When to visit the Northwest Passage
There’s very good reason why the Northwest Passage is only open to visitors from July to September: it's the only time average temperatures are above freezing, and the ice has …
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Six reasons to explore the Northwest Passage
- Sail back in time in the wake of Franklin, James Clark Ross and Amundsen, to explore one of the world’s most remote and least populated regions
- Admire an ever-changing icescape as you pass myriad islands, channels and bays
- Search for the Arctic’s Big Five – keeping a keen eye out for polar bear, beluga, walrus, musk ox and less commonly, narwhal
- Explore deserted trading outposts and archaeological sites – silent sentinels from the past – in an otherwise virtually deserted corner of the world
- Immerse in the cultural and social interactions during community visits, meeting local Inuit who call this isolated region home
- Travelling on the cusp of autumn with the days rapidly drawing in provides excellent chances to experience the dancing Northern Lights
Swoop says
Some of the best days for me in the Northwest Passage were the less obvious ones. Time in the ice shrouded in fog with no idea of where the nearest land is was a huge insight as to what it must have been like for early explorers.
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Arctic
Our most popular Northwest Passage voyages
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
The big ice and small towns of West Greenland provide a stunning start to this trip before you sail across the Davis Straight to Baffin Island and enter the Northwest Passage. Blend history, scenery and wildlife; pay your respects at…
- 17 Days
- $18,495
Spending time exploring Canada’s historic Northwest Passage and West Greenland, we like this voyage’s balance and variety as much as exploring little visited spots such as Thule, one of the northernmost towns in the world, and Smith Sound. Big ice,…
- 17 Days
- $20,521
Only in 1956 did a ship complete an east to west transit of the Northwest Passage. The smoking cliffs of Cape Bathurst mark your entrance to an icy realm of wild beauty, staggering wildlife, culture and history. Explore the Passage…
- 29 Days
- $21,268
Traversing west to east this voyage takes you to iconic sites such as Cambridge Bay, Lancaster and Smith Sounds and Ellesmere Island, before exploring the fjords and towns of West Greenland. Bears, narwhal, musk ox, beluga and northern lights are…
- 17 Days
- $18,495
Embark on one of the world’s most iconic journeys – a full transit through the fabled Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska, following in the footsteps of the intrepid early explorers. What makes this particular voyage even more special is…
- 23 Days
- $57,728
Beginning in Cambridge Bay, this westbound-arching route encapsulates the best that the Northwest Passage and West Greenland have to offer. Thread your way through the icy labyrinth of staggering landscapes, dramatic history, remote Inuit settlements and charismatic Arctic wildlife, with…
- 16 Days
- $25,495
In the labyrinthine icy channels of the legendary Northwest Passage, explore the islands and channels that form Canada’s High Arctic region. Meet local indigenous people, encounter enigmatic Arctic wildlife – including walruses, beluga whales, polar bears, musk oxen and the elusive…
- 16 Days
- $25,495
A full transit of the Northwest Passage is a truly epic undertaking, travelling in the footsteps of legendary explorers Amundsen, Franklin and Larsen. This voyage is distinguished by the small, nimble and comfortably appointed expedition ship you'll travel on, with…
- 29 Days
- $50,995
What our customers think of Northwest Passage Cruises
Faultless service, as always in our experience. We knew the ship and even the cabin beforehand, but great to have Swoop’s help in setting it up and talking us through the options for the choice of voyage and extras. Read the full review
Travelled: July 2018
Steve & Tina O'Shea - United Kingdom
Highlights of the Northwest Passage
Fascinating History
The Northwest Passage is a sea route connecting the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via waterways through the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. For centuries explorers sought the existence of a navigable passage. However, it wasn’t until the period of 1903–1906 when the Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, proved it with the first successful transit.
For many people, the history of this region is enough to entice them here. That might be to follow in the footsteps of Franklin by visiting Beechey Island or to explore the remains of sod houses left by Inuit families.
An endless sunset in the Northwest Passage
Iconic Wildlife
This part of the Canadian Arctic has a thriving wildlife population and is home to all of the 'Arctic Big Five': polar bears, beluga, musk ox, walrus and narwhal. Wildlife spotting will be an integral part of your trip through the Northwest Passage and a good sighting can change the plan for the day.
As the ice recedes in summer and the channels open up, whales, seals and walrus follow rich lines of food. Add the wealth of birdlife throughout the region, and there is always something to spot from the bridge or deck of the ship.
Muskoxen on the Greenlandic tundra
Evocative Landing Sites
For many the best part of any Northwest Passage voyage are the daily landings off the ship, accompanied by your knowledgeable expedition staff: walking the tundra, observing wildlife from a zodiac, learning about life on the edge of the habitable world during community visits. This is your opportunity to really get under the skin of the region and experience it firsthand.
