Sublime beauty of Karrat Fjord | © Dennis Minty
Sublime beauty of Karrat Fjord  | © Dennis Minty
A polar bear at close range in the Arctic  | Sue Josephsen
Spectacular scenery in the Canadian Arctic on the Northwest Passage East to West trip.  | ©Dennis Minty
The vast landscapes of Uummannaq Fjord in Greenland  | Rachel Imber
Local crafts in West Greenland  | Michelle Valberg
A curious Beared Seal  | © Danny Catt

Journey out of the Northwest Passage

The fabled Northwest Passage explored in style

17 Days from

$23995 USD

Trip Code: CND
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Superior Stateroom
$24695 USD
Ocean Stateroom
$25395 USD
Deluxe Stateroom
$26695 USD
Balcony Stateroom
$28145 USD
Navigator Suite
$30295 USD
Discovery Suite
$30995 USD
Grand Suite
$33145 USD
Single Stateroom
$34195 USD
Owner's Suite
$35695 USD
Kayaking Option
$950 USD
Optional Charter Flights
$2695 USD

Duration

  • 17 Days

Activities

  • 16 days expedition cruising with optional kayaking

Accommodation

  • 16 nights aboard Exploris One

Meals

  • 16 Dinners
  • 15 Lunches
  • 16 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

1 / 10

Discovery and Cruising

Trip highlights

  • Marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Icefjord
  • Make the most of excellent opportunities to encounter whales and polar bears
  • Enjoy visits to vibrant Inuit communities
  • Cruise the Northwest Passage
  • Visit the historic graves of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition
  • Visit Gjoa Haven
  • Sail along the dramatically beautiful west Greenland coastline

Overview

Commencing our cruise in Kugluktuk (Coppermine), we journey west to east through the spectacular Northwest Passage. This voyage offers abundant wildlife viewing interspersed with rich cultural experiences. Visit Gjoa Haven before heading into serious polar bear country in Peel Sound and Perry Channel. We will visit Beechey Island, and pay our respects at the graves of sailors from the lost Franklin expedition. Continuing west, we visit areas of significant geological, historical and biological importance. Daily expeditions will allow us to stretch our legs and enjoy the landscape. Sailing down the beautiful Greenlandic coast, we stop to explore the rugged coastline and immense fjords that define the landscape. Our final visit brings us to Ilulissat, the largest town in Disko Bay and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before concluding our journey in Kangerlussuaq.

Itinerary

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Our trip commences today in the town of Kugluktuk. Located at the mouth of the Coppermine river to southwest of Victoria Island on the Coronation Gulf, Kugluktuk is the western most community in Nunavut. Originally named Coppermine, it was renamed Kugluktuk according to its Inuinnaqtun name meaning "place of moving waters", on January 1st, 1996. Our charter flight will land in Kugluktuk and we will embark the ship by Zodiac. Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), NU, is an alternate embarkation point, and may be used based on sea, ice, and weather conditions. If you choose to take the optional charter flights the flight departs Yellowknife (Northwest Territories) in the early morning so we suggest you book one night pre-trip accommodation to ensure you do not miss the flight.

Meals: D

Experience the glory of the subarctic tundra in the fall and perhaps discover a geological wonder at Port Epworth. Here, intriguing rock formations known as stromatolites stand as evidence of some of Earth's earliest life forms. These fossilized structures, created by cyanobacteria billions of years ago, played a crucial role in producing oxygen, forming an essential link in creating Earth's atmosphere and allowing other life forms to evolve. Sail onward into the storied waters of the Coronation Gulf, where the legendary Roald Amundsen navigated with his six-man crew to complete the Northwest Passage in 1905. Learn more about the vital role that Inuit knowledge played in Arctic exploration, including Amundsen's expedition. Visit an Inuit community in this least populated region of Nunavut and feel the excitement and warm hospitality as you listen to stories of resilience, adaptation, and a deep love for the land. Join a Zodiac cruise at Conningham Bay, where the stark beauty of the Arctic tells a timeless story of survival and adaptation. Here, the paths of polar bears intersect with the watery journeys of belugas—one the hunter, the other the prey. With luck, you'll witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, an unforgettable moment etched onto the stark Arctic landscape. Each stop along the way feels like stepping into a living museum, where geology, landscape, wildlife, and culture weave together into a story only this iconically northern place can tell.

