Northwest Passage Odyssey

Day 1: Arrival in Toronto

After arriving in the Canadian city, check in at the airport hotel for a complimentary overnight stay. Visit the hospitality desk for key updates about tomorrow’s charter flight to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and information about embarking on your Arctic ship.

You can spend the rest of your day at leisure, building up your excitement for the journey to come. 

Day 2: Fly to Nuuk and embark on your ship 

Enjoy breakfast before transferring to the airport for your included charter flight to Nuuk. 

Once aboard, take some time to settle into your cabin before attending the essential safety briefings. Later, you can join the knowledgeable Arctic experts in the onboard expedition team for the Captain’s Welcome Drinks and to meet the rest of the crew.

Day 3: Exploring Sisimiut

Today, you'll arrive in Greenland’s second-biggest town, located around 54 km (33.5 miles) above the Arctic Circle. During the summer months, the phenomenon of the midnight sun appears here.

Explore the famous old blue church with its iconic whale-bone gate and the neighbouring museum, which features a reconstruction of an Inuit turf house and exhibits on local history. There's also a variety of hiking trails, from easy town walks to more challenging routes into the surrounding mountains. 

This region has been home to several cultures, starting with the Saqqaq people over 4,500 years ago, followed by the Dorset and then the Thule, from whom most modern Greenlanders descend.

Day 4: Immersing yourself in Ilulissat

You'll arrive in Ilulissat, often called the ‘birthplace of icebergs’ for its dazzling array of these natural wonders, by afternoon today.

Take a hike past the husky sledge dogs to the UNESCO-listed Icefjord, where you’ll witness the scale and beauty of Sermeq Kujalleq. It's the most active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, producing about 20 million tonnes of ice daily.

Days 5 to 7: Expedition cruising around Northwest Greenland

Over the next few days, you'll explore the wild northern coast of West Greenland, famed for towering icebergs and traditional settlements.

Expect immersive zodiac cruises, scenic hikes and intriguing visits to coastal communities. If you have opted to sign up for the kayaking programme, you may get the chance to paddle through icy waters while keeping an eye out for whales.

Day 8: At sea

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as your onboard experts present talks on Arctic wildlife, geology and tales of early explorers like Franklin and Amundsen.

Day 9: Pond Inlet in Nunavut, Canada

After officially entering Canada once again, the plan today is to visit Pond Inlet, a picturesque Inuit community on the northern tip of Baffin Island.

Framed by ice-capped mountains and pristine fjords, this settlement offers a warm welcome and a chance to engage with Inuit culture and traditions.

Days 10 to 12: Visiting Devon Island and Lancaster Sound

Welcome to the High Arctic. Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island in the world, is rich in geological wonders and is known as the region's "wildlife superhighway" thanks to its nutrient-dense waters. 

We plan to land at Dundas Harbour to admire flat-topped peaks and glacial valleys during tundra walks and while birdwatching. Look out for walruses at the coast – they're often present here. 

Possible visits to Croker and Maxwell bays are also on the agenda, as well as Beechey Island to the west. 

At this Canadian National Historic Site, you'll reflect on Franklin’s ill-fated expedition – three of the explorer's men are buried here – and Amundsen’s successful Northwest Passage transit. 

Nearby Radstock Bay offers insights into Thule life beneath sky-high cliffs and amid ancient whale bones.

Days 13 to 17: Expedition cruising

In true expedition style, the next stretch of the journey is highly dependent on sea ice and weather conditions. Flexibility is key, and our day-to-day plans may evolve. Below are some of the destinations you can hope to explore:

Prince Leopold Island (Appait)

Located on Lancaster Sound's southern stretch, across from Beechey Island, are a host of dramatic bird cliffs. This historic site is where English explorer James Clark Ross overwintered in 1848 during the search for the lost Franklin expedition.

Today, the island is recognised as the most significant bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic. Around half a million birds nest here each summer, including thick-billed murres, black-legged kittiwakes and northern fulmars.

Keep a watch for ringed seals on the sea ice surrounding the island – polar bears are often spotted here too, drawn by the promise of a meal.

Port Leopold 

On the northeastern tip of Somerset Island, this is a stark, windswept bay with a rich and sobering history. It was here that the crews of HMS Enterprise and Investigator endured a brutal winter while searching for Franklin.

Their presence remains etched into the land – a rock still bears the inscription "1849" and the initials of their ships. Nearby stands a lonely Hudson's Bay Company hut, a relic of a failed trading post from the 1920s.

Hikers may have the chance to explore the coast, visit the historic hut, and discover Inuit archaeological sites.

You’ll also encounter striking geological formations shaped by centuries of freeze-thaw cycles; the expedition team will bring these landscapes to life during the evening recaps.