Well-known sites like Beechey Island, Victory Point, Crocker Bay, Fort Ross and Dundas Harbour all have their fascinating stories to tell.
Community Visits
You will also have the chance to explore some of the communities who call this remote corner of the globe home. Pond Inlet is one of the most widely heard of communities and quite often features on some voyage routes, as does Gjoa Haven further south, where Amundsen over-wintered during his epic pioneering full transit of the passage.
These landings are a privileged opportunity to meet the welcoming locals and learn about their unique culture and some of the challenges of living in this extreme environment.
Swoop says
The search for the Northwest Passage is one of the greatest stories in the annals of exploration, capturing the imagination for generations. This watery labyrinth is incredibly rich in wildlife and Inuit culture.
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Northwest Passage Ships
Sailing on an expedition ship gives you unparalleled access to the remote coastlines, icy channels and colourful, scattered communities of the Northwest Passage. Whether …
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Northwest Passage Wildlife
The Northwest Passage may well be known by it's dramatic history; but it's waterways and islands are also home to all of the 'Arctic Big Five'. You'll have the chance to see polar …
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Northwest Passage Landing Sites
Exploring the Arctic on board an expedition vessel is a fully immersive and educational experience of which the daily landings are a key component. From the thrill of encountering …
Discover MorePartial Northwest Passage Transits
These shorter voyages (16–17 days) undertake a partial transit, cherry-picking the key areas of the western part of the Northwest Passage, around Lancaster Sound, though some explore further south. Fully immersive and well suited to anyone not wanting to commit to a much longer full transit.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
This comprehensive westbound voyage stands out for its compelling combination of West Greenland, the east coast of Baffin Island and the historic Northwest Passage. Jaw-dropping scenery, towering icebergs, thrilling wildlife encounters, Inuit community visits and fascinating history pervade this epic…
- 17 Days
- $16,031
Spending time exploring Canada’s historic Northwest Passage and West Greenland, we like this voyage’s balance and variety as much as exploring little visited spots such as Thule, one of the northernmost towns in the world, and Smith Sound. Big ice,…
- 17 Days
- $20,521
Visits to Canadian and Greenlandic communities Inuit history and culture are at the core of this journey, among those stops both Kinngait, the centre of Inuit Art and Nuuk, Greenland's capital are included. There's plenty of wildlife opportunities too with…
- 14 Days
- $6,747
Beginning in Cambridge Bay, this westbound-arching route encapsulates the best that the Northwest Passage and West Greenland have to offer. Thread your way through the icy labyrinth of staggering landscapes, dramatic history, remote Inuit settlements and charismatic Arctic wildlife, with…
- 16 Days
- $25,495
In the labyrinthine icy channels of the legendary Northwest Passage, explore the islands and channels that form Canada’s High Arctic region. Meet local indigenous people, encounter enigmatic Arctic wildlife – including walruses, beluga whales, polar bears, musk oxen and the elusive…
- 16 Days
- $25,495
The big ice and small towns of West Greenland provide a stunning start to this trip before you sail across the Davis Straight to Baffin Island and enter the Northwest Passage. Blend history, scenery and wildlife; pay your respects at…
- 17 Days
- $18,495
Traversing west to east this voyage takes you to iconic sites such as Cambridge Bay, Lancaster and Smith Sounds and Ellesmere Island, before exploring the fjords and towns of West Greenland. Bears, narwhal, musk ox, beluga and northern lights are…
- 17 Days
- $18,495
Full Northwest Passage Transits
For those travellers wanting to undertake an epic, full Northwest Passage transit, from Baffin Bay to the Pacific Ocean, these longer voyages (23–29 days) offer a good choice, depending on the style and size of ship you prefer.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
Embark on one of the world’s most iconic journeys – a full transit through the fabled Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska, following in the footsteps of the intrepid early explorers. What makes this particular voyage even more special is…
- 23 Days
- $57,728
A full transit of the Northwest Passage is a truly epic undertaking, travelling in the footsteps of legendary explorers Amundsen, Franklin and Larsen. This voyage is distinguished by the small, nimble and comfortably appointed expedition ship you'll travel on, with…
- 29 Days
- $50,995
Only in 1956 did a ship complete an east to west transit of the Northwest Passage. The smoking cliffs of Cape Bathurst mark your entrance to an icy realm of wild beauty, staggering wildlife, culture and history. Explore the Passage…
- 29 Days
- $21,268
Bears on the sea ice, Lancaster Sound
Whale fluke
Trekkers near Crocker Bay
A resident of Gjoa Haven
Specialist guides explain archaeological remains
Evening light in the Northwest Passage
Trekkers on Karrat island
Zodiac cruising among the ice
Beechey Island
Ready to Book Your Arctic Adventure?
1. Listen
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2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
