Northwest Passage: Greenland to Alaska

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. Transfer from the airport to the city and spend the day exploring at your own pace. Check in with the hospitality desk this afternoon to make final arrangements before your charter flight the following day. 

Fly from Reykjavík by chartered aircraft to Nuuk, Greenland's capital thriving capital city. Settle into your cabin and enjoy a scenic sailing out of the Nuuk fjord and into the open water of the Davis Strait as the ship navigates north along the coastline.

The massive ice sheet that blankets much of Greenland feeds dozens of fjords and glaciers on the dramatic western coast. Be on the lookout for humpback and minke whales as you trace these rugged shores. During a stop at the former whaling port of Sisimiut, visit the local museum and stroll among the town's 18th-century wooden buildings.

Sail into Disko Bay to explore the World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, a tongue of the Greenland ice sheet that extends to the bay. Here, the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves enormous amounts of ice at an astonishing rate, releasing icebergs that can soar up to 300 feet. A cruise among these gigantic sculptures of ice is a highlight of your voyage. Explore the remains of the historic fishing village of Sermermiut and take in spectacular views of the ice-laden mouth of the fjord.

Begin your exploration of the Canadian High Arctic along the beautiful bays and inlets along Baffin Island's Lancaster Sound, a favorite Inuit hunting and fishing location for hundreds of years. Carved by Ice Age glaciers, Lancaster Sound is also the eastern gateway to the Arctic Archipelago, where European explorers like William Baffin first ventured in the 17th century to search for the Northwest Passage. Days here are spent searching for ringed seals, arctic foxes, walruses and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales. Visit Devon Island and take a walk with the ship's archaeologist to learn about the Thule people—ancestors of the modern Inuit—that once inhabited this region.

Your ice-strengthened ship, National Geographic Resolution, navigates the Northwest Passage following nature's path—dependent on ice and weather conditions. Taking cues from nature, you'll follow wildlife, stop for hikes on the tundra or drop anchor in a beautiful fjord or an icy bay to explore and kayak beneath massive ice sculptures and soaring cliffs.

Along the way, explore ice-studded channels and glacier-carved islands that stretch for hundreds of miles—a stunning display of raw geology; sail past the northernmost part of mainland North America in the Bellot Strait, one of the narrowest and most infamous of the passage; and cross the top of the Northwest Territory of Canada to search for ringed seals, arctic foxes, musk oxen, walruses and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales. 

History and culture are also on the itinerary. Learn about the Inuit peoples who have hunted and fished here for thousands of years. And hear heroic stories of the early explorers: Roald Amundsen, John Ross, William Edward Parry and James Clark Ross, among others.

Indulge in National Geographic Resolution's amenities as you continue along the shores of the Canadian High Arctic. Soak in the ship's infinity-style outdoor hot tubs, take in panoramic views from the rooftop observation deck and enjoy talks from onboard experts. Take time to reflect on the amazing wildlife and geology that have highlighted your journey so far.

Once a thriving whaling village off the coast of the Yukon Territory, Herschel Island is now classified as a Natural Environmental Park. The island protects the wildlife alongside the heritage of the Inuvialuit people and the whaling industry. As you wander through Herschel's historic dwellings, keep an eye out for the wildlife residents, which include bears, musk oxen and arctic foxes. The area is also home to the largest colony of black guillemots in the Western Arctic.

As you continue to sail westward along the northern coast of Alaska, reflect on your adventures while scanning the water for marine life and enjoying life on board. Take a yoga class, unwind with a massage in the wellness center and curl up next to the fireplace in the library. Share images with your National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions certified photography instructor, and marvel at footage captured by the ship's underwater camera. Your voyage culminates with a farewell dinner on board.

Arrive in the remote city of Nome, Alaska, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Disembark and take a charter flight to Anchorage. In Anchorage, transfer to flights home.