Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic

Your Arctic expedition begins in Calgary. Explore this vibrant city on your own before spending the night at your well-appointed hotel.

After an early breakfast, guests transfer to the airport for a private charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Upon arrival, Zodiacs shuttle you from the harbor to the ship. You embark in the late afternoon and begin your voyage into the Arctic wilderness.

As you make your way across the Davis Strait, your Expedition Team offers a series of polar presentations that set the stage for the adventures ahead. You’ll learn about the storied history of the Arctic, its fascinating wildlife, geology, and ecology. The team also keep a lookout for seabirds soaring above your ship, as well as whales that pass through these waters.

The Inuktitut name for Baffin Island, the fifth-largest island in the world, is Qikiqtaaluk, and it has been home to Inuit for the last thousand years. The island was named after William Baffin, who explored the area in the early 17th century in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. Your days sailing along the island’s eastern coast are determined by weather and ice conditions, with each day and each landing presenting new adventures. Some of your favorite destinations include Qikiqtarjuaq and Sam Ford Fjord. Expect to see towering mountains, deep fjords, colorful tundra, and Inuit settlements. The Inuit community of Qikiqtarjuaq (which means “the big island” in Inuktitut) is located just north of the Arctic Circle, on Broughton Island. Fondly called Qik by locals, the welcoming hamlet offers a superb vantage point of the Davis Strait. You’ll also have a chance to support local Inuit artisans by purchasing unique artwork, crafts and jewelry. 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, you may see Arctic fox onshore, and you’ll keep your eyes peeled for polar bears during your off-shore excursions. Cruising the f jord in a Zodiac is a striking reminder of just how small you 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 the ship sails farther north, you can take advantage of the onboard amenities, deepen your knowledge of the Arctic by attending another polar presentation, sip a cocktail in the bar, watch a documentary film or join your Expedition Team on the bridge as they scan for wildlife—there is no shortage of activities while at sea.

Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the gateway to the Northwest Passage, is one of the richest marine habitats in the Arctic. With open-water areas that remain ice-free year-round, it is an important summer feeding area for whales and other marine wildlife. You’ll spend your days exploring several beautiful bays and inlets, visiting historical sites, enjoying Zodiac cruises and searching for such iconic wildlife as walruses, seals and, of course, whales. Polar bear sightings are possible too. If you’re fortunate, you may even spot the elusive narwhal. There may be a possibility for a shore visit at Radstock Bay, the location of one of the most impressive ancient Thule sites in the Arctic. Exploring the well-preserved remains of the subterranean houses, including the whale bones used as supports for the dwellings, gives you an understanding of how these Paleo-Inuit thrived in the Far North. You attempt to land at Beechey Island, a National Historic Site of Canada. Named after explorer Frederick William Beechey, the island is the final resting place of three members of Sir John Franklin’s 1845-46 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. The graves, on a desolate rocky raised beach, were discovered in 1850 by a search party looking for signs of the ill-fated expedition. Predominantly covered in glaciers and ice fields, Coburg Island and its surrounding waters comprise the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area. The island’s steep coastal cliffs are an ideal habitat for hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds such as Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres), black legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars and black guillemots

Before saying goodbye to Canada, you’ll try to sail as far north as possible, exploring both sides of Smith Sound, the uninhabited passage between Ellesmere Island and Greenland.

Qaanaaq, formerly known as Thule, is one of the northernmost towns in the world. Here, local Inuit share their culture and traditions, and the museum sheds more light on what it’s like living near the top of the world.

As you sail south along the west coast of Greenland, the polar experts present on the history, wildlife and glaciology that feature in the next few days. You also encourage you to spend time on the outer decks— binoculars at hand—to spot wildlife.

With spectacular glaciers, soaring fjords and vibrant communities, the west coast of Greenland leaves you breathless. Each community visit in Greenland is a unique experience and Uummannaq might just steal your heart. The red-hued, heart-shaped mountain that rises above the village gives Uummannaq its fitting name, which means “heart-like” in Greenlandic. As your ship approaches the shore, you’ll want to be on deck to take in the incredible view of the twin peaks towering over the vibrantly painted wooden houses dotting the rocky terrain. The settlement was established as a Danish colony in 1758 on the mainland, but it relocated five years later because seal hunting was more plentiful here. As you arrive just south of Ilulissat, which means “iceberg” in Greenlandic, you’ll encounter the impressive Ilulissat Icefjord. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the most productive glaciers in the northern hemisphere. As you Zodiac cruise at the mouth of the fjord, you may be lucky to witness the wonders of calving ice (listen to the loud roars as the ice breaks off). Founded in 1741, the traditional town, which boasts more sled dogs than people, is famous in its own right: it was the birthplace of explorer and anthropologist Knud Rasmussen, the first to traverse the Northwest Passage by dogsled, in the early 1920s. Hikes here lead out to stunning views of the young icebergs as they float out the fjord to Disko Bay. In Sisimiut, you’ll be treated to a traditional kayaking demonstration. The kayak (an Inuit word borrowed by the English) has become a national symbol of Greenland and has been used by Inuit hunters for thousands of years. The town has several 18th-century colonial buildings, including the oldest surviving church in Greenland, so take time to wander through the historic area.

Enjoy one more Zodiac ride from the ship to shore, where you’ll be transferred to the airport for your charter flight back to Reykjavik, Iceland. Upon arrival in Reykjavik, you are transferred to your hotel, which is included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

Today, you can make your way home at your leisure or spend some time exploring this fascinating city.