and waters.

At the top of Baffin Island sits TallurutiupImanga (also known as Lancaster Sound), a true Arctic oasis. Known by the Inuit and their predecessors for thousands of years, this channel and the surrounding lands are extremely rich in wildlife and history, both indigenous and European. The surrounding area affords several hiking opportunities. At Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island, you’ll visit an abandoned beachside outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At Croker Bay, we’ll plan to cruise close enough to appreciate the splendor of glacial textures and calving ice, while always keeping a safe distance. Walrus frequent the waters here, so be sure to have your camera handy. Next we’ll head to the western end of Devon Island, on the north side of Tallurutiup-Imanga, and go ashore at windswept Beechey Island, which is home to Beechey Island National Historic Sites. Maintained by Parks Canada, these sites tell the story—or at least the part that’s still not shrouded in mystery—of Sir John Franklin’s much chronicled 1845- 46 expedition to explore the Northwest Passage. The island is small, only 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) at its widest point, but its shores are steep, and rise to a flat plateau 244 meters (800 feet) high. That’s where Franklin and his crew of 128 men spent the winter after embarking from England on two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The ill-fated 1845-46 expedition—to navigate and chart the Northwest Passage—ended in tragedy for all 129 men and their two vessels. What happened to Franklin and his crew is the stuff of legend, and the focus for several search expeditions over the years, which discovered bodies, personal belongings of crew members, and handwritten notes that suggested starvation, deaths from hypothermia, scurvy, and lead poisoning from the tinned food supplies. Accounts by Inuit suggest the crew split up into small groups and subsequently perished. What is known for certain is that no one survived. The graves of three officers from HMS Erebus— John Hartnell, William Braine, and John Torrington— were discovered in 1851. You will have an opportunity to visit their graves, and honor the memory of the entire Franklin crew who braved daunting challenges to explore the Northwest Passage. Franklin’s story is an integral part of the history of Arctic exploration. The wrecks of Erebus and Terror were discovered in 2014 and 2016, respectively. We also hope to explore the shores of the uninhabited Prince Leopold Island, known primarily as a significant Migratory Bird Sanctuary and an Important Bird Area, where we aim to launch the Zodiacs for an immersive cruise at the foot of the bird cliffs. The island is renowned for its steep cliffs that host hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds, including thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, and black guillemots during the summer months. Port Leopold, an abandoned Hudson’s Bay Company trading post dating back to 1937, sits on the northeast tip of nearby Somerset Island. It’s the closest landmark to Prince Leopold Island, situated about 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) to the southwest. This site is closely tied to the history of Arctic exploration, including the search for the Franklin Expedition. Visitors can still see the remains of the original trading post, including the old store and the manager’s home.

As we position from Lancaster Sound down along the east coast of Baffin Island, spend time out on deck to soak in the scenery: expansive landscapes, jagged spires, and bird life. Today is also ideal to enjoy the onboard amenities—such as Tundra Spa—and deepening your knowledge through presentations by our polar experts.

Well inside the Arctic Circle, Sam Ford Fjord is a standout Arctic adventure destination on Baffin Island’s northeast coast, and one of the world’s most spectacular big-wall playgrounds. A traditional Inuit hunting area, the fjord is a study in contrasts: sheer granite cliffs seem to rise straight up from the ocean below, reaching up to 457 meters (1,500 feet) above sea level. If weather conditions permit, this region offers fabulous Zodiac cruising, sea kayaking and paddling as well as opportunities to go ashore. With a bit of luck, we may see Arctic fox onshore, and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for polar bears during our off-shore excursions. Cruising the fjord in a Zodiac is a striking reminder of just how small we are. Winding along a 110- kilometer (68-mile) path, Sam Ford Fjord narrows to less than 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide as it meanders farther inland.

As Ultramarine continues eastward across the Davis Strait, you’ll have a choice of presentations by our polar experts, who will share insights that bring greater meaning to the experiences so far and set the stage for our time in West Greenland.

