Greenland, Baffin & Northwest Passage In-Depth

Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavík, Iceland

Your Arctic adventure begins in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Explore on your own, before spending the night at your well-appointed hotel.

Day 2: Fly to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and embark

After a filling breakfast at your hotel, board a group charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, a small seaside destination tucked inside a 118-mile (190 km) fjord. Embrace your first zodiac ride as your onboard expedition team transfers you from shore to your waiting ship. Out on deck, soak up the scenery as a first taste of what’s to come on your Arctic adventure.

Days 3 & 4: Exploring West Greenland

Set sail and explore the remote corners of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, following in the wake of legendary explorers through icy inlets, hidden bays and narrow channels. Your purpose-built vessel gives modern adventurers incredible access to the planet’s most isolated regions, taking you further into the polar wild than ever before. Every step of the way, your expedition team will help immerse you in the very best of the Arctic, right at the top of the world.

One of your first stops, Maniitsoq, is often called the Venice of Greenland thanks to the natural canals that wind through its island-dotted landscape. Towering, snow-covered peaks surround this rugged little town – its name, fittingly, means “the uneven place”. In summer, you might spot humpback whales playing in the nearby waters. 

A little further south, Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is a must for anyone curious about culture and history. Here, you’ll discover a vibrant community where old traditions meet modern life in fascinating ways. Walk along the waterfront to see Hans Egede Church and the statue honouring the missionary who founded the town in 1728. 

Next, step back in time at the Greenland National Museum, home to remarkably preserved 500-year-old mummies found under a rock ledge by two hunting brothers in 1972. Don’t miss the Nuuk Art Museum and the striking Katuaq Culture Centre while you’re in town; they offer even more insight into Greenland’s unique cultural blend.

Day 5: At sea

Wave farewell to Greenland as you cross the Davis Strait, bound for the wild beauty of the Canadian Arctic. Along the way, your onboard experts will share stories and insights to get you ready for the adventures ahead.

Days 6 to 15: Canada's High Arctic

Trace the route of legendary explorers as you sail through the Canadian High Arctic, discovering huge fjords, immersive historic sites and intriguing Inuit communities along the way.

Your journey begins at Cape Mercy, on the southern tip of Cumberland Sound. Named by British explorer John Davis (yes, the one the Davis Strait is named after) during his 1585 voyage, this remote spot once housed a Distant Early Warning Line station from the Cold War – part of a vast network built to detect Soviet bombers. It’s a fascinating place to step ashore and stretch your legs on a scenic hike.

Next is Qikiqtarjuaq (formerly Broughton Island), where drifting icebergs from the Davis Strait tend to gather. The frigid waters are also home to ringed and harp seals. A short hike up to the iconic hilltop inuksuk offers sweeping views of the landscape. These traditional stone markers were used by Inuit to signal important locations – whether for navigation, hunting or spiritual significance.

Heading north along the rugged east coast of Baffin Island, you’ll reach Isabella Bay, Canada’s most important feeding area for bowhead whales. These incredible mammals can live over 200 years, making them the oldest known mammals on Earth.

At the northern tip of Baffin Island lies Pond Inlet, a picturesque Inuit hamlet framed by glaciers, fjords, and soaring mountains. Many locals still follow a traditional nomadic lifestyle, including hunting to provide for their families.

From here, you’ll enter the legendary Lancaster Sound, a true Arctic oasis rich in wildlife and steeped in both Inuit and European history. The region offers incredible hiking opportunities. At Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island, you’ll visit a remote and now-abandoned RCMP outpost right on the beach. Nearby, at Croker Bay, hop in a Zodiac and cruise past the face of an active, calving glacier—keeping an eye out for walrus lounging nearby.

Continuing west, Radstock Bay is home to some of the Arctic’s best-preserved Thule archaeological sites, all set beneath the towering cliffs of the Caswell Towers. And at the western tip of Devon Island sits Beechey Island, a place etched into Arctic lore. Now a Canadian National Historic Site, it holds the marked graves of three men from Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845–46 expedition. Decades later, Roald Amundsen would stop here during his successful navigation of the Northwest Passage in 1903.

Sailing along the eastern coast of Somerset Island, keep watch for beluga whales – and, if you're lucky, the elusive narwhal – as they feed in the waters of Creswell Bay. This Important Bird Area also draws species like black-bellied plovers, king eiders, and white-rumped sandpipers.

Your Arctic journey concludes at Fort Ross, where the Hudson’s Bay Company set up a short-lived trading post in 1937. Then, at the midpoint of the narrow Bellot Strait, you’ll arrive at Zenith Point, the northernmost tip of mainland North America.

Day 16: Disembarkation in Resolute, Canada

This morning, you’ll disembark in Resolute and take an included transfer to your group charter flight to Calgary. After landing, you’ll spend a complimentary night’s stay at a comfortable hotel.

Day 17: Depart Calgary

Fully rested, today you’ll make your own way to Calgary airport to catch your onward flights or spend more time exploring Canada's capital.

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.