Close by, a simple cairn marks where Ross’s team left essential supplies for future search parties.

Hazard Inlet (Qariaraajuk) 

This remarkable site was once home to Inuit communities who hunted bowhead whales between the 15th and 16th Centuries. Today, the remains of over 100 bowheads are scattered across the beach and village, a powerful testament to the central role these animals played in daily life.

Archaeologists have uncovered at least 20 sod houses here, and the cliffs behind host ancient burial grounds. 

A visit offers a moving glimpse into a way of life built on cooperation, resilience and a deep relationship with the sea. Standing on this historic ground is a rare and unforgettable experience.

Point Zenith 

This rocky outcrop that pushes into the ocean offers wide-open views and a powerful sense of solitude. As you come ashore, you may be struck by how still and silent it feels – just the wind above you and the crunch of your boots underfoot. This is a place where time seems to pause, inviting reflection and awe.

King William Island (Qikiqtaq) Point Zenith

This is one of the most significant locations associated with the Franklin expedition, as remains linked to the lost crew have been found at more than 35 sites across the island and nearby Adelaide Peninsula. 

Weather permitting, the aim is to zodiac cruise near the final resting places of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, discovered in 2014 and 2016, respectively, south of Cape Felix in Victoria Strait. These haunting wrecks are an extraordinary link to one of the Arctic’s greatest maritime histories.

Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq) 

The region’s key administrative centre and an important stop for ships crossing the Northwest Passage. Often considered the unofficial halfway point of such voyages, this vibrant community provides an insight into life in the High Arctic.

You'll go ashore by zodiac for a guided walk through the village. Visit the local church and community centre, and browse a selection of handcrafted items made by local artisans. Any purchases you make will directly support the community.

Days 18 to 22: Coronation and Amundsen Gulfs

Your journey continues west, through areas once explored by polar legends like Franklin and Amundsen. 

As always, your expedition team will build the itinerary around ice and weather conditions.

Here are some of the places you may visit:

Johansen Bay & Edinburgh Island (Egloovikan)

In Johansen Bay, the plan is to enjoy a zodiac cruise into the estuary at its northeast end and possibly up the river to the nearby lake. Wildlife sightings may include caribou, arctic foxes, hares and peregrine falcons.

Nearby Edinburgh Island (Egloovikan), a small and uninhabited parcel of land, is known for its deep-toned cliffs, ochre-hued tundra and lush flowering shrubs.

A possible hike to a lookout provides sweeping views of lakes, mountains and sea – an unforgettable vantage point in this remote part of the world.

Port Epworth (Kugluktoalok) 

Also known as the Tree River area, this striking landscape features shallow lakes, river valleys and layered sedimentary rocks. During autumn, the tundra comes alive with golden and crimson hues.

The area is also famous for its ancient stromatolites: fossilised algae structures formed over 2 billion years ago by microorganisms responsible for Earth's oxygen. 

Smoking Hills (Ingniryuat), Franklin Bay

For centuries, the Smoking Hills have smouldered in the wilderness of the Northwest Territories. The sight of sulphurous smoke drifting from colourful cliffs is otherworldly, like something from an apocalyptic film.

This eerie natural phenomenon is caused by the spontaneous combustion of sulphur-rich lignite when exposed to erosion and landslides. The result is a surreal landscape of constantly burning ground and vividly coloured rock formations.

Days 23 to 25: Travelling on the Beaufort Sea

As you cross the Beaufort Sea, excitement builds once again. Whether from the deck or inside an observation lounge, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife – beluga whales and polar bears can be seen here.

The aim is to explore Herschel Island by zodiac if permission is granted by the local authorities. Inhabited by the Thule people for over 1,000 years, the island was first mapped by John Franklin in 1825. Later, it became a major whaling hub, supporting a wintering population of hundreds. The decline of the industry in the early 1900s led to the island being abandoned.

Now protected as a territorial park, Herschel offers both rich cultural heritage and breathtaking Arctic scenery.

At Prudhoe Bay, bid adieu to Canada and enter US waters.

Days 26 & 27: Chukchi Sea and the Bering Strait

During these two days, the ship will continue west along Alaska’s northern coastline, toward Nome. Here, the Chukchi Sea narrows into the Bering Strait, where just 100 km (60 miles) separates the US from Russia.

Take time to reflect on your voyage, scan the horizon for marine life and join final lectures from our onboard experts.

If conditions and permissions allow, the plan is to cruise close to Point Hope, Little Diomede and King Islands. 

Day 28: Disembark in Nome and fly to Anchorage

In the early morning, you’ll arrive in Nome and disembark after breakfast. 

Say goodbye to your expedition team, then transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Anchorage, where you’ll enjoy a complimentary overnight hotel stay.

Day 29: Depart Anchorage

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

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.