Prepare yourself for an awe-inspiring experience. Ilulissat, located in Disko Bay, is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Icefjord, which is the thoroughfare for countless icebergs calved from one of the world’s fastest-moving glaciers, Sermeq Kujalleq. Locals have constructed a boardwalk leading to an elevated overlook, where you can view bergs of all sizes spread out before you. From this vantage point, it feels as though you’re standing where the town ends and the wilderness begins. Visitors say they’ve felt humbled by the sweeping vista of ice. You will also notice the Arctic cotton grass and summer wildflowers thriving in the long daylight hours. The inner harbor is a rare sight: icebergs drifting among fishing boats and skiffs. The town itself is well worth exploring, and has become one of Greenland’s top destinations. Recent years have brought growth— colorful homes now sit beside new restaurants, boutique hotels and small businesses. History buffs will be excited to know Ilulissat is the birthplace of Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen, who traveled by dog sled from Greenland to Alaska (and briefly Siberia) during the Fifth Thule Expedition (1921–1924). Fluent in Kalaallisut, he learned from and documented the Circumpolar Inuit he met—making it one of the Arctic’s greatest expeditions. It was in these dramatic landscapes around Ilulissat that Rasmussen’s passion for exploration took root. As we approach town, watch out for whales, which frequent the iceberg-laden waters. Pride of place for our seasoned expedition team is Eternity Fjord, which is home to the tallest mountains in all of West Greenland. This a favorite spot for us to launch the Zodiacs to explore in-depth— where larger vessels can’t navigate. There are few settlements along this lengthy fjord, but you will quickly appreciate nature in its rawest form as you hike among the towering mountains, and photograph the colorful tundra and other dramatic landscapes. Another fascinating highlight is Maniitsoq, often called the “Venice of Greenland,” as it’s situated in an archipelago intersected by natural canals. Soaring, snow-capped mountains surround this small, rocky town, whose name means “the uneven place.” Playful humpback whales spend the summer in the surrounding waters, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled as we transit ashore by Zodiac.

Today we’ll explore 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the Arctic Circle. Our destination is Kangerlussuaq, which is Greenlandic for “the long fjord.” At the end of this 180-kilometer (112 mile) fjord is a settlement bearing the same name. Fishing boats based in the town of Kangerlussuaq sail the full length of the fjord to access the ocean. The town is known for its natural beauty—and for previously being the home of the largest airport in Greenland. You will be ferried from ship to shore on one last Zodiac ride, then transferred to the airport where you will board your charter flight to Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport, approximately 45 minutes from Reykjavik. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your included hotel for the night, which is part of the Charter Flight & Hotel package.

After breakfast in your included hotel in Reykjavik, you can transfer independently to the Keflavik International Airport for your onward journey or explore Iceland as prearranged.

17 Days

From Reykjavík, Iceland, on Ultramarine

Duration: 17 days
Departing from: Reykjavík, Iceland
Ship: Ultramarine
Learn more about the ship
Starting from: $17,039 USD per person

View Brochure

Arrive in the Icelandic capital and make your way to your designated hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. You will have the day to explore this fascinating city known for its stunning modern architecture, contemporary music and Viking history.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, guests will transfer together to the airport and board our private charter f light to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. This is a very small town that for decades served as Greenland’s primary airport. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to a very small harbor, where your Expedition Team will provide Zodiac shuttles to your awaiting ship. After a late-afternoon embarkation, we will set sail for the stunning Arctic wilderness.

Upon leaving Kangerlussuaq, we set sail across the Davis Strait to the east coast of Baffin Island. Join us on the outer deck as we cast off, keeping an eye out for seabirds and marine life gliding alongside the ship. Have your binoculars at hand to scan for seabirds, including great black-backed gulls and black guillemots. There are many ways to spend your time aboard Ultramarine. Visit Tundra Spa and other onboard amenities, or attend educational presentations led by our polar experts—glaciologists, historians and other specialists. You’ll learn about northern communities and ways of life in preparation for our first community visit. There will also be mandatory briefings with our expedition team on how we’ll safely explore this remote and compelling Arctic region. You will also have time to relax in the Observation Lounge while spotting drifting ice, seabirds and other wildlife. From the outer decks, take in the wideopen panoramas of western Greenland while we cross the Arctic Circle at 66°33′ North.