Meals: B,L,D

Discover the famed Ikirahaq (Bellot Strait), a narrow passage separating Somerset Island from the Boothia Peninsula. As we sail through this two-kilometre-wide waterway, get the unique opportunity to reach the northernmost part of mainland North America. Keep watch for an array of enchanting marine mammals from beluga whales to narwhals and seals. Delve into the region's fascinating history and learn about Joseph René Bellot, French naval officer and Arctic explorer who joined an 1850s expedition in search for Sir John Franklin, who inspired the strait's namesake.

Meals: B,L,D

In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England with HMS Erebus and Terror, attempting to sail through the Northwest Passage. Franklin’s party overwintered at Beechey Island where three of his men died. Numerous search parties later used Beechey as a depot and rendezvous. Amundsen, Bernier, and Larsen visited Beechey. Thomas Morgan of HMS Investigator was buried there in 1854 alongside Franklin’s men. The graves and the ruins of Northumberland House are a haunting memorial.

Meals: B,L,D

We will spend ample time exploring Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), one of Canada's newest National Marine Conservation Areas. Large populations of marine mammals, including narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales, transit and feed in this area. There is a great selection of landing sites available to choose from, depending on weather, wildlife, and sea conditions. On the northern border of Tallurutiup Imanga lies Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth at over 50,000 square kilometres. Flat-topped mountains, glacial valleys, and a substantial ice cap give Devon Island its unique character. We will hike the tundra, cruise a glacier face, and seek wildlife from the ship and onshore.

Meals: B,L,D

Meaning 'place that never thaws,' and at 1,150km above the Arctic Circle, the town of Aujuittuq is Canada's northernmost civilian community. We’ll be welcomed into the hamlet, where we will have a chance to meet members of the community, learn about their way of life, and hear their poignant stories.

Meals: B,L,D

Smith Sound, an ancient Inuit travel route, divides Ellesmere Island from Greenland, and served as the main route for explorers and adventurers searching for the North Pole. Adolphus Greely, Sir George Nares, and Elisha Kent Kane all travelled these waters with varying degrees of success.

Meals: B,L,D

On this exploration day, we’ll be making the most of what the wind, weather and wildlife have to offer. Our expedition staff will scan for polar bears, walrus, whales, seals, and seabirds as we go.

Meals: B,L,D

We will explore stunning fjords that line the coast. Glaciers and icebergs abound here. In true expedition style, we will seek opportunities to hike, explore, and view wildlife as conditions allow.

Meals: B,L,D

Located some 250km north of the Arctic Circle is the stunning coastal community of Ilulissat. Translating literally into 'iceberg, Ilulissat could not be more appropriately named. We will include time in the colourful town and a have an opportunity to hike out to an elevated viewpoint where we can observe the great fields of ice. We will also cruise in our fleet of zodiacs in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The Icefjord is where we find the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, one of the most active and fastest moving in the world at 19m per day and calving more than 35 square kilometers of ice annually. The glacier has been the object of scientific attention for 250 years and, because of its relative ease of accessibility, has significantly added to the understanding of ice-cap glaciology, climate change and related geomorphic processes.

Meals: B,L,D

Explore West Greenland’s complex coastal waterways that includes glaciers, islands, and fjords against a towering mountain backdrop, with plentiful opportunities for hiking and Zodiac cruising. Learn about the Saqqaq, Dorset, Thule, and modern Inuit cultures that have called the Sisimiut region home for the past 4,500 years. The waters are relatively warm here, due to the West Greenland Current and the subarctic location.

Meals: B,L,D

Our trip concludes today in Kangerlussuaq. Meaning 'The Big Fjord' in Greenlandic, the town is appropriately named, with the fjord covering 168km in length. It lies at the head of the longest fjord in western Greenland, and has one of the most stable climates in the region though temperatures can range from -50C in the winter to as high as 28C in summer. If you choose to take the optional charter flights the flight departs Kangerlussuaq bound for Toronto (Ontario) in the afternoon. Overnight accommodation in Toronto is available on request.

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

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What’s included?

Included

  • 16 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 16 dinners
  • All Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Comfortable cabin accommodation and use of all public areas on cruise
  • Services of expedition leaders
  • Complimentary expedition jacket
  • All sightseeing and shore excursions from the ship including the use of Zodiacs
  • Lectures, videos, slide and film shows and guide services
  • Service charges and port fees
  • Basic Wi-Fi (subject to reception)

Not included

  • Optional charter flights necessary to get to/from start and end point
  • Travel to and from start /end point of trip
  • Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
  • Visa, passport and vaccination charges, and airport departure taxes
  • Mandatory medical / evacuation insurance
  • Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses and items of a personal nature such
  • Customary end of voyage tips for ship's crew (approximately US$10 - 15 per passenger per day)

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Extra trip info

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